When considering the sustainability of buildings, one essential concept is whole-life carbon, the total carbon footprint. This metric encompasses both embodied carbon—the emissions produced from the materials and processes used in construction, maintenance, and eventual demolition—and operational carbon, which includes the emissions generated during the day-to-day functioning of a building.
Breaking Down Whole-Life Carbon
Embodied carbon can be divided into three phases:
- Upfront: Emissions from the construction phase, including material production and transportation.
- In-Use: Emissions from maintenance and repairs throughout the building’s life.
- End-of-Life: Emissions from demolition, including transportation and waste processing.
Why Solar Energy?
Market trends strongly support the adoption of solar energy:
- Cost Efficiency: The price of solar installations has decreased by 70%, making the payback period more attractive.
- Investment Potential: A significant 68% of UK pension funds are targeting net zero and investing in solar.
- Regulatory Compliance: By 2030, all rented properties in the UK will need an EPC rating of B or above.
Properly designed solar systems not only reduce carbon emissions but also offer substantial financial benefits.
Real-World Impact of Solar on Whole-Life Carbon
Consider a 2839m² warehouse in Kent, constructed from concrete and structural steel, analysed over a 25-year period:
- Without Solar PV: The whole-life carbon is 878 kg CO₂e/m², consisting of 597 kg CO₂e/m² embodied carbon and 281 kg CO₂e/m² operational carbon.
- With roof mounted Solar PV: Embodied carbon increases by 13 kg CO₂e/m² due to the panels, but operational carbon drops by 176 kg CO₂e/m², resulting in an overall reduction of 162 kg CO₂e/m² in whole-life carbon.
Though 96% of a solar panel is recyclable, production accounts for 80% of its embodied carbon. Extending the lifespan of panels through maintenance and protective measures like bird control netting significantly impacts whole-life carbon.
Financial Benefits of Solar
In our example, the solar system has an 360 kWp capacity and costs approximately £336,000. With an import tariff of 20p and export tariff of 6.5p, the payback period is around 7 years and the equity cash balance over 25 years is £905,000.
For optimal financial returns, we design your solar system to match your energy needs rather than exceeding them. Excess energy production extends the payback period due to the lower export tariff. Accurate energy consumption data, collected half-hourly, is crucial for this optimization.
Key Takeaways
- Embodied Carbon: While installing solar panels increases embodied carbon, the reduction in operational carbon more than compensates.
- Longevity and Maintenance: Maximizing the lifespan of solar panels through proper maintenance reduces whole-life carbon significantly.
- System Design: For the best financial returns, tailor your solar system to your specific energy needs to avoid excess production and benefit from higher import tariffs.
By understanding and managing whole-life carbon, businesses can make more informed decisions about their sustainability practices and investments in renewable energy like solar.
To discuss your decarbonisation and the economic benefits of solar PV on your real estate contact Rupert.harrow@footprintzero.co.uk