UK households could collectively lose up to £5bn a year if a law blocking large-scale solar farms on productive agricultural land is passed, energy analysts have said.
Tabled as an amendment to the Energy Bill, the proposed legislation would stop projects over 500 acres in size from being built when at least 20 per cent is classified as “best and most versatile agricultural land”.
If approved, it would leave each UK household up to £180 a year worse off because the equivalent electricity would be produced by using more expensive gas instead, analysts from the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) said.
Pretty bullshit article.
Get government grants to have all new builds and all new roofs to be built with solar. Remove private companies from owning power companies and make it not for profit.
We need good agricultural land so this law is probably in our best interests. Have plenty of rooftop to get enough solar.
What we need is every government owned building and land to have solar on it. Then just need to build out the battery infrastructure.
Don’t need to cover all land in panels. Need panels being built and developed in the UK. And recycling of all panels is a must.
UK don’t got parking lots? Solar covered parking is more expensive, but its win-win. Park in the shade, covered walkway, no new land usage… car seats don’t turn into an ass griddle…
It isn’t just existing roofs that can host solar, you can create new roof space as well :) US has plenty of real estate for new solar all over the place, but you still see solar parking awnings in places because it’s a good idea just on it’s own merit.
Absolutely. Car parks are ride for solar installation. Plus along motorways over canals and basically everywhere that doesn’t have viable land use. Probably could be used in rail settings and even airport. I’m sure there plenty of concrete areas that you could throw some panels at. Whole airport roofs should be lined with panels.
We have the space. We don’t need to start using up farmland for it.
Agrovoltaics anyone?
