Photovoltaics could revolutionize building energy efficiency in diverse climates.
The type of climate in an area affects how much electricity solar panels on buildings can generate. Researchers studied three different climates: one with more heating needs, one with moderate heating and cooling needs, and one with high cooling needs. They used computer simulations to see how much electricity the solar panels could make in each climate. The results showed that the local climate impacts how well the solar panels work because of temperature and how sunlight interacts with the panels on the building.