Research by renewable energy specialists RenEnergy has revealed UK’s service stations are sitting on an untapped renewable energy goldmine worth more than £19 million annually.
The study found that 46,153 car parking spaces across 151 UK service stations are suitable for solar carport installations. These carports could produce around 124 GWh of energy per year, equivalent to powering 1.9 million electric vehicle (EV) trips from London to Manchester.
At current energy rates, this represents potential savings worth £19,300,000 per year for service station operators which could be passed onto EV drivers through reduced charging costs.
Solar carports sit above parking spaces and generate energy from solar panels on the canopy, which can be used for EV charging at every space while providing shelter and shade for vehicles.
Beyond cost savings, solar carports offer service station operators energy security in often remote locations, reduced reliance on the grid, and substantial carbon savings.
The research comes as solar energy rollout and development of the electricity grid to accommodate more demand from the electrification of homes, businesses and vehicles forms a central part of the Government’s Clean Power 2030 strategy.
This includes a government consultation around solar carports and their viability, which has closed and is awaiting results, following RenEnergy’s previous research on carports in commercial car parks.
Damian Baker, founder and managing director of RenEnergy, said:
“The answer to a significant EV charging conundrum is sitting right in front of us in car parks across the country. We know many people are concerned about being able to access chargers on long journeys, and service station operators need more electricity supply to provide more charging spots. Solar carports can provide renewable energy supply along with a number of other benefits to road users, like protection from the elements and EV charging for every space.
“Our research shows that there could be a significant amount of energy harnessed from service station car parks that could go towards creating the EV infrastructure we need. With energy savings of over £11 million on the table annually, there are clear incentives for providers to pass on cost savings to road users for cheaper EV charging.
“If we add to this opportunity the car parks across the UK at offices, hospitals, supermarkets, retail parks, airports, train stations and other places we live, work, and play, we could see a massive increase in secure energy and lower costs for businesses and the public.”
Image courtesy of ReEnergy
