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Home ❯ Getting Solar OFF the Land exhibition ❯ Renewables Done Well – the smarter, fairer way to achieve Net Zero

Renewables Done Well – the smarter, fairer way to achieve Net Zero

A countryside horizon showing a west Norfolk river at dusk with the open landscape beyond.
Lisa Ashbury

The smarter, fairer way to achieve Net Zero

Renewable energy is essential, but it must be planned and delivered in a way that protects both climate and countryside.

CPRE Norfolk’s approach, shared with the national CPRE and supported by research from the UCL Energy Institute, demonstrates that the UK can exceed its solar generation targets without building on farmland.

What “done well” looks like

Rooftop revolution

Research shows that solar on commercial roofs, homes, and car parks could provide more capacity than all proposed ground-mounted schemes combined.

Brownfield first

Prioritising derelict land, old airfields, and industrial estates protects farmland and biodiversity.

Smart integration

Solar should be combined with battery storage in existing built environments, not new rural compounds.

Local benefit

Community-owned schemes keep revenue in the local economy and strengthen public support for renewables.

 

Examples of Renewables Done Well

  • Abel Homes (Watton): All new homes fitted with rooftop solar and high-efficiency insulation, proving that housebuilders can deliver climate-ready housing at competitive prices.
  • Bullen Power (Norwich): Installing solar on commercial roofs and linking directly to local energy users through peer-to-peer supply.

These examples show what a positive, modern energy transition can look like, one that strengthens communities and protects the countryside.

 

CPRE Norfolk’s policy

CPRE Norfolk calls for a national Land Use Framework that directs renewables to the right places, ensuring we meet Net Zero targets without sacrificing our most valuable rural assets.

Keep reading

Next page –> Community Action – Standing together for Norfolk’s countryside

 

Or jump to…

This page is based on the exhibition board “Renewables Done Well” from CPRE Norfolk’s Getting Solar OFF the Land Exhibition (2025).

Sources: 

UCL Energy Institute for CPRE, 2024 – “Renewables Done Well: Solar Potential in the Built Environment.”
CPRE Norfolk, 2025 – Case Studies: Abel Homes and Bullen Power.
DESNZ, 2025 – National Solar Capacity Report.

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