Miliband sets out proposals for solar canopies above car parks

29 comments

1. Long overdue and something we desperately need, along with more pressure for warehouse units to have solar on their roofs. 

   I hate that NIMBY’s are stopping solar farms (and reform basically want to ban and scale solar and batteries), but this would be a much better way to get solar out there. 

2. These will be nice to keep my car cool in these unseasonably warm times.

3. Won’t do much for charging cars, one solar panel would take about 60 hours to charge a car, but someone will certainly make a lot of money.

4. The invisible man has spoken. But the solar panels are made in China ? And the UK- US trade deal has just given the US a veto over all new Chinese investment ?

5. I’m of the view that solar should be absolutely everywhere it’s possible to stick a panel on. Every house roof, garage roof, bus stop, etc etc. even if you can only fit two 300w panels on a bus stop roof it’s going to be enough to generate enough power to turn a few streetlights on

   Storage is the big Achilles heel because everyone thinks that battery packs are waiting to explode if you even look at them funny

6. I can’t think of a single thing wrong with this, apart from the lack of “and while we’re at it, we’ll add secure bike parking.”

   What’s wrong with this? Anyone?

7. If there is storage for unused energy, they are great. as it’s affordable clean energy, shade for cars so you don’t burn yourself getting in, and they also can provide a stable shelter for birds to nest.

   While they aren’t pretty neither is a car park full of monochrome PCP boxes.

   I don’t get arguments against them.

8. makes sense.If we want energy security renewable would be a way to get it. We are an island. We can generate solar, wind and,tidal power. The Nimby objections to these projects need to be discarded tho its slowing us down for no reason.

   Also the grid needs a massive upgrade. One thing i hear is the problem with renewable is the energy grid cant handle the variable loads. This needs sorting.

9. Should force super stores to install it on their roofs,

   Go look at google earth and see the amount of industrial roof space that is just left unused.

   But the down side is the power factor correction grid will have to do (big spinning flywheels)

10. Let’s hope they get built and used before any ‘sun dimming’ is carried out.

11. This i something I’ve been advocating for a few years now

12. Do this but build some real power as well I don’t understand why we feel we’ve reached peak power generation. We should be build lots more of all sorts of power so there is an abundance of it and drive down the downstream costs. I think the government should be taking an active hand in this, as no way the private sector will create more power when the profits are so great with the status Qao . Along with defence this is on the key deliverables imo.

13. Has there been something preventing this? Does it require ministerial approval?

14. This is one of those “wait why the fuck haven’t we been doing this for years?” things

15. I’m actually in favour of this idea. They already do it in many Asian countries. I would also like to see them installed along the motorways.

16. Amazing how a troll is allowed to spout weak falsehood pertaining to climate change as per their own skewed view, and you get a slap for their “tripe”.. Weak moderation allowing falshoods to flouriish contrary to widely accepted science.

    Do better please mods.

17. Could also use the roof space to harvest and hold rainwater too to prevent the rapid run off that overwhelms our servers/drainage systems that are so excellently maintained by private companies.

    Screw the NIMBYs.

18. My college has these above their car park. I thought it was pretty smart and surprised id never seen it before

19. It’s a win win, but I bet they’ll still be some who oppose it for no good reason.

20. The only issue is they’re going to be run by incompetent c*nts.
    They won’t work half the time and they’ll be unreasonably expensive.

21. I hope it happens! This could save lives. I like to think it’s not too common but people can leave their kids and pets in hot cars so if they’re shielded from the sun… well, obviously that’s better than the alternative.

22. Don’t propose just frigging do it. Uk is so far behind rest of counties. If it’s a money issue then close our boarders and stop funding Israel

23. This is a BRIGHT idea. *smirks to camera and awaits my reddit gold*

24. Great idea !! We need them on the supermarket roof, every car park, schools, airports etc

25. Why is this country so far behind Europe. How about putting solar panels on every house in the country.

26. It’s a no brainer really. It should also be mandatory for any building with a roof area above an agreed amount.

27. Who’s talking about global plans? How do you know it’ll only affect it by 0.5% max?

28. About bloody time! We should be fitting solar to any appropriate surface, and add batteries too

29. People need to hammer reform on this issue using their own tactics:

    Solar is the cheapest form of electricity. Why does reform want to make electricity more expensive?

    British life is adapted to the British climate. If our climate changes, British life will be killed off and replaced it with foreign life. Why do reform want to turn Britian into a foreign country?

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