A reader asks: why build solar farms on green spaces when we could put them over massive car parks? The question, inspired by an internet meme, sparks a lively debate on solar infrastructure priorities.
Many respondents argue that we should do both. As one reader notes, rooftop solar on car parks is ideal for local generation, but national-level energy requires large installations that are easier to manage than thousands of small ones. Another points out that solar panels are now cheaper per square metre than roof tiles, making universal deployment feasible.
Challenges include higher costs for elevated panels due to steel and wind-load requirements. However, France already mandates solar coverage for car parks, providing shade and recharging for electric vehicles. UK legislation will require 40% of new home roofs to be solar from 2028.
Other suggestions include mounting panels on golf courses, reservoirs (floatovoltaics), and along motorways. Critics note that farmland used for solar is tiny compared to golf courses, and that warehouses, car parks, and data centres have already displaced green fields. A coordinated approach, not false dichotomies, is the way forward.