CLEAN ENERGY NEWS

Warehouse rooftops could double the UK’s current solar capacity and save billions

Solar panels offer low cost, secure and green electricity for warehouses. As business energy costs rise, a new report reveals that warehouse rooftops could double the UK’s current solar capacity and save billions. 

An independent research report, commissioned by the UK Warehousing Association (UKWA) has shown huge potential benefits for the UK, and for the warehousing & logistics sector, of installing solar photovoltaic (PV) systems on the nation’s warehouse rooftops.

As the warehousing sector possesses approximately a third of all commercial roof space, it has the potential to double UK’s solar PV capacity, which means the warehousing sector alone could deliver the entire UK requirement for 2030 forecast by the National Grid future energy scenarios (FES).

Commenting on the report, Chief Executive of UKWA Clare Bottle said, “As energy costs continue to rise, it is essential that we seize this opportunity to potentially double UK’s solar PV capacity and massively reduce electricity costs for businesses in this vital sector. The current crisis in Ukraine has underlined the necessity for a more secure power supply for the UK and adopting solar PV across the country clearly supports the journey towards the government’s 2050 net zero targets.

“UKWA is calling on the government to support the sector in embracing solar PV as it transitions to electrification with transport fleets, forklifts and other mechanical handling equipment (MHE), automation and robotics, all of which will drive up requirement for low-cost, sustainable electricity.”

For more information, please visit the Logistics Handling website.

Secure, green and low cost electricity for warehouses

With typically large expanses of unused roof space and colossal energy bills, warehouses are a perfect case for installing solar panels, battery storage and clean energy solutions to deliver financial savings, carbon reductions and energy independence.

A typical industrial-scale solar panel system will provide free electricity for more than 25 years, achieve financial returns of more than 15% per annum and pay back installation costs within 5-years. For more information including finance options please visit solar panels for warehouses.

According to the report, UK warehousing has the roof space for up to 15GW of new solar power, which could:

• Double UK’s solar capacity
• Reduce carbon emissions by 2 million tonnes/year
• Cut warehousing electricity costs from between 40-80%
• Save the warehousing sector £3bn/year
• Provide a more secure power supply
• Enable the sector to become a net producer of green electricity

A ‘Greenprint’ for Sustainable Warehousing webinar

Date: Monday 14th November 2022 (09:30am)

An Intralogistics Live webinar organised by Linde Material Handling with guest speakers including; Claire Bottle, Chief Executive of the UK Warehousing Association and Stephen Barrett, Managing Director of Solarsense.

Transportation is normally the first thing we think about when considering the sustainability of logistics. Yet according to the UK Warehousing Association (UKWA), warehousing in this country in 2021 accounted for 566m sq ft of property – a rise of 32% over the previous six years. This represents a considerable carbon footprint and means that the future lies in end-to-end sustainability across the supply chain, inclusive of the warehousing environment.

With energy costs and environmental considerations now top of the corporate board agenda, this webinar puts the spotlight on intralogistics operation. It will explore what logistics providers, manufacturers, warehouse property owners and the renewables sector are doing to ensure business and environmental sustainability in the warehousing sector through saving energy, reducing emissions and optimising environmental footprint.

To register for this live webinar, please click here.

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Solarsense provide a supply, installation and maintenance service for industrial-scale solar panels and offer a range of finance options, including 100% asset finance and a competitive power purchase agreement (PPA) – offering a free solar panel system for warehouses.

Simply fill out the form on our contact us page and one of our energy experts will get in touch to discuss your options for renewable energy installation.