June 12, 2024, 3:58 am | Read time: 2 minutes
Is Solar Energy from My Roof Worth It? And if So, What Annual Yield Can I Expect? A New Map with Current Data Provides Answers.
How much solar power can I generate on my roof? This question is posed not only by businesses and decision-makers but also by numerous homeowners and apartment owners. A new map from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) offers helpful guidance. Its name: Solaratlas.
Solaratlas Shows Potential Yield of a PV System
The Solaratlas displays the calculated yield that a roof area with an installed photovoltaic system can deliver. The results can be viewed in various formats, from federal state to district and municipality, down to individual buildings. You must locate your own building on the municipal map yourself—due to privacy concerns.
The potential yield of a solar system is color-coded—from violet (low yield) to light orange (high yield). The potential is indicated in megawatt-hours per year. The Solaratlas is available for free at this link.
Power Your Home and Electric Car with a Solar Carport
Is a Solar Panel Worth It on My Balcony?
Using District Heating – Key Questions and Answers
According to DLR, More Accurate Than Existing Maps
The data basis for the forecasts for approximately 20 million buildings nationwide consists of current aerial images and geobase data, compiled using machine learning. Factors evaluated include sunlight hours, radiation intensity, roof orientation, and shading from other buildings or trees.
According to the creators, the DLR Solaratlas represents the situation across the entire country. Additionally, it is intended to provide more and more precise information than the existing solar registers of federal states, districts, or municipalities. Incidentally, the German Weather Service also provides extensive map material on the so-called “global radiation.”
With material from dpa