At last week’s Solar & Storage Live in London, Solar&StorageXtra caught up with Clare Bottle, CEO of the UK Warehousing Association (UKWA).
In this interview, Clare shares her thoughts on the untapped potential of warehouse rooftops for solar energy, the complexities of retrofitting, and the policy and infrastructure changes needed to accelerate progress.
As warehousing electrifies and energy demand rises, Clare explains how this overlooked space could play a crucial role in the UK’s renewable energy future.
Can you tell us about your presentation at Solar & Storage Live?
Clare: I talked about some of the challenges involved in retrofitting solar panels on warehouse rooftops.
Firstly, it’s important to have public support. Generally, people are in favour of renewable energy. But when it comes to solar farms, especially those near residential areas, there can be local opposition.
One way to help win people over is by demonstrating that we’re also making better use of other types of real estate – like warehouse rooftops.
Now, only around 5% of warehouses have solar panels installed – which is incredibly low. If we don’t address that we risk turning people off the broader idea of renewables.
Then there’s stakeholder complexity. There’s rarely a single decision-maker who can say, “Yes, let’s install solar panels on this warehouse.” Most warehouses are leased properties; you have both a landlord and a tenant to consider.
Then there are additional stakeholders: insurers, mortgage holders, roofing warranty providers, local authorities, and sometimes even nearby residents. Getting alignment from all these parties can be difficult.
On top of that, our electricity grid is under-invested. When you’re installing larger systems – two or three megawatts are typical for a warehouse – you need permission from the Distribution Network Operator (DNO).
That’s not an issue for smaller domestic rooftops, but it is for warehouses. Unfortunately, DNOs are often risk-averse, partly for safety reasons, which is fair, but also because of a cautious culture that can slow progress. That’s a big barrier to scaling up retrofits.
If warehouse rooftops were fully utilised for solar, what kind of impact could that have on the UK’s energy grid and carbon reduction targets?
Clare: The impact could be phenomenal. Back in 2022, we commissioned a study that found using just a small proportion of suitable warehouse rooftops could double the UK’s solar capacity. Since then, even more warehouses have been built – so the opportunity is bigger than ever.
Are there any existing incentives or policies that help, or do you see gaps in current government support?
Clare: There is some support in place. For instance, depending on how you finance a rooftop solar installation, you may be eligible for a corporation tax deduction. That’s part of a broader policy on capital investment, not just solar.
In England, there’s also a helpful policy on business rates – your rates don’t immediately increase just because your property value has gone up due to solar installation. Unfortunately, that doesn’t apply across the devolved nations, which is disappointing.
Returning to the grid issue, we’re very reliant on government action to improve how the grid and DNOs operate. Ofgem is the main route the government uses to influence those improvements, but I’d like to see Ofgem given more power to accelerate progress.
Do you think the warehousing sector is fully aware of the financial and environmental benefits of solar retrofitting?
Clare: Awareness is growing, particularly thanks to our trade association’s efforts. Energy costs are rising, and energy demand in warehouses is increasing too.
When I started, warehouses commonly used natural gas-powered forklifts. But now there’s a shift toward battery-powered alternatives. At the same time, automation is on the rise – conveyors, robotics, AI systems – all of which require electricity. The demand within the building is going up.
Looking ahead, as we transition to electric vehicles – including HGVs – that demand will grow even more, particularly at distribution hubs.
Additionally, we generate a lot of wind energy here in the UK but much of that power must travel long distances and some of the energy is lost along the way. One of the great advantages of warehouse rooftop solar is that the energy is used right there on site, which means much lower transmission losses.
What benefits have you seen from attending Solar & Storage Live?
Clare: When I first investigated getting more solar panels on warehouse rooftops, I reached out to the trade body and quickly built a relationship with the team at Solar Energy UK.
They’ve been incredibly supportive, and we’ve since collaborated on several shared objectives. Through that collaboration, I found out about Solar & Storage Live, and I’m really glad to be here.
There are loads of great exhibitors, and as someone who’s outside the core solar industry, it’s a fantastic way to learn more about the parts of the sector that are relevant to warehousing.
Missed out on Solar & Storage Live London, or want to come back for more? find a Solar & Storage Live event near you.
