Bristol City Leap is an innovative partnership between Bristol City Council and Ameresco, committed to generating renewable energy in the city. Bristol aims to produce clean energy to support its decarbonisation goals, contributing to a cleaner, healthier, and more enjoyable environment for residents to live, learn, work, and play.
These ambitious targets present unique challenges, as Bristol City Council is not as land-rich as some neighbouring authorities. To meet its renewable energy goals, the council must make the most of available and suitable land. As the world pivots toward sustainable energy solutions, solar power has emerged as a vital resource.
In launching the Bristol City Leap Local Renewable projects, we aim to answer common questions about solar energy and highlight the significant benefits it can bring to our community and the environment.
Does solar work well in the UK? Is it sunny enough?
Solar energy is highly effective throughout the UK. Solar panels do not require direct sunlight to function; they generate electricity year-round. Since they rely on light rather than heat, they can produce power even on overcast days. The solar potential in the UK is robust enough to facilitate deployment, particularly with the advancements in modern, efficient photovoltaic technology.
Are solar farms good for the environment/land?
Solar farms can offer a variety of environmental and biodiversity benefits. Ground-mounted solar projects not only provide clean, affordable energy that contributes positively to the planet but can also enhance local biodiversity by supporting both new and existing plant and animal life.
Well-designed and managed solar farms deliver numerous ecosystem services. They promote sustainable agriculture, improve air quality, create new habitats, and reduce carbon emissions. Regular monitoring by ecologists has shown that these solar farms often result in increased local abundance and variety of plants, pollinators, birds, and other wildlife over time.
The panels are mounted on posts, ensuring minimal disturbance to the ground, typically occupying only 1-2% of the total site area. This allows the remaining land to be utilised for initiatives that actively enhance the local environment, providing an array of ecological benefits. For example, the spaces between the panels and along the project’s perimeter can be transformed with a sown wildflower mix, creating new habitats for pollinators, butterflies, and ground-nesting birds.
Recognising the significance of these benefits, the 2021 Environment Act mandates that all new developments in England requiring planning permission, including solar projects, demonstrate a Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) of at least 10%. Independent studies, using metrics from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, indicate that BNG for solar farms can achieve increases ranging from 20% to over 100%.
Does solar take up space that should be used to grow food?
Solar farms currently occupy less than 0.1% of the UK’s total land area. Overall, solar farms in the UK account for approximately 0.08% of total land use. To achieve the government’s decarbonisation targets, the Climate Change Committee estimates that the country will need between 75 and 90 GW of solar power by 2050. Good Energy calculates that at most, solar farms would then account for around 0.4% to 0.6% of UK land, still less than what is currently designated for golf courses. Which for comparison, according to GolfMagic.com, golf courses in England occupy approximately 270,000 hectares of land, which is about 2% of England’s total land area. Which in 2023 was twice as much land currently taken up by housing.
As of June 2024, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs reports that around 16.8 million hectares of land in the UK are classified as utilised agricultural area, making up 69% of the total land area.
Do solar panels create glint and glare?
Solar panels are specifically engineered to maximise light absorption, making glint and glare non-issues. Their primary function is to capture as much sunlight as possible, as increased light absorption directly translates to higher power generation. To enhance this efficiency, the industry has pioneered advanced anti-reflective coatings and ultra-transparent glass, ensuring that more light is harnessed for energy production.
Are solar panels produced in the UK?
Solar panel production in the UK exists but falls short of the levels seen in countries like China, Germany, and the U.S. The UK faces intense competition in the solar panel market from countries like China, which enjoy lower labour costs and economies of scale, resulting in imported panels being more competitively priced than locally produced alternatives. Although the UK government is actively promoting the adoption of solar energy, requiring new homes to include solar panels by 2025, there has been a lack of emphasis on strengthening domestic manufacturing capabilities. The newly introduced Solar Roadmap outlines a goal of achieving 47 GW of solar energy by 2030, but it primarily focuses on deployment rather than fostering local production. Additionally, the UK currently lacks the essential infrastructure, investment, and skilled workforce required for large-scale solar panel manufacturing. Despite these challenges, there is significant potential for job creation, with projections suggesting that up to 35,000 new jobs could be generated by 2030.
Are solar panels recyclable?
At the end of the term agreement for the solar site, it will be decommissioned, and the solar panels will be removed.
Up to 99% of the materials used in solar panels are recyclable. In fact, there are established industrial processes in place to facilitate this recycling.
A typical solar panel consists of an aluminium frame, glass, crystalline silicon solar cells, and copper wiring, all of which can be effectively extracted, separated, and reused. The remaining one per cent comprises an encapsulant material that bonds the layers of the panel together. This impressive recyclability highlights the sustainability of solar technology and its role in promoting a circular economy.
Research shows that, on average, solar panels pay back their carbon footprint within one to four years. Even in places with less sunlight, like the northern UK, a solar panel will usually pay back the energy cost in around six years. Since solar panels can last for decades, they will provide clean, pollution-free electricity for many years after they have made up for the carbon produced during their manufacture.
Will local roads need to be used to access the site?
Yes, during the construction of our Local Renewable sites, our contractors will need to utilise nearby roads for transporting installers, materials, and equipment. We are committed to collaborating closely with Bristol City Council to minimise disruption for residents. Additionally, we will provide ample notice in advance to keep everyone informed.
Will those near these projects benefit?
These projects embody the same values as all Bristol City Leap initiatives, with a focus on benefiting our local communities. A portion of the funds generated will be allocated to support community projects. Building on the success of our existing Bristol City Leap Community Energy Fund, these projects will enable us to provide even more targeted support to communities. This is where you come in! If you know of a local organisation or project that you feel would benefit from this funding, let us know! We want to hear how you feel this money can best benefit the communities near the projects.
In addition to local funding, Bristol City Leap is creating over 400 local jobs in its first five years, as well as hundreds of apprenticeships and work placements to support Bristolians to secure future-proof employment in the energy sector.
As we move forward with Bristol City Leap Local Renewable projects, it is vital to recognise the numerous advantages that solar energy brings. By addressing these questions, we can create a more informed community that embraces sustainable energy sources for a brighter, greener future together that helps combat the impact of the climate crisis. Click here to learn more about our current projects: Bristol City Leap Local Renewables
