The Fully Charged Podcast: Solar Everywhere?! Is This a Game Changing Energy Solution?! With Jo Parker-Swift
Episode Details:
- Title: Solar Everywhere?! Is This a Game Changing Energy Solution?! With Jo Parker-Swift
- Host: Imogen Bogle, The Fully Charged Show
- Guest: Jo Parker-Swift, CEO of Solidus
- Release Date: March 10, 2025
Introduction
In this engaging episode of The Fully Charged Podcast, host Imogen Bogle delves into the vast, untapped potential of rooftop solar energy in the UK. Joining her is Jo Parker-Swift, CEO of Solidus, a pioneering company specializing in lightweight solar technology. The discussion centers on how Solidus is revolutionizing the solar industry by addressing the unique challenges of installing solar panels on diverse and weight-restricted commercial buildings.
Meet Jo Parker-Swift and Solidus
Jo Parker-Swift introduces Solidus (often mispronounced as "Solid Verse"), highlighting the company's mission to decarbonize the built environment through innovative solar solutions.
“We are specialists in lightweight solar technology. We are tackling the built environment and decarbonizing it by providing solutions for buildings that can't support regular solar panels.”
[02:08]
The Potential of Lightweight Solar Technology
Imogen emphasizes the enormous potential of deploying solar panels across the UK's 2 million non-domestic rooftops, which could generate up to 128 gigawatts—powering around 30 million homes. However, current utilization stands at a mere 11 gigawatts.
“The capacity on the rooftops of those 2 million non-domestic buildings equates to roughly 128 gigawatts if they were all covered with solar.”
[00:30]
Overcoming Installation Challenges
Jo explains the technical hurdles of attaching lightweight solar panels to various roof types. Traditional solar panels are heavy and require specific mounting systems, making them unsuitable for many commercial buildings with weight restrictions.
“Corrugated roofs, membrane roofs, lots of different roof types. All the fixing methods out there are geared towards conventional solar with hard metal and glass clamps. We can't do that.”
[08:46]
Solidus addresses these challenges by utilizing industrial glues and specialized installation techniques, ensuring compatibility across diverse architectural designs without compromising the roof's integrity.
Durability, Maintenance, and Efficiency
Discussing durability, Jo assures that modern lightweight solar panels come with 24-year warranties, matching conventional solar panel lifespans.
“They now have 24-year warranties. The durability is there. They could be more durable in some ways because they don't have glass.”
[06:49]
Maintenance is simplified with self-cleaning properties, requiring only annual washing.
Regarding efficiency, lightweight panels achieve 19-22% efficiency, comparable to conventional panels averaging around 24%.
“These lightweight technologies tend to be between 19-22% efficiency. They have the same underlying technology—crystalline silicon—but without glass and metal encapsulation.”
[07:29]
Case Studies and Projects
Jo shares success stories demonstrating Solidus' impact:
-
Northampton Saints Rugby Club: One of Solidus' first installations, contributing to the club's Premiership victory.
“Following our installation, they also won the Premiership.”
[11:24] -
Northampton County Cricket Club: Expanded the technology to another major sporting venue.
“We also installed on the Northampton County Cricket Club.”
[12:00] -
Farnborough Airport: A flagship project showcasing the aesthetic and functional capabilities of Solidus' solar solutions.
“They’re like the perfect showcase for our product. It’s like having a shop on Bond Street, but for Overworld.”
[13:02] -
Tesco Pilot Installation: Solidus is embarking on its first large-scale project with Tesco, aiming to help the retail giant significantly reduce its energy bills and carbon footprint.
“We’re currently installing our first pilot for Tesco. That’s super exciting.”
[21:13]
Organic Solar: A Sustainable Future
A standout innovation from Solidus is the Solidus Ark, an organic solar solution made entirely from carbon-based materials. This technology promises a low carbon footprint, recyclability, and sustainable sourcing without rare earth materials.
“The Solidus Ark is made out of organic solar. It doesn’t have any deep mining, no rare earth materials in it. You can recycle it at the end of its life.”
[14:33]
Jo highlights that organic solar panels can pay back their carbon footprint in just 12 weeks, compared to conventional panels' multi-year payoff periods.
Barriers to Adoption and Solutions
Despite the promising technology, Solidus faces several challenges:
-
High Costs: Lightweight solar panels and their installation are currently more expensive than traditional options.
“The catch is it is more expensive because it's relatively new technology. It’s a hassle to do it, and that’s why you’re not seeing it everywhere yet.”
[07:29] -
Landlord-Tenant Dynamics: Many commercial properties are leased, creating a mismatch in incentives and timelines for solar investments.
“There is a mismatch between the landlord and the tenant timescale... So there could be five years or more before tenants change.”
[19:52] -
Investment Challenges: Securing funding remains difficult, especially for female-led startups, despite the growing interest and significant savings potential.
“Investment has been amazing. The problem is when I don’t get to speak to a person... It's tough.”
[30:11]
Solutions Proposed:
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Financial Incentives: Encouraging the use of finance options to mitigate upfront costs.
“There is so much finance out there. You don't have to have a big upfront payment and you can still pay monthly and get instant savings.”
[19:27] -
Collaborative Efforts: Strengthening relationships between landlords and tenants to align sustainability goals.
-
Policy Support: Advocating for feed-in tariffs and other government incentives to level the playing field.
Women in Clean Energy: Jo’s Perspective
Imogen and Jo discuss the role of women in the clean energy sector. Jo shares her positive experiences as a female CEO in a diverse and disruptive industry.
“The experience in this sector has been really fun. It's been really great. People embrace female CEOs in the sustainability sector.”
[27:54]
She emphasizes the importance of self-advocacy and assertiveness for women in leadership roles.
“Sometimes you feel yourself getting a bit overpowered... I've trained myself to realize when that's happening and stop it. Be myself and be confident.”
[34:51]
Jo also addresses the need for more supportive recruitment practices and fostering environments that empower women.
Future Plans and Vision
Solidus aims to expand internationally, with recent offices established in Dubai and plans to enter the U.S. market. Jo envisions widespread adoption of organic solar technology to transform energy consumption and support communities globally.
“To put that technology on every roof in the world and the ingredients to make it will never run out. It's world-saving.”
[14:33]
She also anticipates significant savings and carbon reductions for clients, exemplified by Farnborough Airport's projected £14 million savings and 6,000 tons of carbon reduction over the product's lifetime.
Conclusion
The episode concludes with a mutual appreciation for the collaborative spirit within the clean energy sector and a reaffirmation of the mission to drive sustainability forward. Jo Parker-Swift's innovative approach with Solidus presents a promising avenue for unlocking the UK's solar potential, overcoming existing barriers, and fostering a more sustainable and inclusive energy future.
“This is something we’re going to help that message. But we do think there could be more encouragement on rooftop so that we do have enough reads to power half our UK electricity.”
[19:27]
Key Takeaways:
- Unlocking Potential: The UK has significant untapped rooftop solar capacity, especially in commercial buildings constrained by weight.
- Innovative Solutions: Lightweight and organic solar technologies offer sustainable, efficient alternatives to traditional solar panels.
- Challenges Ahead: High costs, installation complexities, and investment hurdles need to be addressed to scale adoption.
- Inclusive Leadership: Empowering women in clean energy leadership roles fosters diversity and drives industry innovation.
- Future Outlook: Solidus is poised to expand globally, promoting sustainable energy solutions that benefit both businesses and communities.
Notable Quotes:
-
Jo Parker-Swift on Lightweight Solar Technology:
“We are specialists in lightweight solar technology. We are tackling the built environment and decarbonizing it by providing solutions for buildings that can't support regular solar panels.”
[02:08] -
Imogen Bogle on UK Rooftop Potential:
“The capacity on the rooftops of those 2 million non-domestic buildings equates to roughly 128 gigawatts if they were all covered with solar.”
[00:30] -
Jo on Organic Solar’s Sustainability:
“The Solidus Ark is made out of organic solar. It doesn’t have any deep mining, no rare earth materials in it. You can recycle it at the end of its life.”
[14:33] -
Jo on Investment Challenges:
“The problem is when I don’t get to speak to a person... It's tough.”
[30:11]
Final Thoughts:
Jo Parker-Swift's insights offer a compelling look into the future of solar energy, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges inherent in transforming the UK's energy landscape. As the clean energy sector continues to evolve, innovations like those from Solidus are essential in paving the way towards a more sustainable and equitable energy future.