How a project using Ordnance Survey data is supporting the rooftop solar panel drive

According to the independent Microgeneration Certification Scheme, nearly 100,000 domestic solar panel systems were installed in the UK between January and June this year. And with estimates of savings on energy bills per household hovering at around the £500 mark, it’s not surprising that 86% of the public support solar power as a renewable energy source, according to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

So how can OS support this government initiative? In March this year, we released our own data on over 40 million roofs in Great Britain. This data introduced unprecedented insights into roof shape, aspect, material and the presence of green roofs and solar panels. For example, the research showed that 5% of the mostly domestic buildings surveyed across Britain have solar panels on their roofs. 

Following the launch of a new collaboration, we have been working with Snowflake to develop a demo that could be a great leap forward in giving businesses insight into where to encourage markets for domestic solar panels.

The new concept, built on Streamlit, is called Slopey Roofs and combines data from the Met Office and OS with sample data to provide a comprehensive dataset demonstrating roof suitability for solar panel installation in different counties and regions.

Met Office data on sunlight exposure is pulled together with data on roof aspects from OS. Furthermore, with a new location filter recently added to the demo, users can see down to street and postcode level where there could be potential for new solar panels.

The development of the Slopey Roofs model is currently accessible to potential business users, and we hope this will pave the way for them to use our data to develop their analysis and insights. We would expect those planning new housing developments to get the most use from a demo such as this, especially where solar panels are integrated into building design.

We also think that analysts in the housing sector could benefit, since our model combines datasets to create a really comprehensive set of information about their properties. Local authorities could also use the data to validate housing stock records, support council tax assessments and inform planning decisions, particularly in conservation areas or where solar panel permissions may vary. 

We are more than halfway through a one-year trial for Slopey Roofs, and we’ve had a good response so far. We had some great feedback to our demo at this year’s OS Innovation Day and at Snowflake conferences and hackathons in the UK and US. This has led to conversations with new customers and our existing partner network on how we can take this forward.

The government is committed to achieving 95% clean electricity by 2030, and OS data is keeping pace with that. Along with partners like Snowflake, we can show how OS data sits at the heart of providing innovative solutions to government and the housing sector across Great Britain.

Tim Chilton, UK consulting lead, Ordnance Survey