The domination of large fossil fuelled power stations in the UK’s electricity supply is contributing to pollution of the world’s atmosphere and the threat of climate change. Our urban areas and the buildings we inhabit are a major cause of the problem. In the United Kingdom buildings produce, as a by-product of the energy they consume, some 50 per cent of total carbon dioxide.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which provides scientific advice to governments, has stated that 60-80 per cent cuts in greenhouse gases are needed if we are to avert the worst effects of climate change. In other words, to protect the world’s climate, we need a drastic reduction in our consumption of fossil fuels and a switch to renewable energy sources.

One of the most exciting renewable technologies is solar photovoltaic power. Photovoltaic cells convert sunlight directly into electricity. The technology is simple, dependable and safe: it requires no moving parts or fuel, it is silent in operation and it generates pollution free electricity. Solar photovoltaic power is the only electricity generating renewable technology that can be used in the urban environment at the point where the majority of electricity is consumed. It is an innovative technology which has captured the imagination of the public. Solar photovoltaic power is a solution which can be deployed at the heart of the problem.

Despite its availability and advantages, solar photovoltaic power has been virtually ignored in the UK. Yet the option of transforming offices and cities into suppliers of clean electricity is feasible, sensible and available now. Greenpeace campaigns for solutions to environmental problems and has identified commercial buildings as a key opportunity for developing solar technology in the UK.

This report outlines the technical, aesthetic and environmental case for solar photovoltaic deployment on commercial buildings. If the different sectors of the building industry – architects, planners, engineers, owner and occupiers – adopt a positive attitude towards it, solar photovoltaic power can unlock the enormous energy potential of British buildings and create a new environmental aesthetic. Do you want to take part in the solar revolution?