The　distribution　of　rooftop　PV　is　spatial　heterogeneity　with　the　location　of　buildings.　With　the　assistance　of　geographic　information　systems,　this　study　proposed　an　integrated　research　framework　for　the　geo-spatial　potential　assessment　of　PV　systems　on　the　roof　of　urban　buildings　as　well　as　its　feasibility　analysis.　Furthermore,　a　geo-spatialization　of　electricity　self-sufficiency　rate　is　also　introduced　to　explore　the　contribution　of　rooftop　PV　on　urban　energy　security.　The　proposed　approach　was　verified　by　a　case　study　in　the　central　area　of　Wuhan,　China　with　a　100　m　spatial　resolution.　The　results　show　that　the　maximum　annual　PV　power　generation　potential　in　the　central　area　of　Wuhan　is　10,757　GWh,　which　could　satisfy　31.83%　of　local　energy　consumption.　A　100%　deployment　of　rooftop　PV　would　also　lead　to　a　great　carbon　emission　reduction,　i.e.　8.62　million　tons　per　year,　with　an　annual　total　cost　of　8.07　bn　USD.　According　to　the　distribution　characteristics　of　the　PV　self-sufficiency　rate　on　the　map,　priority　is　given　to　investing　in　the　peripheral　areas　of　the　city　with　the　higher　return.　It　is　estimated　that　when　the　PV　conversion　rate　increases　by　5%,　the　peak　self-sufficiency　rate　to　the　area　will　increase　by　20%　in　Wuhan.　Moreover,　if　the　conversion　rate　of　PV　system　reaches　47.13%,　a　fully　utilized　rooftop　in　Wuhan　for　PV　deployment　could　meet　the　local　electricity　demand,　which　implies　a　100%　electricity　self-sufficiency.　This　study　is　helpful　to　understand　the　spatial　heterogeneity　of　rooftop　PV　in　urban　areas,　and　could　serve　as　the　guidelines　for　local　governments　to　develop　renewable　energy　in　a　sustainable　way.　(c)　2022　The　Author(s).　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd.