Getting Solar off the Ground: A New Policy Brief and Solar Mapping Tool
A collaboration between CPRE Hampshire, CPRE Sussex and the University of Southampton’s Energy and Climate Change Division has resulted in a new solar mapping tool and policy recommendations for a rooftop solar revolution in the central South region, supported by the Centre for the South New Things Fund.
The Countryside Charity, the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) have been on a mission to maximise the potential of British solar power generation whilst minimising the environmental impact of solar farms built on greenfield sites.
Rooftop solar allows for reduced household bills and greater generation of renewable energy, whilst protecting important natural landscapes. However, planning the rollout of rooftop solar means mapping the potential in the region based on rooftop availability, shade and obstacles like trees and chimneys.
In June, CPRE Hampshire held an inaugural rooftop solar conference, bringing together key players in local energy policy to explore the region’s rooftop solar potential, and present new rooftop mapping research from the University of Southampton to support this initiative.
The University’s solar mapping tool, designed for use by members of the public to identify the rooftop capacity of individual buildings, is now live and free to use.
The mapping tool analysed every rooftop within Hampshire, East and West Sussex and Brighton and Hove, providing theoretical capacities for energy generation and supporting local decarbonisation actions.
In addition to the mapping tool, a policy brief was produced to outline key next steps for driving a rapid rooftop rollout. (link)
This brief provides 10 recommendations for national and local policy, from setting a national rooftop solar target and working with Ofgem to invest in local grid capacity, to identifying hotspots for potential rooftop solar.
“Overall, around 45% of building rooftops were found to have sufficient sunlight over the course of a year for solar PV installation to be effective.”
This tool and policy brief was launched online, attended by council officers and community energy groups. Watch the recorded launch below:
The New Things Fund enables collaboration between researchers and community partners to turn research into real change for the region. Find out more about our New Things Fund projects here.