Worldwide rooftop photovoltaic electricity generation may mitigate global 
warming

Zhang, Zhixin; Qian, Zhen; Chen, Min; Zhu, Rui; Zhang, Fan; Zhong, Teng; Lin, Jian; Ning, Liang; Xie, Wei; Creutzig, Felix; Tang, Wenjun; Liu, Laibao; Yang, Jiachuan; Pu, Ye; Cai, Wenjia; Pu, Yingxia; Liu, Deer; Yang, Hui; Su, Hongjun; Lu, Mingyue; Li, Fei; Cui, Xufeng; Xie, Zhiwei; Sheng, Tianyu; Zhang, Kai; Santi, Paolo; Tian, Lixin; Lü, Guonian; Yan, Jinyue

doi:10.1038/s41558-025-02276-3

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Worldwide rooftop photovoltaic electricity generation may mitigate global warming

Authors

/persons/resource/zhixin.zhang

Zhang, Zhixin
Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research;

/persons/resource/zhen.qian

Qian, Zhen
Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research;

Chen, Min
External Organizations;

Zhu, Rui
External Organizations;

Zhang, Fan
External Organizations;

Zhong, Teng
External Organizations;

Lin, Jian
External Organizations;

Ning, Liang
External Organizations;

Xie, Wei
External Organizations;

/persons/resource/Felix.Creutzig

Creutzig, Felix
Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research;

Tang, Wenjun
External Organizations;

Liu, Laibao
External Organizations;

Yang, Jiachuan
External Organizations;

Pu, Ye
External Organizations;

Cai, Wenjia
External Organizations;

Pu, Yingxia
External Organizations;

Liu, Deer
External Organizations;

Yang, Hui
External Organizations;

Su, Hongjun
External Organizations;

Lu, Mingyue
External Organizations;

Li, Fei
External Organizations;

Cui, Xufeng
External Organizations;

Xie, Zhiwei
External Organizations;

Sheng, Tianyu
External Organizations;

Zhang, Kai
External Organizations;

Santi, Paolo
External Organizations;

Tian, Lixin
External Organizations;

Lü, Guonian
External Organizations;

Yan, Jinyue
External Organizations;

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https://zenodo.org/records/14749963
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ZHang_s41558-025-02276-3.pdf
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Citation

Zhang, Z., Qian, Z., Chen, M., Zhu, R., Zhang, F., Zhong, T., Lin, J., Ning, L., Xie, W., Creutzig, F., Tang, W., Liu, L., Yang, J., Pu, Y., Cai, W., Pu, Y., Liu, D., Yang, H., Su, H., Lu, M., Li, F., Cui, X., Xie, Z., Sheng, T., Zhang, K., Santi, P., Tian, L., Lü, G., Yan, J. (2025): Worldwide rooftop photovoltaic electricity generation may mitigate global warming. - Nature Climate Change, 15, 393-402.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-025-02276-3

Cite as: https://publications.pik-potsdam.de/pubman/item/item_33360

Abstract

Rooftop photovoltaic (RPV) is often understood as a niche contribution to climate change mitigation. However, the global potential of RPVs to mitigate global warming is unknown. Here we map the global rooftop area at 1-km resolution, quantifying 286,393 km2 of rooftops worldwide through geospatial data mining and artificial intelligence techniques. Using nine advanced Earth system models from the coupled model intercomparison project phase 6, we reveal that RPVs could substantially contribute to reducing global temperatures by 0.05–0.13 °C before 2050. Region-specific analysis underscores the variability in RPV potential and the necessity of tailored approaches to optimize RPV deployment, considering local solar resources, existing infrastructure and grid carbon intensity. Our findings reveal that leveraging RPV systems offers a viable and impactful strategy for reducing carbon footprints and combating climate change globally, while advocating targeted interventions to enhance the benefits of RPVs, particularly in areas with high solar radiation or rapid urbanization.