So this last couple of weeks has seen a spurt of applications regarding placing solar panels on fields in the area.
There are pros and cons to this but in my opinion, there is an increasing need for green energy – yes climate change is real – and the more we can generate from wind and solar the less we need to burn fossil fuels. This is a good thing.
Yes, we should be adding solar onto new build houses and industry as a matter of course. Yes, these must remain in the ownership of the person who owns the house, as opposed to being owned by the builders, installers or an investment company and yes, people should be able to opt out.
Solar panel technology has taken some big strides in recent years and the effectiveness of the panels is far better than it was a decade ago. They are effective and very efficient, providing more for less.
Should we be putting them all over car parks, existing buildings and factories? Yes.
Also suitable brownfield sites should be preferred, but not to the point of only brownfield sites being able to be used.
The issue with this is that putting them on existing buildings will need more work, compared to a field. You have to adapt the roof, especially if you want a flush fitting, you are working at height, meaning scaffolding and trained roofers being involved. This then pushes the price of installation up before you hire the qualified electricians to install the battery set-up and connect it up to your electricity supply.
This makes it much more expensive than a ground based installation, plus many industrial sites have fragile roofs so would need a lot of work to install. More work means more cost.
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