This excellent photo from our local (and very careful and responsible) drone pilot, got me thinking. Do you notice anything odd about this?
I don’t mean the giant hole in the ground, of course. We’ve complained about that enough.
As someone with solar panels I am aware the problems caused when even the shadow of a chimney pot falls across a solar panel, because it immediately impacts how much energy it can produce.
I was rather shocked, therefore, to see how much vegetation is growing among these panels.
Don’t get me wrong, I am a big believer in the potential of Agrivoltaics, but that is not a really SE23 conversation (interestingly it is closer to my original mistype of that word, AGROvoltaics). However, it has been shown (and this photo demonstrates) that the shade and protection of solar panels can actually encourage and support the growth of plants below and around them. This is great in a field, not so great on a rooftop.
I can’t imagine how much this is impacting the output from these panels. We must remember that they are likely a pre-condition of the planning application so as to mitigate the impact of all the extra demand on the local grid, but also the benefit to the environment and to the residents’ bills.
I have written to PA Housing, who I think are responsible for this building, to see if they can help.
Does anyone here live in one of these flats and know if anyone is responsible for maintaining these panels and the roof in general?
Ann actually made the same comment on seeing the images. Really is quite bizarre, but suppose with it being a tall building with nothing really overlooking it, it goes unnoticed. I doubt the residents really care, even if they were aware.
I’ve worked on similar buildings and I suspect that the greenery is not accidental but a contribution to the buildings Urban Greening factor which encourages projects to include plants where possible to add biodiversity, reduce rainwater run off and combat the heat island effect.
It’s an observation that would be easily missed as no one will be looking from this angle! Those panels should have a reasonable maintenance schedule so hopefully they will be looked at soon.
Slightly off topic but does anyone know if solar panels on those types of building (blocks of flats, schools) feed electricity into the building’s supply or does it go straight to the national grid? I’ve wondered the logic of putting solar panels onto schools (which are closed for most of the summer) but I guess the energy feeds into the grid?
Most modern systems do both. With the owner / operator selling excess to the grid. Some solutions offer on site batteries to store power.
While power in a school that is closed for half term would reduce its consumption, there are a lot of things that would still use power. Not to mention a lot of schools rent parts of their premises out when not in use.
Obviously solar operates all year round, but at its peak in the summer. Ironic timing as you point out.
