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The Untapped Potential of Solar Power in the UK’s Urban Areas Did you know the 2nd quarter of 2024 saw the share of renewable electricity generation in the UK reach a new record of 51.6%? Indeed, these numbers deserve a round of applause, and the UK has made significant strides in renewable energy, but the potential of solar power in urban areas remains vastly underutilised. Urban spaces in cities like London, Manchester, Birmingham, and Glasgow have the opportunity to turn rooftops and unused spaces into energy-generating assets, but is this potential being used? (Source: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66f423473b919067bb48270e/Energy_Trend s_September_2024.pdf ) Solar PV installation in the UKoffers a clean, sustainable solution to meet the growing energy needs of the dense urban populations. In this article, we will explore how urban areas in the UK can tap into the potential of solar to reduce carbon footprints and energy costs.
The Urban Advantage: Why Solar Power Works for UK Cities? Contrary to popular belief, the UK’s weather, known for its overcast skies, is not a dealbreaker for solar power. Even on cloudy days, cities like London and Edinburgh receive enough sunlight to generate substantial energy. Photovoltaic panels or PV panels are designed to convert indirect sunlight into electricity, which makes them effective even when the skies aren’t clear. Urban areas of the UK experience a unique advantage that most rural establishments are devoid of. We are talking about rooftops. The flat roofs of commercial buildings, apartment complexes, schools, and office spaces provide an excellent platform for solar panel installations. The London Borough of Camden has already made strides in this regard, transforming public buildings into solar power hubs. Other cities like Manchester and Leeds have also seen local authorities encouraging rooftop solar installations to reduce energy costs in public buildings. Solar Power Integration: Turning Buildings into Power Plants The Industrial Revolution started in England and spread over to all of Europe, and even now, the industries in the UK have quite a monolithic share of the economy. Imagine the impact if just a fraction of London’s commercial buildings, high-rise apartments in Manchester, or Glasgow’s industrial units were equipped with solar panels. Although urban solar adoption in the UK does face some hurdles, primarily due to space limitation, planning permissions and cost, where there’s will, there’s a way. In places like Bristol, community-led solar projects can be encouraged, as they can allow multiple residents or businesses to invest in shared solar installations. For cities like Birmingham with limited roof space, solar canopies are a great option, and in densely packed urban areas, vertical solar panels are quite a genius idea. The Bottom Line Most people might not realise this, but adopting solar power in urban areas offers more than just energy savings. It plays a massive role in reducing air pollution from urban heat islands, which are more common in large cities. In addition, solar projects also create local jobs, which bolsters the economy of the urban regions. The untapped potential for solar power in the UK’s urban areas is immense, and if you want to use this potential to your advantage, ensure that you select the right solar PV installers in the UK. Original Source: https://emberenergy.co.uk/the-untapped-potential-of-solar-power-in-the-uks- urban-areas/