Study Maps Rooftop Solar Potential in 27 EU Capitals
A new Energy journal study estimates how much electricity rooftop solar could generate across the European Union's capital cities.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Energy
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Researchers published a study in the journal Energy assessing rooftop solar generation potential across all 27 EU capitals. The analysis estimates Athens rooftop solar could generate about 1.8 TWh of electricity annually.
Why it matters
The study offers a unified framework for comparing rooftop photovoltaic potential across European capitals, which can inform how cities plan renewable energy deployment. It also quantifies possible emissions reductions and revenue at the city level.
The modeled estimates draw on atmospheric data from 2008 to 2023 and Copernicus satellite information, with Paris leading at about 3.81 TWh per year and the capitals' range spanning 0.2 to 3.8 TWh. Actual rooftop installation rates and grid integration costs across the cities were not addressed in the extraction.
The players
Elsevier
Elsevier is a major academic publisher that issues the journal Energy, in which the study appeared.
The details
The analysis combines atmospheric data, Copernicus satellite information, urban-environment data and PVGIS photovoltaic simulations, accounting for cloud cover, aerosols and shading from neighbouring buildings. Across the examined cities, rooftop solar could prevent up to about one million tonnes of CO2-equivalent emissions annually.
Timeline
The atmospheric data used in the analysis covers 2008 to 2023.
The study was published in Energy, Volume 367, in 2026.
Big Picture
The study applies the PVGIS photovoltaic simulation tool, a widely used European solar modeling resource, to compare rooftop generation potential across 27 capitals within one framework. This moves the approach from single-city assessments toward a continent-wide comparison.
Rooftop solar capacity in these cities could lower grid electricity demand and cut emissions if installed at scale. Residents and building owners would see the practical benefit through reduced energy costs once systems are deployed.
The takeaway
Rooftop solar offers a substantial local energy resource in European cities, with estimated output varying widely by city. Officials and property owners can use city-level estimates to prioritize where installations would contribute most.
Further reading
For related background, see the Energy section on Wisevoter.
More information
Read the full Elsevier study on EU capitals rooftop solar potential in the journal Energy.
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