Current UK renewables statistics showcase important progress but additionally spotlight the essential position that industrial rooftop photo voltaic installations should play within the nation’s renewable vitality transition, says photo voltaic options agency Solivus.
Based on the most recent Vitality Traits report from the Division of Vitality Safety and Web Zero (DESNZ),1 renewable vitality accounted for greater than half (50.8%) of the UK’s electrical energy era for the primary time in 2024. Solar energy alone reached a document excessive, rising by 6.5% to 14.8TWh. Nonetheless, regardless of home photo voltaic installations comprising the vast majority of photo voltaic quantity, they contribute solely 30% of the UK’s complete photo voltaic capability
Whereas these figures mark important progress within the UK’s low-carbon financial system, light-weight photo voltaic specialist Solivus argues that industrial rooftop photo voltaic stays an underutilised alternative.
Jo Parker-Swift, CEO and founding father of Solivus, acknowledged: “Solar energy is central to the UK’s internet zero ambitions, and it’s unbelievable to see the nation’s photo voltaic capability rising at such a formidable price. Nonetheless, a lot of the main target stays on residential installations, whereas the true sport changer lies within the enlargement of business photo voltaic. That is the place now we have the potential for a seismic shift in how we generate and eat energy.”
“A single house putting in photo voltaic panels is a win, however a largescale industrial or industrial outlet outfitting its complete facility with rooftop photo voltaic is transformative. Companies, notably energy-intensive ones, eat considerably extra electrical energy than residential properties. Their adoption of photo voltaic not solely reduces demand on the grid but additionally decreases reliance on fossil fuels and strengthens the UK’s renewable vitality infrastructure.”
Regardless of the advantages, a current evaluation reveals that lower than 10% of the UK’s non-domestic buildings at the moment utilise their obtainable rooftop area for photo voltaic vitality.2 By harnessing this untapped potential, industrial buildings might generate an estimated 117TWh of electrical energy yearly—sufficient to energy roughly 30 million properties, exceeding the full variety of households within the UK. Financially, this might equate to financial savings of £35 billion, with lifetime financial savings reaching £703 billion.”
Jo provides: “The federal government has set an formidable goal to extend photo voltaic capability almost fivefold to 70GW by 2035 as a part of its broader technique to safe cleaner and extra reasonably priced vitality. Whereas residential photo voltaic stays vital, unlocking the complete potential of business photo voltaic is crucial. That is the place essentially the most profound and lasting influence will likely be made, and it have to be prioritised accordingly.”
Notes
[1] https://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/renewables-generated-50-8-of-the-uks-electricity-in-2024/
[2] https://powermarket.ai/buildings-could-save-35bn/#:~:textual content=Apercent20groundbreakingpercent20analysispercent20bypercent20PowerMarket,leavingpercent20apercent20vastpercent20untappedpercent20potential.
