Geospatial Insight has teamed up with Bluesky International to develop a database of rooftop solar installations across the UK.

Over 1.4 million UK homes have solar panels installed, and solar is currently the preferred alternative energy source for commercial sites aiming to improve their sustainability rating. Understanding the impact of these installations on the national power grid is challenging, however.

The new platform, LOCATE PV, seeks to address this challenge by providing a detailed, machine learning-derived database that identifies and maps existing solar arrays using Bluesky’s high-resolution aerial imagery.

Dave Fox, CEO of Geospatial Insight, said: “LOCATE PV is a critical advancement in how we understand and manage the UK's solar landscape. By providing the most accurate and up-to-date data on existing installations, we are enabling more informed decisions that will support the growth of solar energy and the broader transition to a low-carbon economy.”

Ralph Coleman, chief commercial officer at Bluesky, added: “We are seeing an increased need across public and private sectors for our aerial imagery as organisations realise the benefits accurate, high resolution data can have in supporting the planning and analysis of renewable energy schemes. The LOCATE PV platform will bring clarity and efficiency to the solar industry as it looks to continue its expansion.”

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