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Mapping solar PV potential in Ambleside
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In September 2019 a feasibility study was commissioned by AAFAF to look at the potential for generating electricity using solar photovoltaic panels on roof spaces in Ambleside.
Alex Boyd, who had recently graduated from the University of Lancaster with a master’s degree in physics, astrophysics and cosmology, took up the challenge. With the support of CAfS (Cumbria Action for Sustainability) and the Centre for Global Eco-Innovation based at Lancaster University, Alex devised a methodology using publicly available data which allows for whole-settlement, large-scale assessments of roof space and identifies the maximum generating potential of solar photovoltaic panels that could be installed. It uses LiDAR (basically RADAR but with light) and data from satellite images to identify all roofs big enough for solar panels. Any roof that is too small, too steep or too shaded is excluded leaving only prime rooftop real estate. After combining this information with Ambleside’s admittedly modest record of sunshine, he calculated a total potential energy output of 3.5 GWh per annum - the equivalent of brewing 175 million cups of tea.
Alex worked closely with Tom Nicholls, also affiliated with the University of Lancaster, who developed a computer algorithm to crunch the data. AAFAF and CAfS then worked with Tom to commission an interactive solar PV webmap of Ambleside. By clicking on any building of interest in Ambleside, you will see pop-up information on how much electricity solar PV on that roof could potentially generate. Ambleside residents – do check out your house!
This pioneering methodology has now been extended by CAfS to many other communities in Cumbria.
Alex Boyd, who had recently graduated from the University of Lancaster with a master’s degree in physics, astrophysics and cosmology, took up the challenge. With the support of CAfS (Cumbria Action for Sustainability) and the Centre for Global Eco-Innovation based at Lancaster University, Alex devised a methodology using publicly available data which allows for whole-settlement, large-scale assessments of roof space and identifies the maximum generating potential of solar photovoltaic panels that could be installed. It uses LiDAR (basically RADAR but with light) and data from satellite images to identify all roofs big enough for solar panels. Any roof that is too small, too steep or too shaded is excluded leaving only prime rooftop real estate. After combining this information with Ambleside’s admittedly modest record of sunshine, he calculated a total potential energy output of 3.5 GWh per annum - the equivalent of brewing 175 million cups of tea.
Alex worked closely with Tom Nicholls, also affiliated with the University of Lancaster, who developed a computer algorithm to crunch the data. AAFAF and CAfS then worked with Tom to commission an interactive solar PV webmap of Ambleside. By clicking on any building of interest in Ambleside, you will see pop-up information on how much electricity solar PV on that roof could potentially generate. Ambleside residents – do check out your house!
This pioneering methodology has now been extended by CAfS to many other communities in Cumbria.
Note that this is a computer-generated assessment, based on LiDAR data that is 'pixelated' to 1m2. So if your roof is narrow and at a diagonal to north-south, or is on significantly sloping ground, it may show up as having no potential when in fact it does. Have a look yourself - is there space for solar panels, is it facing somewhere between east, south and west and is it free from overshadowing? If that is the case, solar PV could work for you. Double check on this individual house solar calculator from the Energy Saving Trust. The next step would then be a professional survey, potentially by an installer.
Mapping Growing Solar PV in Ambleside
AAFAF wanted to understand how much solar PV we already have in Ambleside, and to track how much this increases over time. With the help of several pairs of eyes scanning satellite images of the town on Google Maps, in spring 2021 we found a total of 46 installations in Ambleside and another 11 in Grasmere, 10 in Chapel Stile, 1 in Elterwater, 1 in Little Langdale and 1 in Skelwith Bridge, bringing the total for the area up to 70.
We estimate that the total annual electricity being generated by these installations in Ambleside is approximately 140kWh, about 4% of the potential estimated by Alex Boyd.
We have not seen a later Google Map of the area but we know that these numbers have significantly increased since then and we will provide an update when we can do so. AAFAF would love to see this number reach at least 100 installations in and around Ambleside. For more information on how this might happen, see our page on ‘Solar Made Easy’
AAFAF wanted to understand how much solar PV we already have in Ambleside, and to track how much this increases over time. With the help of several pairs of eyes scanning satellite images of the town on Google Maps, in spring 2021 we found a total of 46 installations in Ambleside and another 11 in Grasmere, 10 in Chapel Stile, 1 in Elterwater, 1 in Little Langdale and 1 in Skelwith Bridge, bringing the total for the area up to 70.
We estimate that the total annual electricity being generated by these installations in Ambleside is approximately 140kWh, about 4% of the potential estimated by Alex Boyd.
We have not seen a later Google Map of the area but we know that these numbers have significantly increased since then and we will provide an update when we can do so. AAFAF would love to see this number reach at least 100 installations in and around Ambleside. For more information on how this might happen, see our page on ‘Solar Made Easy’
How do Ambleside householders feel about their solar PV?
We conducted a survey of those homes in Ambleside that we found with existing solar PV installations. This is what we found out from the ten who responded:
“V satisfied. Would do it again and tie up with schemes such as Octopus to sell electric power to the grid”
“Renewables are a long term investment in the future and save money”
“Very happy with system. Paid for itself within 7 years as well as saving some electricity costs, generating "clean" electricity and feeding into the grid. Without the Feed in Tariff, I would need to know that the system would pay for itself within a reasonable period through electricity bill savings - for that, a battery would be needed.”
We conducted a survey of those homes in Ambleside that we found with existing solar PV installations. This is what we found out from the ten who responded:
- 90% found the installation process easy and had no issues (the one issue was a couple of cracked roof tiles).
- 80% have had no maintenance issues (one person reported that they had a couple of optimisers fail that were fixed under warranty, and another person has an issue with their original supplier having gone out of business).
- 100% are satisfied or very satisfied with the system, with most saying that they would still invest today even without the feed-in tariff.
- 30% have battery storage added to their systems
“V satisfied. Would do it again and tie up with schemes such as Octopus to sell electric power to the grid”
“Renewables are a long term investment in the future and save money”
“Very happy with system. Paid for itself within 7 years as well as saving some electricity costs, generating "clean" electricity and feeding into the grid. Without the Feed in Tariff, I would need to know that the system would pay for itself within a reasonable period through electricity bill savings - for that, a battery would be needed.”
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