Solar Wizard unlocks rooftop renewable potential

The Centre for Sustainable Energy (CSE) has come up with a magical solution to transform the sustainability of homes across Bristol.

Their Solar Wizard tool enables residents to quickly and easily calculate the cost of solar panel installation, the amount of energy they would generate and how long it would take to recoup the outlay.

Only five per cent of UK homes have rooftop solar panels but CSE say the technology is commercially-viable and, as well as lowering carbon footprints, could save households money in the long term.

The new online tool factors in roof orientation, pitch and potential overshadowing by nearby buildings and trees to analyse how much electricity a building can generate.

It also predicts the payback period – the amount of time it would take to earn expense back through energy bill savings.

It’s the latest initiative from CSE, a charity that has been working for 40 years to tackle the climate emergency and end the suffering caused by cold homes.

Their focus is on helping communities and local council understand energy issues and implement plans to lower carbon and increase social benefit. They work, they say, to ‘make the energy system greener, smarter and fairer.’

“Transforming how we generate and use energy is crucial for tackling climate change, but many people are hesitant due to misinformation and mistrust surrounding solar panels and other technologies,” said Jacob Hall, Local Energy Engagement Project Manager at CSE.

“Solar Wizard breaks down these barriers by providing everyone with a free, quick, and easy way to assess their solar potential right at their fingertips. We’re empowering people to be part of the clean energy transition by simplifying the process of understanding if solar panels make sense for their home or business.”

Bristol Beacon had a 348 panel solar array installed as part of its recent refurbishment which will generate 110,000kWh of electricity for the venue every year – photo: Solarsense

Solar offers one of the lowest carbon forms of electricity generation available.

CSE has used Energy Saving Trust data to estimate the average power used by households and the carbon emission reductions solar panels can provide.

They report that a typical home solar panel system can save around one tonne of carbon per year, depending on location in the UK – the equivalent of driving 3,600 miles, or from London to Bristol 30 times.

While some are concerned with the ‘embodied carbon’ of solar panels  – i.e. the carbon footprint of their production and installation – CSE say it is ‘generally agreed’ that solar panels more than pay back their embodied carbon within their lifetime, in terms of the carbon emissions they save by offsetting use of national grid electricity.

They also state that the embodied emissions per unit of electricity generated by solar are currently significantly lower than the embodied emissions of electricity from the national grid.

The CSE hopes the tool will make solar panel technology accessible to more homes across Bristol – photo: Roger Cornfoot

CSE signpost various grants to support households to invest in renewable energy.

Lower income households or residents with a health condition could be eligible for the government’s eco-scheme designed to make homes more energy efficient, meaning it is cheaper to heat and stays warmer for longer. CSE offer support for those looking to access the scheme.

WECA’s Solar Together scheme, which works on the principle of households making collective purchases to bring overall costs of solar down, is expected to reopen in autumn.

The scheme delivered 947 rooftop installations in 2021, amounting to 3.5MW potential energy generation and 18,000 tonnes of carbon reduction – equivalent to 13,000 homes’ electricity use over the course of a year – over 25 years.

To use the Solar Wizard tool visit solarwizard.org.uk

Main photo: Centre for Sustainable Energy

Read next:

• A bird’s eye view of Bristol Beacon’s solar system
• Bristol businesses call on candidates to back Climate & Nature Bill
• University named 17th most sustainable in the world

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