Ambitious calls for an eight-fold increase in the amount of Britain’s energy generated through solar power have been made by the Government.
Around 2.5GW of power is generated through solar and photovoltaic cells at the moment, with the Department of Energy and Climate Change forecasting that figure to increase to 10GW by the end of the decade.
But energy minister Greg Barker has called for the industry to achieve double that number by 2020
“The DECC central forecast estimates that the UK is likely to reach 10GW by 2020,” said Barker.
“I believe we can go faster and further. Along with many in the industry, I think that up to 20GW of deployed solar is not only desirable but also potentially achievable within a decade.
“But we will only meet such an ambitious level of deployment if we all work in even closer partnership and achieve grid parity sooner.”
Solar currently accounts for around 12% of renewable energy capacity, and just 2.9% of renewable electricity generation, across the UK.
However, the new UK roadmap for the solar industry set out by the government today will look to dramatically increase that number inside the next seven years, ahead of a solar strategy being published next spring.
It sets out four principles – for cost effective projects, carbon reduction, appropriate location and grid balancing – which will drive next year’s strategy document.
The roadmap calls for solar PV projects to be appropriately sited, with proper consideration to environmental and heritage issues in the area, along with allowing communities affected by their installation to have a say in the process. Financial incentives for installing solar set-ups will also be considered.
“It’s a genuinely exciting energy technology which has already seen rapid growth and enjoys strong public support,” said Baker.
“I want this growth to continue and to help us push further ahead in the global race – but new solar installations must be sensitive to public opinion and mindful of wider environmental and visual impacts.”
Energy industry body Scottish Renewables welcomed the roadmap and acknowledged the role Scotland still has to play in producing solar energy.
“Although solar power is perhaps not the first renewable technology that springs to mind when you look outside at the autumnal Scottish weather, it’s important to remember that over 25,000 households in Scotland have already benefited from photovoltaic solar panels under the Feed-in Tariff system,” said Stephanie Clark, Policy Officer at Scottish Renewables, said:
“As more larger-scale solar installations come into the planning system we will work closely with DECC, and the wider solar power sector, to ensure there is a clear transition between the current funding arrangements and the new system of Contracts for Difference.”
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