When my mother installed solar photovoltaic panels on her roof in the Scottish borders, I was sceptical that they would produce much energy. But in the decade or so she has had them they have easily paid their way. Now research in the journal Weather confirms what my mother already knows: it’s not just hot countries that can harvest solar energy.
We are going to need solar energy to reach net zero, so it is important we find the best places to situate solar farms. Cloudy locations are pretty hopeless, for obvious reasons, but places that tend to be cold, sunny and breezy (like much of the UK and Ireland) are surprisingly good. Cool temperatures and a gentle wind help to prevent the panels from overheating, optimising efficiency.
“Even though these locations are not known for their sunny climate, long daylight hours during summer can still generate large amounts of solar energy,” write Eadaoin Doddy Clarke and Conor Sweeney, of University College Dublin.
So where should we put these solar farms? Previous research has shown that cropland and grassland areas tend to have the greatest potential for solar energy; after all, that is why the plants grow so well there. But that doesn’t mean we have to lose farmland: experiments have shown that crops can be grown successfully underneath solar panels.
