Plants vs Panels

Solar energy, when converted into electricity in a big metal shiny panel, is a zero-emissions process. No carbon released. 

But, conversely, no carbon is stored either. 

Not many things can store carbon, but crucially, the land that we built the panels on had the capacity to. 

We’ve swapped photosynthesis (what plants do), which absorbs sunlight and carbon dioxide, for photovoltaics (what solar panels do), which only absorbs sunlight and no carbon.

Panels on Roofs, Please

(P.O.R.P… anyone?)

Building roofs have no capacity to store carbon. Or grow food. Or absorb light. In fact, they are just radiating light and heat back into the atmosphere. So they are the perfect sites to install solar panels. What's more, they happen to be right on top of where the electricity is needed, not hundreds of miles away on some farmland or desert. Less cables and storage required.

That leaves open land to grow food, plants, soil and carbon, and act as the earth’s living skin as it was designed to.