The research team of architectural analysis company Barbour ABI has found that warehouses have enormous untapped potential to create up to 25GWp of new rooftop solar capacity. The company also found that in 2022, as companies strive to find solutions that can reduce energy costs, the UK's rooftop solar capacity exceeded 3GWp for the first time.
Before announcing this news, Conservative lawmakers from Lincolnshire and nearby counties expressed concerns about the number of large solar power plants in the area, given the existing grid connected capacity. In September 2022, according to SPP, the UK Warehousing Association reported that the total area of unused warehouse roofs reached 18500 acres, which means the UK missed 15GW of solar energy. The AMA research team of Barbour ABI estimates that the existing warehouse roof area exceeds 165 million square meters, equivalent to 30834 football fields, with a potential solar energy capacity of approximately 25GWp.
The UK government's goal is to achieve 70GW of solar power capacity by 2035, and the government's solar working group has highlighted the potential of commercial rooftop solar energy. The Climate Change Committee also stated that by 2030, the UK will need 40GWp of solar energy to achieve its net zero emissions target by 2050.
Alex Blagden, Senior Research Manager at Barbour ABI, commented that "rooftop solar photovoltaics on commercial and industrial buildings may be the fastest way for the UK to increase renewable energy capacity, largely because most plans are unlikely to face opposition from local residents, unlike ground level photovoltaics and wind power plants." Blagden added, "The potential for expanding rooftop solar photovoltaics on commercial and industrial buildings is considerable.", It combines the trend driven by working from home and online shopping, and is a more comprehensive renewable energy approach than sacrificing green belts and natural landscape areas
According to data from Barbour ABI, Amazon UK and Associated British Ports (ABP) are the largest users of rooftop solar photovoltaic power in the UK. Amazon has 26 arrays with a total capacity of over 20MWp, while ABP has a capacity of 29MWp and plans to reach 40MWp by 2025.
The installation of large solar equipment on the roofs of factories is also increasing, and the 6.7MWp array at Don&Low Nonwoven factory in Forfar is the largest solar project installed so far. The number of super large devices on the roofs of factory buildings is also increasing. Seven sites have array power exceeding 5MWp, covering an area equivalent to 25 acres. The 6.7MWp approved project at Don&Low Nonwoven production base in Forfar will become the largest rooftop project to date, larger than the 6.5MWp project at Hull Port owned by ABP Ports, which was put into operation in 2020.
Barbour ABI stated that fluctuations in the energy market, the impact of ESG policies on corporate decision-making, and the decrease in solar photovoltaic power generation costs are the main factors driving the growth of commercial rooftop solar energy investment.