Aerial mapping company Bluesky is developing new technology to pinpoint automatically the best locations for solar panels. Using aerial remote sensing technology including aircraft-mounted lasers and digital aerial photography, the 3D solar energy maps will identify buildings with roofs that may be suitable for mounting solar panels to generate renewable energy.
Bluesky already has access to the raw aerial data for the whole of the UK and measurements such as the shape, pitch, size and aspect of building roofs are being extracted — information that is essential when considering the potential for solar energy installations.
“Using data that has already been used to create 3D maps and assess environmental risks such as flooding, we are creating citywide maps of solar energy potential," said Bluesky MD Rachel Tidmarsh. "We believe this is the first time this has been done in the UK and we are following in the footsteps of cities like New York, San Francisco and Boston.
“Despite the popular perception of UK weather there exists an enormous potential for solar energy. The solar maps we are creating can be used by to make an initial assessment about the suitability of the property or by local authorities or utility companies to understand the wider potential.”
Bluesky says it is estimated that the UK receives 60 per cent of the solar energy compared with locations at the equator: this is equivalent to 1000 power stations. On average each square metre of the UK receives between 900 and 1200kwh each year.
