Latest UK renewables statistics showcase vital 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.
In accordance with the newest Vitality Developments 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 report excessive, growing by 6.5% to 14.8TWh. Nevertheless, regardless of home photo voltaic installations comprising nearly all of photo voltaic quantity, they contribute solely 30% of the UK’s complete photo voltaic capability
Whereas these figures mark vital progress within the UK’s low-carbon economic 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, said: “Solar energy is central to the UK’s web zero ambitions, and it’s unimaginable to see the nation’s photo voltaic capability rising at such a powerful price. Nevertheless, a lot of the main focus stays on residential installations, whereas the actual recreation changer lies within the growth 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 total facility with rooftop photo voltaic is transformative. Companies, significantly 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 latest evaluation reveals that lower than 10% of the UK’s non-domestic buildings at the moment utilise their out there rooftop area for photo voltaic vitality.2 By harnessing this untapped potential, industrial buildings may generate an estimated 117TWh of electrical energy yearly—sufficient to energy roughly 30 million properties, exceeding the whole 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 bold goal to extend photo voltaic capability practically 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 necessary, unlocking the complete potential of business photo voltaic is important. That is the place probably the most profound and lasting influence will probably 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.
