Solar on car parks and electric vehicle charging
Applies to England, Northern Ireland and Wales
Call for evidence description
The government welcomes input and detailed evidence from stakeholders to better understand the potential for solar canopy installation on new outdoor car parks, as well as concerns or views they may have around existing planning policy and Permitted Development Rights (PDRs) in relation to electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. This includes links to solar canopies and energy storage systems.
Section 1: solar canopies
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) is seeking evidence and feedback on a proposal to mandate the introduction of solar canopies on new outdoor car parks and explore opportunities for deployment on existing car parks, above a certain size; this includes car parks in both public and private ownership. We are considering, subject to this call for evidence, whether multi-storey car parks and residential car parks should be in scope. We also welcome evidence and feedback on other ways that government action could increase the deployment of solar canopies on outdoor car parks and views on what further changes can be made to the planning and permitting regime when installing electric vehicle charge points.
Section 2: electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure and planning
This section focuses on electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, planning and the UK’s wider energy security and net-zero commitments. As transport remains the largest emitting sector of greenhouse gases, decarbonising road transport through EV adoption is critical, requiring a substantial expansion of EV charging infrastructure.
The Clean Power Action Plan outlines the importance of adopting clean power technologies such as electric vehicles (EVs) to support the transition away from the use of fossil fuels. From 2030 onwards, further emissions reductions from clean power will come indirectly through displacing fossil fuel use in other sectors, such as transport. As with solar energy, the charging infrastructure for EVs needs to be deployed rapidly and at scale.
Read our consultation privacy notice.
Ways to respond
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Email:
For responses to section 1, email solarcorrespondence@energysecurity.gov.uk
For responses to section 2, email ozev.enquiries@ozev.gov.uk