Green Energy
Calculations on energy produced and its
equivalents: • 1.3+ GW of solar produced by over 546,000+ parking spaces
• This equals 1,263,926,000 GWh of energy produced per year
• 351,000 homes based on average UK home using 3600KW/h per year
• Energy consumed by the Houses of Parliament have been calculated from the costs cited by the House of Commons here for financial year 2022-23 (44,231,176 kWh of electricity)
“We are not taking advantage of the solar energy opportunity that is right in front of us in the UK.”
energy back to the grid to pay for the investment in the process. Entering into a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with a provider such as RenEnergy, businesses can also have solar carports installed completely free of charge and pay only for the energy they use at a lower rate than grid electricity.
Harnessing potential sites
Producing the same level of electricity in a year required to power the Houses of Parliament for 28 years, the ongoing research has found there is at least 1.3GW of solar that could be installed in the form of carports for businesses. Providing businesses across these sectors with energy security and a source of renewable electricity, this would also free up energy from the electricity grid equivalent to that of over 350,000 homes. By avoiding complications by seeking permission from landowners or planning authorities already experienced with rooftop solar arrays, solar carports can see approval within eight weeks under permitted development with prior approval. After this, approval for the District Network Operator (DNO) to secure grid capacity and export is required, a process that providers such as RenEnergy can support businesses with. By providing a renewable energy supply in a quick time frame, businesses can satisfy their entire power generation needs with land they already use for car parking and sell enough
ewnews.co.uk
The research has been launched as high energy costs and unpredictability of energy supply continue to pose challenges to business owners across the UK. RenEnergy is highlighting the opportunity for businesses with suitable car parks to take control of their energy supply and costs through solar carports. Damian Baker, managing director of RenEnergy, said: “Energy security and costs are ongoing concerns for businesses, and are likely to continue as the energy transition continues. To balance energy resilience and cost with reducing carbon emissions in line with targets, companies across the UK must look at all of the options available.
“There is untapped power waiting for many businesses in their car parks, and our research has only scratched the surface of defining the solar power generation opportunity from commercial car parks. They could harness enough energy to cover their electricity needs and even sell energy back to the grid, paying for their investment in the process. Without needing to gain planning or landowner permission, harnessing the power
of solar carports is truly an energy open goal for businesses in the UK.”
The installation of solar panels on car parks is already mandatory in a number of European countries, including Slovenia and France for those with more than 80 spaces. With so much energy potential from solar carports in the UK, rolling them out on British soil could be the answer to energy security concerns from government, businesses and the public. Damian adds: “We are not taking advantage of the solar energy opportunity that is right in front of us in the UK. If businesses are able to make use of an energy supply in their car park at no extra cost to them, we could see the equivalent energy for hundreds of thousands of homes not needing to come from the grid.”
About RenEnergy
Founded in Norwich in 2006, RenEnergy is an industry leader in renewable energy solutions, including solar carports, electric vehicle charging stations, and bespoke solar installations. Working across the UK and South Africa, RenEnergy is a EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) accredited business with an experienced team of expert consultants, designers, procurement and installers. The company designs, installs, maintains and manages assets for businesses across a variety of industries including airports, hospitality and leisure, manufacturing and public sector.
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