The UK’s motorway services are missing out on an opportunity to transform EV charging affordability for millions of road users through annual energy savings of £19m, a new study claims.
Research by renewable energy specialists RenEnergy reveals that the service station network is sitting on an “untapped renewable energy goldmine” by not harnessing the benefits of solar carports.
The study found that 46,153 car parking spaces across 151 UK service stations – from iconic stops such as Tebay and Gloucester to everyday favourites including Cobham, Leicester Forest East and Scotch Corner – are suitable for solar carport installations. These carports could produce around 124GWh of energy per year, equivalent to powering 1.9 million electric vehicle trips from London to Manchester.
At current energy rates, this represents potential savings worth £19,300,000 per year for service station operators – savings that could be passed directly onto EV drivers through reduced charging costs, making longer journeys more affordable and accessible for thousands of motorists.
Solar carports sit above parking spaces and generate energy from solar panels on the canopy, which can be used for EV charging at every space while providing shelter and shade for vehicles.
The technology has been in the headlines already this year after a government consultation opened to seek views on proposals to mandate solar power canopies for new outdoor car parks. Solar energy rollout and development of the electricity grid to accommodate more demand from the electrification of homes, businesses and vehicles forms a central part of the Government’s Clean Power 2030 strategy.
And RenEnergy says the rollout of this technology at service stations nationwide could represent a significant leap forward in improving EV charging infrastructure.
Beyond cost savings, solar carports offer service station operators energy security in often remote locations, reduced reliance on the grid, and substantial carbon savings – all while addressing one of the biggest concerns for EV drivers: reliable charging infrastructure on long journeys.
Damian Baker, founder and managing director of RenEnergy, said: “The answer to a significant EV charging conundrum is sitting right in front of us in car parks across the country. We know many people are concerned about being able to access chargers on long journeys, and service station operators need more electricity supply to provide more charging spots. Solar carports can provide renewable energy supply along with a number of other benefits to road users, such as protection from the elements and EV charging for every space.
“Our research shows that there could be a significant amount of energy harnessed from service station car parks that could go towards creating the EV infrastructure we need. With energy savings of over £19m on the table annually, there are clear incentives for providers to pass on cost savings to road users for cheaper EV charging.”
Baker also stressed the benefits from solar carports in terms of cost savings and energy security for the businesses they are attached to, as revealed in RenEnergy’s previous research on carports in commercial car parks.
“If we add to this opportunity the car parks across the UK at offices, hospitals, supermarkets, retail parks, airports, train stations and other places we live, work, and play, we could see a massive increase in secure energy and lower costs for businesses and the public. To help harness this technology, we need to see the Government incentivise and mandate the technology like countries such as France have already done.”
He added: “It doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive either. We have the technology at our disposal and are already seeing success across the UK, so let’s use it.”
