A recent research article found US Rooftop Solar can meet a third of the US manufacturing sector’s needs. The article in the Journal Environmental Research: Sustainability and Infrastructure explores the possibility of fulfilling up to 35% of US manufacturers’ electricity needs by installing solar panels on the rooftops of industrial buildings. The study analyzes the feasibility of on-site solar panel installations for various regions and manufacturing sectors throughout the United States.
US Rooftop Solar is a Viable Option
Researchers at Northeastern University conducted a study to evaluate if US rooftop solar on industrial buildings’ rooftops can satisfy manufacturers’ electricity demands. The study employs data from the US Department of Energy Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey to compare the electricity generation potential of rooftop solar panels against the electricity demand per unit of floor space for an average manufacturing building. The research found that rooftop solar panels could satisfy the entire electricity demand of 5-35% of US manufacturing sectors, depending on the season, with companies in the furniture, textiles, and apparel sectors benefiting the most. The article was published in the Environmental Research: Sustainability and Infrastructure journal.
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Dr. Matthew Eckelman, Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Northeastern University, explains that the US manufacturing sector produces less than 0.1% of its electricity from on-site renewable sources. This needs to change to achieve decarbonization objectives. He further suggests that rooftop solar panels are a viable solution to provide low-carbon energy to manufacturing companies.
The industrial sector significantly contributes to energy consumption, greenhouse gas, and carbon emissions. Manufacturing has become the focus of global decarbonization efforts, and numerous companies are transitioning to lower-carbon energy sources.
The research indicates that the large, flat rooftops of industrial buildings, falling prices, improved efficiencies, and flexibility in installation make rooftop solar panels a feasible solution for many manufacturing units. During the spring and summer, manufacturing companies across nearly 40% of US locations could fulfill their electricity needs with rooftop solar arrays.
Dr. Eckelman suggests that policymakers should concentrate on rooftop solar panels’ feasibility and potential benefits to assist industries in achieving renewable energy and greenhouse gas emissions objectives. He believes that the research provides valuable information on the locations and sectors that can significantly benefit from rooftop solar arrays to aid manufacturing firms in reaching these objectives.