New parking regulations may be introduced across England, with standard car parks being transformed to generate renewable energy. Bristol, in the south west of England, is pioneering the installation of solar panel canopies that produce clean electricity for electric vehicle charging stations.
Call for Government Rule Change
Solar Car Park, a member of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, is urging the government to amend regulations to expand solar car ports throughout the UK, particularly in the West Midlands. Jon Graham, co-founder of Solar Car Park, stated: “Businesses across the UK are under increasing pressure from rising energy costs whilst also trying to improve their sustainability credentials. Solar car ports offer a practical solution that allows organisations to generate renewable energy from an underutilised asset they already own, their car park.”
Benefits for the Midlands
Graham, originally from the Birmingham area, added: “One of my personal ambitions is to help bring solar car port infrastructure to businesses across Birmingham and the wider Midlands region. There is a huge opportunity for organisations to reduce long-term energy costs whilst also strengthening their sustainability messaging.”
The company highlighted several advantages: transforming underutilised parking areas into renewable energy assets helps businesses reduce long-term electricity costs, supports EV charging infrastructure, improves sustainability credentials, generates on-site renewable energy, and makes better use of existing real estate. Solar Car Park collaborates with businesses, consultants, and solar PV installers across the UK through direct delivery and white-label partnership models.
Government Support and Potential Savings
The government previously launched a call for evidence to explore the untapped potential of solar energy in car parks across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Supermarkets, retail parks, and offices could save up to £28,000 a year on energy bills by converting their car parks into solar carports, powering businesses and homes across the UK.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband commented: “Right now, the sun is shining on hundreds of thousands of car parking spaces across the country which could be used to power our homes and businesses. 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.”
