How Councils can integrate solar energy on public buildings
Why are there almost no solar panels on council-owned buildings across the UK? Solar panels are a trusted and effective source of renewable energy. However, barriers have stood in the way of the installation of solar panels on publicly-owned buildings. It doesn’t have to be this way.
Public buildings, such as libraries, schools, community centres and council offices are prime candidates for solar energy integration. These buildings often require vast amounts of energy which can strain council budgets and contribute to emissions. Solar panels provide energy for key functions in buildings such as lighting and heating homes, and running appliances, without any direct emissions. Displacing the need for electricity generated by coal and natural gas reduces pollutants released into the air, improving air quality across the UK.
By integrating solar power, councils can generate a clean energy source while creating long-term savings. This article offers a walk-through of the ways in which councils can harness the benefits of solar panels and work with the renewable sector to save costs and bring environmental benefits to their local areas.
What Are The Challenges?
♦ Budget Constraints
Councils often operate on tight budgets, so contemplating the upfront costs of solar energy can be a daunting prospect. While solar energy offers long-term savings, their installation requires significant investment, particularly when it involves retrofitting older public buildings. However, there are solutions which offer a gateway for councils to benefit from solar systems without bearing the brunt of the initial investment.
Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) are a financing model in which a solar developer pays for the installation of solar panels on the roofs of buildings, at no cost to the council, and then sells the clean solar energy to the council at a reduced rate. This means that the council simply switches some of its energy bills to its solar partner, and receives electricity at often a lower price per watt.
If a council engages this PPA initiative, it receives the benefits of solar energy with no extra budgetary pressure. Importantly, the solar company is motivated to install the most efficient and reliable solar system as they are responsible for its performance and maintenance, ensuring the panels are optimally run, maximising energy output.
If a council does have sufficient funding for green initiatives, they can buy the solar panel unit outright or from the solar partner in the years after installation, providing them with a self-sustaining source of energy. Decentralising energy production reduces the transmission losses of the grid, and the impacts of power plants on air quality. Roof-top solar panels offer consumption-sited generation that coincides with demand, creating zero emissions during operation, playing a key part in protecting the environment and public health.
The government also often offers grants, subsidies and tax incentives to promote the adoption of renewable energy, openin doors for councils to embrace solar power. If a council does own their solar system, they can sell excess energy generated to the grid in return for payment, via the UK’s Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) project. Each unit of electricity exported, at times of high sunlight or low energy use, will generate payment for the council. All of this means that it is possible for councils to engage in renewable energy initiatives and deploy solar panels on public buildings, with private companies well-placed across the UK to bridge the initial investment and expertise gaps.
♦ Public Perception and Policy Conflict
Even when there is desire to build solar panel units, councils can face challenges of public perception and inconsistent national and local regulations, especially when policies are frequently changing.
While climate goals are a national priority, solar panel projects can often come to a standstill when ground-mounted solar is opposed on the grounds of disturbing the environment, decreasing property value, and are seen as eyesores by locals. There are potential compromises with ground-mounted solar projects, which is why rooftop solar is an ideal solution. Mounting solar panels on under-utilised roof space, which across council portfolios amounts to vast potential areas, means that the council can generate energy without encroaching on greenfield sites. Roof solar minimises any lengthy conflict over land use, preserves open space, and maximises efficiency by providing electricity directly to the building itself.
Installing solar panels also provides councils with an opportunity to educate the public, showing they do not degrade the aesthetics of the local area, can increase property value, and offer a symbol of commitment to the local environment. As solar uptake increases, it contributes to a conversation in which environmental protection and air quality becomes a first priority.
It is particularly important that councils engage their communities early, to ensure that everyone is aligned with the project’s goals. Integrating solar energy into public buildings is a complex process which requires numerous stakeholders, from council members, local communities, contractors, and energy providers, but with sufficient public information and engagement, solar can be a flagship green project for councils.
♦ Technical and Structural Limitations
Of course, not all public buildings are structurally suited to solar panel installation. Roof orientation, shading, and the age of the building can all impact the viability of a project. Thorough feasibility studies are necessary to assess whether a building can support solar infrastructure. Councils should partner with a solar company that can provide an honest assessment and recommendations, cooperating with the council to identify how solar can best fit their existing needs, or whether indeed roof solar is not possible.
