Google is planning to use satellite imagery to map the “solar potential” of Britain’s rooftops as part of a push into the renewable energy industry.

The data could be used to encourage British households to install solar ­panels on their roofs to help cut energy bills.

Using imagery from the Google Maps and Google Earth applications, the tech giant will calculate the total amount of sunlight that falls on a ­rooftop every year by using weather data, the position of the sun across the seasons, the size and pitch of the roof, as well as any shadows from surrounding buildings or trees.

The project also uses machine learning to create a computer tool that can assess the “solar potential” of a rooftop in seconds.

Kate Brandt, Google’s head of sustainability, told The Telegraph that “Project Sunroof” is set to expand through Europe in partnership with E.On and is likely to map UK rooftops.