UK government launches call for evidence to place solar canopies on car parks

The UK government has announced that it will explore the concept of placing solar canopies on car parks throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland. In a call for evidence, the government hopes to understand the potential and the feasibility of mandating the use of solar canopies on new outdoor car parks, as well as deployment on existing sites[i]. The proposal includes car parks in both public and private ownership.

Both public and private car parks offer an interesting opportunity for the installation of solar canopies, a process which is already being utilised in many countries within mainland Europe. As we  reported at the end of 2022, France became a flag-bearer for the concept of SCPs, enacting legislation to make it mandatory for all large car parks to be covered by solar panel canopies, with the legislation stating that new and existing car parks with space for 80 or more vehicles must be modified[ii]. From July 2023[iii], car parks with between 80 and 400 spaces will have five years to implement the measures, and those with more than 400 spaces just three years to comply- meaning that the first wave of these modifications will be needed by July 2026.

ZCA previously raised the question of whether the UK could follow a similar path, perhaps mandating that larger car parks install solar canopies where practical. We argued that this could have positive implications in terms of energy generation in general, and also in providing electricity and charging points for EVs. Councils and private companies should consider the idea of encouraging ‘charge where you stop’, locating solar-powered EV chargers in car parks where consumers often stop for a moderate amount of time (30 minutes or more) such as gyms, leisure centres, cinemas, shopping centres, and supermarkets.

Consumers & businesses to benefit

Launching its call for evidence, the UK government states that consumers could benefit from cheaper charging costs through the introduction of solar canopies in car parks. Further, supermarkets, retail parks, and offices could also save money on their energy bills by turning their carparks into ‘solar carports’, saving up to £28,000 a year (on average for an 80-space car park) and powering businesses and homes across the UK.

In a press release, the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) explains that these proposals would form part of the government’s wider ‘Plan for Change’ - unlocking underutilised space which could instead be used to power homes and businesses with clean, cheap, secure power.

The Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband has already approved nearly 3 GW of new solar capacity since July 2024, enough to power the equivalent of 1 million homes. He states:

“We want to work with businesses and car park operators to turn our car parks into solar carports to save families and businesses money with clean, homegrown British energy through our Plan for Change.”[iv]

Ben Cox, Director at Sovereign Centros from CBRE, Asset Managers of Metrocentre (which has installed over 5,300 rooftop and carport solar panels generating enough to cover 40% of their annual electricity usage) said that he welcomed DESNZs call for evidence, adding:

“With the largest number of EV charging points of any shopping centre in the country, and over 5,000 PV panels in action, including those on car ports in Green and Blue Mall car parks, we have already taken great steps to secure a more sustainable future. Solar canopies have proven to improve the experience for customers, providing shaded cover for cars during heatwaves, creating a cooler environment for both vehicles and pedestrians.”[v]

References

[i] Solar on car parks and electric vehicle charging - GOV.UK

[ii] Driving renewables: Could council and privately-run car parks provide the solution for solar space requirements?

[iii] Solar Carports: New French Legislation for All Car Parks | Clegg

[iv] Better deal for motorists and businesses with solar car parks - GOV.UK

[v] Ibid

‍