At Energy Oasis, we’re all about turning challenges into opportunities for sustainable innovation. Urban spaces may seem short on resources, but they’re full of untapped potential for energy efficiency and generation. One example? Car parks.

Car parks, especially in busy urban areas, can be transformed into green energy hubs that benefit businesses, communities, and the planet. By installing solar panels on lightweight steel structures on the top deck of the car park and optimising energy consumption through intelligent LED lighting we can rethink what’s possible in urban green energy hubs.

The Limits of the Existing Energy System

The energy grid, as we know it, was designed for a different era. Its centralised nature has served us well in the past, but today, it faces insecurity and mounting pressure from foreign ownership, skyrocketing demand and the challenges of integrating renewable energy sources.

Challenges with the Current Grid

Capacity Strain

Large-scale renewable energy projects like offshore wind and solar farms feed into the grid, but the system often struggles to handle peak loads and distribute power efficiently.

Intermittency Issues

Solar and wind energy are weather-dependent, leading to inconsistent power generation. Without sufficient storage or a responsive grid, managing supply and demand presents a significant hurdle.

Infrastructure Bottlenecks

Expanding grid infrastructure is costly and time-intensive, leaving many areas with outdated systems that can’t support additional renewable input.

Long Transmission Pathways

The further electricity travels from generation points to end-users, the greater the energy losses along the way.

These limitations mean the grid alone cannot support Net Zero ambitions. Instead, we need decentralised solutions that complement the centralised system, enhancing efficiency and resilience. Urban community energy schemes could be the answer.

Urban Community Energy Schemes Explained

At their core, urban community energy schemes centre around collaboration—local people, businesses, and councils working together to generate and share renewable energy. Done right, these projects reduce emissions, enhance energy independence, and create long-term cost savings for participants.

Local Control

Empowering communities with ownership and management leads to tailored solutions that address specific local needs.

Grid Resilience

Decentralised energy systems reduce reliance on the main grid, easing capacity strain and improving energy distribution.

Improving Innovation

Communities are often well-positioned to experiment with creative energy solutions, such as the use of underutilised urban spaces.

Accelerating Adoption

By engaging individuals and local entities, bottom-up initiatives create widespread support for renewable energy transition.

Grimsby Community Energy: A Success Story

One shining example of urban community energy potential is the work of Grimsby Community Energy, a partner we’ve been proud to collaborate with. Using proven clean energy solutions and local relationships, Grimsby has turned underutilised urban spaces into vibrant, productive hubs for renewable energy.

Grimsby Community Energy is a cooperative driving the shift to renewable energy while keeping the benefits local. By promoting community ownership of energy resources, GCE empowers residents to take an active role in the transition to sustainability. Their projects cut carbon emissions while creating jobs and generating revenue for the community. Through solar installations, energy sharing, and collaboration, GCE showcases how urban energy initiatives can deliver lasting environmental and economic benefits for towns and cities.

What Sets Urban Green Energy Hubs Apart

Unlike rural energy projects with sprawling solar fields or large wind farms, urban community energy must focus on optimising limited space. Creative solutions and collaboration are vital, making them a true testbed for innovation.

And what better place to start than car parks?

Solar Panels on Stilts: Unlocking Car Park Potential

Imagine the top deck of a car park transformed into a covered rooftop of solar panels on stilts, capturing sunlight, powering the car park and EV charging beneath and providing renewable energy for the community around it. Simple yet powerful, these setups maximise existing infrastructure for big gains.

Why Solar Panels on Car Parks?

Multi-functional Space

Solar installations create a double function by providing weather protection for vehicles below while producing energy above.
Unlike rooftop solar systems on private buildings, car parks can benefit a much broader demographic, including EV charging, local businesses and community members.

New Income Streams for Operators

By renting the rooftop for renewable energy investments, car park operators unlock additional income streams.
The energy produced can power the car park's operations, with any surplus sold to local communities and businesses. To maximise this surplus and create a valuable revenue stream, optimising the car park's energy efficiency is essential.

Protecting Urban Green Spaces

Solar panels on car parks reduce the need for vast, sprawling solar farms on open countryside, preserving green spaces.
These projects are ideally suited for high-density urban areas, where space is limited but energy demand is high.

Solar panels are the foundation of these urban green energy hubs, but maximising their potential requires both energy generation and effective energy reduction strategies. This is where intelligent lighting comes in.

Lighting the Way to Maximum Efficiency

Energy savings are vital for making urban car parks as energy-positive as possible. Reducing energy consumption means more of the power generated can be fed back into the grid or used to fund further sustainability improvements. For car parks, swapping traditional lighting for intelligent LED systems offers immediate and impactful results.

Connecting Energy Savings to Renewables

Cost Saving

Intelligent LEDs can deliver up to 80% energy reductions compared to outdated halogen or fluorescent systems, ensuring substantial cost savings.
LEDs last significantly longer than traditional bulbs, reducing replacement costs and maintenance downtime.

Improved Self-Sufficiency

By cutting lighting energy use—often one of the biggest operational costs—car parks can free up more of their generated solar power for external supply. Self-sufficient power management boosts returns on renewable investments.
Proximity Sensors: Automatically turn lights on or off based on movement, ensuring no energy is wasted in unused areas.
Natural Light Sensors: Adjust brightness in response to daylight, optimising energy use throughout the day.

Funding Renewable Upgrades

Savings made from reduced electricity usage can help finance the cost of solar panel installations or expand renewable capacity over time.

Energy-Neutral Operations

Pairing intelligent lighting with solar generation can transform car parks into completely energy-neutral hubs—a win for both operators and the environment.

Intelligent lighting doesn’t just save energy—it improves safety and supports the path to Net Zero.

Why Energy Oasis Is Investing in Car Parks

Our membership with the British Parking Association (BPA) reflects our dedication to energy innovation within industries often overlooked in the climate conversation. Car parks, with their expansive rooftops and high energy demands, are uniquely positioned to lead the way in sustainability.

Urban community energy schemes provide an incredible opportunity to rethink how we use energy in cities. From solar-powered car parks to intelligent lighting and the shift to future mobility, the possibilities are vast—and Energy Oasis is here to help make them happen.

Whether you’re a car park operator, a business owner, or a local authority, we’ll work with you to create solutions that reduce costs, consumption, and carbon.

Want to know more about our work on renewable energy or our collaboration with Grimsby Community Energy? Explore our latest projects or get in touch to see how we can support your sustainability goals.

Together, we can turn today’s urban challenges into tomorrow’s green energy solutions. Energy Oasis is your partner for change.

The Urban Green Energy Revolution and The Role of Multistory Car Parks