London is the third biggest city in Europe and is sometimes categorised as a megacity due to the population therein. The city is nearly 2,000 years old and is a mix of historical buildings and sites and ultra-modern architecture. London can boast that it has the 2nd busiest airport in the world as far as international flights go, and is the most visited city in Europe, and the 3rd in the world.
Yet, for all its impressive statistics, London seems to be falling behind in one important area; renewable energy. And in particular, solar power. With the recent threats of power cuts, having an off-grid solar installation would be a good way to prepare for blackouts in the capital yet the UK has never been seen as a destination for sun worshippers. London also has many high-rise estates such as Becontree.
Do the weather and London’s built-up areas mean that solar panel installations are impractical, or are there other reasons why solar energy isn’t being used by more Londoners?
Are solar panels popular in London and the UK?
In 2022, it was estimated that around 1 million UK homes had solar panels installed with 61,320 new installations taking place the year before. The popularity of solar panels is on the rise in the UK but not so much in London.
2021 saw a 71% increase in solar PV installations compared to 2020, and the first half of 2022 had an 80% rise compared to the same period in ’21. It has been reported that 1 in 32 homeowners are investing in solar panels in the SW of England. But, in London, the story is very different.
London solar panel installation is simple to arrange, and there are some government incentives in place. The Mayor of London himself has set targets for the city to generate more solar power in the coming years. Yet, in London, only about 0.5% of homes currently have solar panels installed. And just 1 in 260 households are considering or actively investing in this renewable energy source.
In fact, London has fewer rooftop solar panels than any other major city in the country. This may be partly to do with the higher levels of renters (29%) compared to other parts of the country (20%), but it may also be due to a belief that London isn’t suitable for solar power.
Does London get enough sunlight to make solar panels efficient?
One study by Energy for London suggested that perhaps 20% of the current electricity demand could be met through solar panel installations. This report referred to both residential and commercial usage.
Of course, London enjoys some wonderful sunny days, but the winters are dark, and frankly, miserable. It doesn’t necessarily seem a likely place to generate huge amounts of solar power. Sunny Cornwall on the other hand is home to 15% of the country’s solar panel installations.
Yet, the truth is that every location in the UK can receive enough sunlight to produce solar power through modern PV cells. Direct sunlight is ideal, but solar panels work on overcast days too, which is good news for Londoners.
Pros and cons of solar panel installations in London
London can’t boast of having the same weather as California, but solar panels can still operate with lower levels of direct sunlight. There are some substantial benefits to using solar power, but there are a few downsides too.
Pros of solar panels
You will save money
One study suggests that Londoners could save up to 70% on their energy bills through the use of solar power. Electricity bills in the UK on average are around £987 a year. If you use solar power you will need less electricity and be saving energy and money
You will see a return on your investment
Solar panel installations in the UK cost around £6,400 on average. This can be recouped within 8 years through savings on utility bills. Electricity bills have been rising over the last 12 months as gas prices soar. If this continues, solar PV installations would pay for themselves even quicker than they currently do.
As an example of how much lighting costs, it is estimated that £200,000 would be saved by turning off the Christmas lights in Oxford Street overnight.
Solar power helps the environment
While not everything about solar panel manufacture is great for the environment, the good completely outweighs any harm when compared to electricity generated by fossil fuels.
London is one of the most polluted areas in the country and is 14% above the WHO’s recommendations for clean air. Solar power is clean energy and PV installations produce no emissions while in use.
Cons of using solar power
Difficult to install on some London buildings
London is home to mansions, tower blocks, 5-story townhouses, and listed buildings. Some of these buildings present practical, and in some cases, legal problems for solar panel installations.
Not all roofs in London are suitable for solar panels
Although you won’t see thatched roofs anymore, not every building in London is suitable for solar PV installations. Slate roofs are becoming more popular once again, and these can present some difficulties for installers due to the fragile nature of the tiles.
Solar panels may be considered unsightly
Some homeowners may baulk at covering their expensive Mayfair townhouse in solar panels. No matter what the savings to the environment and the wallet are.
What buildings in London could benefit from solar panels?
The government and the Mayor of London have made commitments toward increasing solar power generation in the capital. How successful these plans are will have to be seen, but there are positive signs.
The London Assembly has published a London Solar Opportunity map to show every resident and business owner how much energy could be generated across the capital through rooftop solar. This shows buildings and land throughout the capital.
Already, London has the largest solar bridge in the world in Blackfriars. The train station generates 50% of all its power needs through solar panels on the bridge. But, it isn’t just buildings that can help to increase solar generation. Other areas could be looked at too.
For example, the cost of street lighting in the UK was £882 million in the 2021-22 period. Up to 40% of municipal electricity bills are taken up by street lighting. So, if this was at least partially solar-powered, hundreds of millions of pounds could be saved. Street lighting also produces considerable levels of carbon emissions.
Does the UK government provide incentives for Londoners to install solar panels?
Many of the government incentives for solar panels have ended but there are still ways to get grants and funding. Businesses can apply for certain tax benefits for solar panel installations
Londoners can use the group-buying program; Solar Together London. So far, about 2,100 London homes have had solar panels installed due to the scheme from the London Mayor’s office.
Summary
London is way behind the rest of the country in solar power generation. Yet, there is no real reason why except for perhaps fewer homeowners actually living in their London properties.
The capital receives sufficient sunlight to make solar panels a worthy investment, and if enough people installed solar panels, London could add something else to the list of things to boast about. This time it would be something that helped the planet and would be truly worth bragging about.
