U S rooftop photovoltaic panels

Rooftop solar energy systems keep power production and related economic opportunities close to home, enabling greater consumer choice in electricity supply. When solar systems are paired with larger battery systems, households and businesses can increase their energy resilience.

Rooftop solar systems are installed on existing structures, requiring minimal new infrastructure or construction. Eco-friendly deployment and manufacturing of solar panels benefit the environment, and SETO is investing in PV durability and recycling to keep solar panels on rooftops and out of landfills.

The value of rooftop solar panels increased in nearly all the cities, in both warm and cold locations. Miami saw the largest increase in value, while only Minneapolis saw a decrease in the financial benefits of rooftop solar for households.

Rooftop solar could potentially generate about 45% of the electricity the US uses, the researchers found. In 2022, rooftop solar generated about 1.5% of all US electricity, but it's going to grow rapidly in the next couple years and beyond.

That, in turn, reduces energy costs, eases strain on the grid, and boosts energy resilience during extreme weather. Rooftop solar could potentially generate about 45% of the electricity the US uses, the researchers found.

In 2022, residential rooftop solar produced enough energy to power 5.7 million US households, according to “ Rooftop Solar on the Rise,” a new report by Environment America Research & Policy Center and research and analysis nonprofit Frontier Group.