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Rooftop solar systems could help cities tackle urban heat while generating electricity, Selçuk Yerci, board chairman of the solar energy research center at Middle East Technical University in Turkey, told Anadolu Agency in an interview.

Yerci said panels shade roofs and facades, reducing building temperatures and air-conditioning needs. Their electricity output also coincides with peak summer cooling demand, benefiting the grid. However, their effect on urban temperatures depends on roof characteristics and shading, not simply panel temperature. Panels can become 20–30 degrees Celsius hotter than the surrounding air, making adequate ventilation between panels and roofs important for efficiency.

He advocated combining solar installations in suitable areas with reflective cool roofs and vegetation-covered green roofs elsewhere, rather than covering every roof with panels. Designing green roofs alongside solar systems could support both technologies, he said. Public, commercial and industrial buildings with large roof areas could be prioritized, while integrated solar shading could extend the approach to entire neighborhoods.

Yerci also stressed that building safety must guide installations, particularly given Turkey’s earthquake risk. Buildings with structural weaknesses should be strengthened or replaced before solar equipment is installed, he said. He urged planners to treat solar power, cool and green roofs, trees and shading as complementary elements of a broader climate strategy.

Key Takeaways

• Solar panels can shade buildings and supply power during peak cooling demand.
• Roof design and ventilation influence panels’ thermal effects and efficiency.
• Structural safety should take priority over solar installations on vulnerable buildings.