INDUSTRY NEWS SOLAR CARPORTS: GOVERNMENT IS MISSING A MAJOR CLEAN ENERGY OPPORTUNITY
organisation. This could be provided by solar car ports over 629,900 suitable spaces across commercial car parks, and is the equivalent electricity required to meet the average yearly consumption of around 404,000 UK homes. With planning concerns and opposition to renewable energy production sites often cited as obstacles to rollout, Baker is arguing car park solar installations address challenges that can be associated with ground arrays in countryside and farmland.
Damian Baker, the founder and managing director of UK-based RenEnergy, is warning the government of a missed clean energy opportunity in solar energy in car parks. Baker is drawing attention to the 1,456 GWh
of annual solar energy potential identified by an ongoing research project commissioned by the
The solar PV canopies above parking spaces, that provide energy to adjoining businesses as well as EV charging, make use of land that is already used for parking and see planning and DNO approval in around eight weeks. Providing a renewable and reliable energy source for businesses, Baker is also arguing that these
BATTERY MANUFACTURING SKILLS
University College Birmingham has launched a fully accredited Battery Manufacturing Skills Pathway (B-MSP), the first of its kind in the UK. Led and shaped by industry demands to fill the increasing skills gap in battery
manufacturing, the B-MSP is a City & Guilds accredited programme designed to provide a flexible and scalable training solution for SMEs and gigafactories alike. As the UK looks to drive momentum towards sustainable manufacturing and NetZero, the B-MSP has been developed to create a talent pipeline that will sustain the nation’s battery value chain across sectors such as automotive, marine, defence, portable electronics and construction. The Rt Hon Lord Hunt of Kings Heath OBE, Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero said: “Every wind turbine we put up, every solar panel we install, every battery storage facility we construct, helps protect families from future energy shocks. “Storing energy is key to reaching clean power by 2030 and building an
energy system that can bring down energy bills for good. “The Birmingham Battery Manufacturing Skills Pathway is at the forefront
of equipping the battery manufacturing workforce with the expertise needed to power a sustainable future,” he added.
https://www.ucb.ac.uk/ COMMENT W
elcome to the Spring issue of Energy & Sustainability Solutions. As can be seen in the news story above, the government
is missing an opportunity when it comes to solar energy in car parks. There are huge benefits to using solar carports across the UK. In fact in our feature on page 32, Solspan points out that solar carports have the ability to charge 166 million EVs annually for large businesses in the UK. They are gaining in popularity in Europe, so why aren’t solar carports being used more in the UK?
Similarly, on the topic of electric vehicles, Europe is leading the way
when it comes to electric trains – and this could be the future of rail in the UK. On page 34 you will find out why battery-powered trains are a necessity for a sustainable future in the UK. “By learning from Europe’s successes and continuing to innovate, we can lead the way in creating a cleaner, greener, future for all”.
Rachael Morling - Editor
installations can also reduce the offtake of businesses to provide more resilience while the grid is being upgraded. Baker said: “We know that the success of
the Clean Power strategy and rollout requires measure that will speed up the planning process and get infrastructure and facilities connected to the grid as quickly as possible. The government and businesses, however, are missing an open goal that sits in commercial car parks. “While wider infrastructure projects are being
planned, constructed and connected, car park installations could represent a quicker route for the UK, with planning often taking only eight weeks to go through. Businesses can also help with alleviating pressure on the grid with battery energy storage as part of the installation, providing a decentralised source of energy while the grid and production infrastructure is upgraded over the coming years.”
www.renenergy.co.uk/carparkresearch
DAIKIN SETS THE BAR IN CARBON DATA RECORDING WITH SUITE OF EPDs
Daikin, a leader in the heating, ventilation and cooling sector, has brought together a suite of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for its climate control solutions, setting the bar in carbon data reporting. The available EPDs include the VRV5 R-32 Heat Recovery system and R-32
Ducted Fan Coils. Daikin is constantly adding to its range of EPD documents, with many more currently in development, including one for its ground- breaking CZ-HT, commercial heat pump. With an ever-growing number of businesses committing to measuring and reducing the whole life carbon impact of their operations, EPDs are a crucial tool for obtaining robust and transparent data. Containing quality-assured, quantifiable data on both embodied and
operational carbon, EPDs provide a full picture of how the product will perform on site, as well as the carbon that went into its manufacture and transportation – providing reassurance to building designers, planners, contractors and developers that Daikin’s products meet their needs. Steve Molloy, sustainability and commercial solutions manager at Daikin,
commented: “EPDs provide the transparency needed to drive sustainable change and we are proud to be leading the way in this effort. We are committed to further developing our offering, providing our customers with the right data, services and products to meet their needs, as well as those of their clients.”
www.daikin.co.uk/epd
4ENERGY & SUSTAINABILITY SOLUTIONS - Spring 2025
www.essmag.co.uk
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