Footprint Zero, a leading advocate for sustainable energy solutions, is urging the UK Government, particularly Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, to introduce a preferential feed-in tariff for solar energy generated from on-roof and car park installations. This initiative aims to prioritize solar developments that do not encroach upon valuable agricultural land or natural landscapes.
With the growing demand for renewable energy, the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on open fields has sparked significant environmental and aesthetic concerns. Footprint Zero is raising questions about the continued expansion of ground-based solar farms, especially when there is still a significant amount of underutilized industrial roof space and car parks available.
Recently, Ed Miliband approved the development of three large-scale solar farms at Mallard Pass (Rutland and Lincolnshire), Sunnica (Suffolk and Cambridgeshire), and Gate Burton (Lincolnshire). These projects, spanning a total of 2,837 hectares, are expected to generate 1.4 GW of power, enough to supply electricity to 406,994 homes. While the benefits of renewable energy are undeniable, Footprint Zero and other environmental organizations argue that the UK can achieve its energy goals without sacrificing the countryside.
The Countryside Charity (formerly the Campaign to Protect Rural England) has launched a campaign urging the government to set a target for at least 60% of the solar energy required by 2035 to come from rooftop installations. The organization highlights several advantages of on-roof solar, including the preservation of farmland, improved energy efficiency by generating power close to where it is needed, and the protection of rural landscapes.
According to government data, the UK has approximately 250,000 hectares of south-facing industrial roof space and 20,000 hectares of car parks, totaling more than 2.5 billion square meters. Even at a conservative solar panel efficiency rate of 18%, this area could generate around 486 GWh of electricity annually, significantly exceeding the UK’s current energy consumption.
Rupert Harrow, Founding Director of Footprint Zero, emphasizes the importance of updating government policies to reflect the potential of rooftop solar. “We commend The Countryside Charity for their excellent work in advocating for more on-roof solar. It is crucial that the UK Government introduces incentives to prioritize on-roof and car park solar over ground-mounted systems. The original solar feed-in tariff was instrumental in driving the adoption of solar PV across the country, and it is time to revisit this policy to ensure that we maximize the use of available roof space.”
Harrow further states, “No one wants to see vast solar farms covering our greenbelt when we have the opportunity to meet our energy needs through rooftop solar installations. By incentivizing on-roof solar, we can generate sufficient clean, renewable energy while preserving the natural beauty of our countryside.”
Footprint Zero is urging the government to take immediate action by introducing a preferential feed-in tariff for on-roof solar. This policy update would not only accelerate the adoption of renewable energy but also ensure that the UK’s energy transition is both environmentally responsible and socially acceptable.
