Heat waves, air conditioning, and blackouts: Quantifying the real benefits of rooftop solar energy

Air conditioning is increasingly the go-to when heat waves 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 beneficial can they be? A new CMCC-led study has quantified the benefits of rooftop solar in reducing grid electricity consumption in Italy, revealing that expanded solar adoption could offset roughly half of the climate-driven increase in grid electricity uptake for cooling.