Solar Power For Industrial Real Estate On The Agenda At EMEX
There is now national attention on an unusual area of industrial real estate. High out of the way of trees and other blocking buildings, rooftops are said to be an ideal place to mount solar panels for renewable energy generation.
According to a report published in August 2022 for the UK Warehousing Association by Delta EE consultants, UK warehouse roof area alone (excluding industrial buildings) is theoretically large enough to support production of 15GW of electricity production, which equals approximately the entire current solar photovoltaic (PV) installed base in the UK (15.5GW).
Rooftop solar also benefits the building’s users. The report added: “Solar PV can reduce annual electricity costs by 40-80% and protect occupiers against future electricity price rises while preparing for increased demand from electrification of heat and transport.”
The topic was discussed in May, in the first meeting of a new public-private Solar Taskforce convened to support achieving the government’s target of 70GW of installed solar PV by 2030.
Co-chair of the taskforce, and chief executive of trade body Solar Energy UK Chris Hewett said at the time: “Installing rooftop solar power, whether at residential or commercial scale, is one of the best investments available... The benefits can also be greatly enhanced by adding a battery storage system.”
Minister for energy security and net zero Graham Stuart said: “This new dedicated solar taskforce will have a laser-like focus on cutting the costs and breaking down the barriers to harnessing the power of the sun in every way we can, all while using a small fraction of this country’s land.”
The taskforce is scheduled to publish an update in October, with the final report in February 2024.
With an extensive two-day programme of free-to-attend learning across four conference theatres, EMEX 2023 is the place to discover more about this and other current hot topics within the energy management space. The show is also delighted to welcome a wealth of exhibitors to the event showcasing the latest technological advancements across the sector, including potential solar solutions for your business.
Visit the website to find out more: www.emexlondon.com.
Register your FREE place today and join the largest gathering of energy managers and sustainability professionals in the UK. EMEX 2023, London ExCeL, 22nd-23rd November 2023.
