Business Development Manager Conal McElroy shares his thinking on the number one question that always comes up in any large-scale solar carport project discussions… 

Businesses and organisations across the country are becoming more open to the idea that large-scale solar carports are a key renewable energy solution and a clear route to reducing carbon emissions. A perfect example of this is the interest the latest FlexiSolar campaign ‘Driving Solar Evolution’ has garnered amongst the private sector.. In particular, there’s growing interest in how solutions can work within existing land resources, such as car parks – an area the FlexiSolar campaign has successfully developed.
We know that an increasing number of businesses are making the move over to a renewable energy supply – but that more needs to be done. This is an issue that we have considered at great length during the campaign with more information available here.

There’s another area in which more needs to be done too – and that’s around the perception of cost. “How much will it cost” is in many cases one of the first things I’m asked. Shouldn’t the question be “How much is it worth?”
The ‘Hidden treasure’ report from management consultancy Bain & Company shows that switching to renewable power is the quickest and most cost-effective way for most organisations to cut their carbon footprint..
The business sector is the largest consumer of power in the country, buying around 56 percent of all the UK’s electricity. For those big businesses that have already made the jump to renewable energy sources, the benefits are clear. British-Dutch multinational consumer goods company Unilever says it has saved more than £280m since 2008 by adopting eco-friendly measures. And IKEA’s Sustainability Report 2015 showed a saving of €133m (£115m) through energy efficiency measures since 2010.
So why aren’t more businesses jumping at the chance to convert to renewable energy on a large-scale?
Just imagine:
• No more line on the budget for electricity costs
• Complete clarity on energy costs, not just now but for the long-term future too; safe from market volatility and third-party costs
• No more dependency on the electricity grid
• Energy security thanks to your own supply
• Energy actually becoming a profit centre - covering your own business usage and selling the surplus to the grid
That’s a pretty good list demonstrating the value of renewable energy solutions. We’re passionate about the role large-scale solar carports have as a key renewable solution too. A large part of this passion comes from the cost efficiency of large-scale solar carports, there’s between 9 – 14% internal rate of return (IRR) on any site, based on the scale of solar project and the geographical location – making a viable payback of under 10 years. Additional to this are further opportunities for economic gain such as integrated EV charge-points, advertising opportunities and Battery Energy Storage.
Below is an illustrated example from FlexiSolarbased on a car park in Southampton with 100 car parking bays – and no EV charge-points creating additional revenue. FlexiSolar would love to have a conversation with you about it.

 

 

 

I can't help but agree with Bain & Company, energy efficiency is a hidden treasure - and I happen to think that our large-scale solar carport solutions are too. That's why we are on a mission; FlexiSolar - Driving Solar Evolution.

For further information on FlexiSolar’s ‘Driving Solar Evolution’ campaign, get in touch with Marketing Manager, Sarah Glover on sarah.glover@flexi-solar.com or visit the dedicated webpage: https://www.flexi-solar.com/driving-solar-evolution.php