Calls for urgent action to produce green energy in UK
Solar power farms in Fareham could fuel hundreds of homes, according to new research.
Estimates from the National Grid suggest the UK must double the amount of renewable electricity it produces over the next six years to replace energy phased out from fossil fuels.
Climate and energy charity Friends of the Earth has called on all political parties to pledge to lift restrictions on onshore wind farms.
The campaign group said the Conservatives' track record on energy security is "woefully inadequate".
And they labelled Labour "increasingly shaky on climate" after it cut its £28billion green investment pledge by half in February.
It has also urged local authorities to identify suitable renewable energy sites in local plans, and called for further investment in the electricity grid as a "top infrastructure priority".
Research conducted by Exeter University's Environmental Intelligence Centre and Friends of the Earth shows that there is less than one square kilometre of land in Fareham suitable for hosting solar power sites.
This would generate 0.6 gigawatt-hours (GWH) of electricity, which would power around 200 homes based on average electricity consumption.
There are no suitable sites in The News’ region for an onshore wind farm.
Across England, the research found 219,800 hectares of land considered most suitable for new onshore wind developments and 295,000 hectares with potential for new solar sites.
This could produce more than 12 times the current amount generated by solar and onshore wind power, fuelling 83.7 million homes.
Researchers excluded higher-grade agricultural land, which can be degraded by solar farms, and implemented a onekilometre buffer around all grade one and two listed buildings, a two-kilometre distance from any registered park or garden, and a 500-metre ring around any scheduled monument.
The research also excluded all national parks and areas of outstanding natural beauty, and roof solar panels.
Tony Bosworth, climate campaigner at Friends of the Earth, said political leaders needed to act urgently.