Asia tops the list for the continent that would need to designate the largest space to power its biggest cities by solar. Cities in Asia place in at seven different spaces in the top 10, where the largest amount of space is required.

How much land is needed to power the world's major cities by solar?

Contributed by | RS Components.

As Earth Overshoot day passed by, we continue to battle with the constant reminder that the world's fossil fuel resources are only becoming more limited - and our global footprint significantly larger. With the need for renewable energy amplifying, RS Components reveal just how little land is needed to power major cities across the world with solar energy with this interactive piece.


Click Image for More Cities

The top 5 cities that would need the smallest % of city area taken up by solar panels to power them:

  1. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Africa. 0.05% share of city
  2. Nairobi, Kenya, Africa. 0.2% share of city
  3. Khartoum, Sudan, Africa. 0.2% share of city
  4. Harbin, China, Asia. 0.2% share of city
  5. Santiago, Chile, South America. 0.4% share of city

 

The top 5 cities that would need the largest % of city area taken up by solar panels to power them:

  1. Paris, France, Europe. 44.2% share of city
  2. Seoul, South Korea, Asia. 41.9%
  3. New York City, United States, North America. 26.5% share of city
  4. Osaka, Japan, Asia. 23.5% share of city
  5. Moscow, Russia, Europe. 19.2% share of city

 

According to the data, Paris is the most power-hungry city. Nearly half (44.2%) of Paris’ land space needs to be accommodated by solar panels to harness the sheer amount of energy needed to run the city.

 

The top 5 cities with the smallest areas (km2) of solar panels needed to power them:

  1. Kuwait, Asia
    City size: 200 km2
    Solar panel size: 1 km2
  2. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Africa
    City size: 1,590 km2
    Solar panel size: 1 km2
  3. Nairobi, Kenya, Africa
    City size: 696 km2
    Solar panel size: 1 km2
  4. Accra, Ghana, Africa
    City size: 173 km2
    Solar panel size: 2 km2
  5. Khartoum, Sudan, Africa
    City size: 932 km2
    Solar panel size: 2 km2

 

The top 5 cities with the biggest areas (sq km) of solar panels needed to power them:

  1. Chongqing, China, Asia
    City size: 82,403 km2
    Solar panel size: 684 km2
  2. Tokyo, Japan, Asia
    City size: 2,188 km2
    Solar panel size: 284 km2
  3. Shanghai, China, Asia
    City size: 6,340 km2
    Solar panel size: 267 km2
  4. Seoul, South Korea, Asia
    City size: 605 km2
    Solar panel size: 254 km2
  5. Chengdu, China, Asia
    City size: 14,378 km2
    Solar panel size: 242 km2

 

Asia tops the list for the continent that would need to designate the largest space to power its biggest cities by solar. Cities in Asia place in at seven different spaces in the top 10, where the largest amount of space is required.

It may come as a surprise that London, England, places 8th in the same list requiring 138 km2 out of it’s 1,572 km2 area to power itself and its 8,787,892 strong population. Moscow, Russia and New York City, United States also take spots in the top 10, at 5th and 6th respectively.

 

For more information on how many solar panels are needed to power the world, visit; RS Components.

The content & opinions in this article are the author’s and do not necessarily represent the views of AltEnergyMag

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