Car park changes would 'reduce long-term costs' with solar panels covering parking spaces
Revolutionary new parking rules could be introduced across the country as a British business attempts to change standard car parks.
Three car parks in and around Bristol have had solar panel canopies installed to generate renewable energy for electric vehicle charging.
The technology combines lightweight modular solar car ports with EV chargers, while maintaining the existing parking facilities.
Avon and Somerset Police will be the first to benefit from the new solar car parks at facilities in Bridgwater, Bristol and Portishead.
Installations included ground screw and concrete-bolted structural systems to minimise disruption while allowing people to use the car park as standard during construction.
Solar Car Park, which is a member of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, is now looking to expand the solar car ports to the West Midlands.
It was founded to help businesses overcome barriers with traditional rooftop solar systems, including planning restrictions and a lack of available land.
Jon Graham, one of Solar Car Park's founders, emphasised that companies across the country are under pressure from rising energy costs, while also trying to improve sustainability.
He added: "Solar car ports offer a practical solution that allows organisations to generate renewable energy from an underutilised asset they already own, their car park.
"As someone originally from the Birmingham area, one of my personal ambitions is to help bring solar car port infrastructure to businesses across Birmingham and the wider Midlands region.
"There is a huge opportunity for organisations to reduce long-term energy costs whilst also strengthening their sustainability messaging."
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Mr Miliband said the Government wanted to create solar car ports to generate energy to power EV chargers, homes and businesses.
The call for evidence suggested that solar panels could be placed above parking spaces on new and existing developments.
Forecasts suggest that an 80-space car park could save an estimated £28,000 per year in electricity bills.
Solar canopies are already present in some areas across the UK, with EV charge point operators looking to increase sustainability options at their sites.
These car ports are more popular in Europe, with many French supermarkets having mandatory solar panels if they have more than 80 spaces.
Speaking at the time, Mr Miliband said: "Right now, the sun is shining on hundreds of thousands of car parking spaces across the country which could be used to power our homes and businesses.
"We want to work with businesses and car park operators to turn our car parks into solar carports to save families and businesses money with clean, homegrown British energy."
DESNZ has decided not to take any further action on solar canopies for new outdoor car parks, based on the responses to the call for evidence.
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