Comparative data on sunlight hours between the Bailiwick and UK shows the Channel Islands enjoyed significantly more sun last year, translating into 14.3% more potential for solar power generation.
Data from the Met Office has revealed that the UK experienced only 1,435 hours of sunshine in 2023, compared to Guernsey’s 1,814. The island therefore had more daylight to convert into solar power, reflecting 1,196 kWh per kWp compared to the UK’s 1,025 kWh per kWp. Guernsey thus had 14.3% more potential for solar power than the UK in 2023.
The data is timely, as it follows Guernsey Electricity’s annual report of further potential price rises for consumers, and the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) advice that demand for electricity is rising at its fastest rate in two decades and is set to increase throughout the year.
Jamie Clark, Operations Director at The Little Green Energy Company, said: “Guernsey is in a moment of significant change as prices rise and demand grows, but it also has the ability to make more of its unique location.
“We see significantly more of the sun than our UK counterparts, so locals with solar panels installed on their roofs have the capacity to generate more renewable energy on average than they would on the mainland. When paired with storage technology like a Tesla Powerwall 3, which allows islanders to store their power and use it during the evenings and the darker autumn and winter months, concerns about rising costs of traditional electricity solutions can be mitigated.”
The Tesla Powerwall 3 is due to launch in Guernsey in September and will contribute to the Bailiwick’s ambitious 2050 net zero target.