When structural challenges arise, there are alternative solutions, such as light weight solar panels, community solar farms, or ground-mounted solar panels in the appropriate site. Intelligent and adaptive solutions allow councils to harness solar energy suited to their specific needs.
The next stage will be ensuring that councils receive the full benefit of solar energy, for which the sun’s intermittency in the UK can be a challenge. Solar panels only generate electricity when the sun is shining, which may not always coincide with a building’s energy use. This is where energy storage comes into play. With a battery, councils can store the excess energy generated during the day and release it electricity when needed, or at times of peak demand. For example, energy collected during the summer could be used by a school in the winter. Energy storage allows councils to maximise the efficiency of their solar systems and reduce reliance on grid electricity.
We have seen that solar systems can be tailored to suit a specific building’s infrastructure and needs, and (overcoming potential misconceptions) that they are a responsible strategy for any building owner to minimise their carbon footprint.
Why Should Councils Act Now?
♦ Cost Saving
Solar systems are a key tool for addressing environmental challenges through effective and empowered local action. Importantly for councils, at the same time they offer cost savings in the short term by reducing their electricity bills. With a free solar partnership, councils can reduce their energy costs without any capital outlay. If a council has enough reserves, they can buy the solar system and benefit from selling surplus power back to the grid.
Reducing reliance on traditional energy suppliers also provides councils with a degree of energy independence. This shields councils from volatile market prices and supply disruptions. With a fluctuating energy market, buildings using solar energy are better positioned to maintain financial stability. Through solar power, councils can forecast energy expenditures more effectively, securing long-term energy stability for public buildings.
Energy independence also comes hand in hand with energy resilience, particularly when solar is integrated with battery storage. During peak demand or unexpected grid outages, councils can rely on stored solar energy to power essential services such as schools, libraries, and healthcare facilities. In these high-pressure scenarios, uninterrupted power supply is critical. Solar energy with battery storage is a major step in establishing a continuous energy supply, which ensures councils can provide reliable public services.
A building’s purpose may change over time, and should a council want to sell, solar energy can also enhance the value of the property. Solar-powered properties are considered more energy efficient, which makes them attractive to investors, tenants, and future buyers. By improving a building’s sustainability and reducing operating costs, councils can boost the value of their public assets. Additionally, a track record of solar integration can be an advantage when applying for funding aimed at sustainable infrastructure, helping councils to leverage their investments towards further community improvements.
♦ Environmental Benefits
The environmental benefits of solar power are numerous. Solar panels reduce a building’s carbon emissions, playing a key role in achieving national and local commitments to lowering carbon footprint. Decreasing reliance on fossil fuels contributes to cleaner air, as less pollutants and particulate matter are released into the air as coal and natural gas is burned to create electricity. Solar panels demonstrate a commitment to environmental protection and higher air quality, and can act as a visual symbol to highlight that councils value the welfare of its residents and environment. Manifesting a commitment to fostering a greener future can also improve a council’s reputation and strengthen relationships with environmentally-conscious stakeholders.
By adopting solar energy, councils position themselves as leaders in the transition to renewable energy, setting an example for local businesses, residents, and neighbouring councils. The installation and management of solar panels can also spur economic growth. Solar panel maintenance can create green job opportunities, bolstering the local job market with career opportunities in the renewable sector.
The Path Forward
Solar panel systems present a unique opportunity for councils to reduce costs, improve sustainability, and demonstrate leadership in adopting renewable energy.
Historically, high upfront costs, a lack of expertise, and conflicts over the use of ground space has stalled the take-up of solar panels by public bodies such as councils. With new opportunities to partner with a private solar company which can shoulder all the capital costs and offer trusted guidance in installing solar panels on the roofs of public buildings, the path is clear for councils to benefit from cheap, green energy.
Sue Welland is one of the Founding Partners of Electron Green. She has spent a lifetime in sustainability and helping both the public and private sector to realise benefits from low carbon initiatives. This started in the early 1990s when she and her business partner invented the term ‘CarbonNeutral’ and created the first carbon ‘measure, reduce and offset’ programmes.