Solar Energy
Heatwaves, air conditioning, and blackouts
Quantifying the real benefi ts of rooſt op solar energy. A
ir conditioning is increasingly the go-to when heatwaves strike. However, not only does this lead to more emissions, it also puts increasing strain on the electricity grid – even culminating in deadly blackouts. On paper, solar panels would seem like the perfect solution: clean energy derived directly from the sun and readily available in the hottest summer months. But just how benefi cial can they be? A new CMCC-led study has quantifi ed the
benefi ts of rooftop solar in reducing grid electricity consumption in Italy, revealing that expanded solar adoption could off set roughly half of the climate driven increase in grid electricity uptake for cooling.
Key facts •
By 2050, rising temperatures are projected to increase residential electricity consumption for cooling in Italy by approximately 5% compared to 2023 residential demand.
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On peak summer cooling days, households with rooftop solar panels reduce their grid electricity consumption by around 68% compared to similar households without panels.
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Under current national energy plans, residential solar ownership is expected to grow from about 6% of households in 2023 to 22–24% by 2050.
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Expanded solar adoption could off set roughly half of the climate-driven increase in grid electricity uptake for cooling
ewnews.co.uk •
Northern regions and Italian islands benefi t most thanks to higher solar penetration, while major urban centres in central and southern Italy such as Rome, Naples and Palermo face a “double vulnerability”: the most intense heat but the lowest solar installation rates.
The report, titled “Synergies between climate mitigation and adaptation: the role of photovoltaics in meeting cooling demand in Italy”, analyses how hotter summers will aff ect residential electricity demand and how much of this extra cooling need can be met by rooftop photovoltaics (PV). Using household-level electricity data, detailed solar adoption statistics and high-resolution climate projections, the authors estimate how much more power Italian households will draw for cooling and how much PV can off set.
“Rooftop solar panels off er a powerful solution: they can off set nearly half of increased electricity demand during peak cooling periods,” said the lead author of the study, Lucia Piazza. “This matters to the public because it shows how clean energy can simultaneously fi ght climate change and help people cope with its eff ects, while potentially lowering household energy costs.” The study has found that climate change alone is set to push up residential cooling demand by about 5% of today’s total residential electricity use. At the same time, if rooftop solar grows in line with current national plans – from around 6% of households today to about 22–24% in 2050 –
PV could halve this additional climate-driven load. Because solar production peaks during the hottest, sunniest hours, PV-equipped households are able to cover a large share of their cooling needs directly from their own panels. On the hottest summer days, households with rooftop PV reduce their grid withdrawals by around 68% compared to similar households without solar, easing pressure on the system precisely when demand peaks.
“This work provides valuable insights into the future potential of a renewable energy source, in this case solar photovoltaic, in addressing the side eff ects of climate warming in the residential sector,” said Francesco Pietro Colelli, junior scientist at CMCC. However, the benefi ts are unevenly distributed. Regions in northern Italy and the islands, where solar ownership is higher, see the greatest reductions in cooling-related grid demand, while major cities in central and southern Italy such as Rome, Naples and Palermo face a “double vulnerability”: they will experience the most intense heat but currently have some of the lowest solar installation rates. The authors argue that targeted policies to support rooftop PV in these urban hotspots could help protect residents from rising bills and reduce stress on the grid during heatwaves.
“2Synergies between climate mitigation and adaptation: the role of photovoltaics in meeting cooling demand in Italy.” can be viewed here:
https://doi.org/10.1088/2753-3751/ ae6dc0
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