With the public sector finally embracing its renewable energy potential thanks to the latest investment promise from GB Energy, the private sector should feel more confident than ever in renewables, according to Anthony Maguire, Managing Director of Longevity Power, the independent strategic renewable energy consultancy.
The £180 million earmarked for schools and hospitals is a welcome step in the right direction, with local governments across the country already staking their claim, including London, Cornwall and Dorset.
“The policy shows leadership from the Government, who are now properly investing via GB Energy in long-term energy resilience and sustainability for the UK” said Mr Maguire. “Schools and hospitals are highly visible public buildings at the heart of communities, so the impact – both in reducing emissions and increasing public awareness of renewables - will be significant. Renewable energy projects in the public sector have often been held up by a range of factors, and the Government’s investment plans helps address many of these issues.”
Solar PV provides proven long-term savings by reducing energy bills. However, the initial capital investment needed has historically been a barrier to rollout, especially for publicly funded institutions with tight budgets.
Many schools lease their buildings or don’t directly pay energy bills, which can make it harder to justify capital projects. Until recently, there has been little appetite or support to guide schools through the feasibility, design, and installation process for solar PV.
However, Mr Maguire believes the Government’s recent investment in solar PV for schools and hospitals will in turn encourage organisations in the commercial space to follow suit and commit to renewables as well.
“Business can follow the example set by GB Energy’s investment plans and commit to renewable energy themselves” Mr Maguire added. “It’s a prime opportunity for businesses to take advantage of the increased interest in renewable energy and reduce their emissions and energy bills. For example, among the 30 largest shopping centres in the UK, only eight currently have solar installed. And of the 334 shopping centres and retail parks nationwide that Longevity Power has analysed only 48 have solar PV installed – that’s less than 15 percent. There’s huge untapped potential here in the UK to do more with solar PV.
In particular, GB Energy’s investment plans will hopefully act as a much-needed catalyst to boost the commercial property sector’s solar uptake. Many clean energy projects - especially those over 1MW - are currently delayed and in limbo due to grid connection limitations, including many public and private sector buildings with large roof space.
GB Energy needs to determine early in the application process if projects are designed for on-site consumption or are being built to export energy to the grid. That way, projects that have minimal grid impact – such as the ones we’re expecting for schools and hospitals - can get underway quickly and start benefiting sooner. We also need to see a strong commitment to battery storage. Batteries don’t just store excess solar – they help manage local energy flow, ease pressure on the grid, and create flexibility in when and how power is used.
The public sector is ideally placed to lead in battery storage, and it can set the benchmark for wider adoption, at which point we’ll definitely see an ease in grid constraints.”
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