Solar industry expects boost from Labour’s clean energy agenda

Solar Energy UK has expressed optimism about the Labour party’s election victory and its plans to accelerate the growth of the solar and energy storage industries.

One of Labour’s key policy commitments is to make Britain a “clean energy superpower” by 2030, with a goal of cutting bills, creating jobs, and delivering secure, zero-carbon electricity. To achieve this, the industry body is asking the government to publish an ambitious Solar Roadmap, already drafted by the Solar Taskforce, and increase the budget for the next Contracts for Difference auction round.

Labour’s pledge to work with the private sector to triple solar power by 2030 is a goal that tallies with SEUK’s own manifesto demand for the UK to reach 50 gigawatts of solar generation capacity by the same date. By the end of this year, the UK is expected to have around 20GW in place, supplemented with 8GW of battery energy storage. SEUK foresees the UK having 30GW of zero-carbon storage by the end of the decade.

The organisation particularly welcomes the government’s commitment to tackle lengthy delays for grid connections. Its manifesto describes the state of the electricity networks as, “the single biggest obstacle to the deployment of cheap, clean power generation and the electrification of industry,” a view shared by the industry.

Solar Energy UK’s chief executive, Chris Hewett says:

“Labour’s first year in power is going to be a critical period for the solar and energy storage sectors – essential for future energy security, lowering energy bills and addressing the climate emergency. We have every confidence that the new government will demonstrate a more positive attitude towards the industry and so bolster investor confidence.

“To meet Labour’s objective of decarbonising the grid by the end of the decade, it must hit the ground running. That means embracing solar by making swift ministerial decisions on nationally significant solar projects, mandating solar on new homes and revamping the Solar Taskforce’s draft Solar Roadmap to align with the ambitious goal of 50GW of solar capacity by 2030.”

Solar Energy UK says it is committed to working with the new government to get the Solar Roadmap published within the first 100 days, outlining the practical measures to drive the continued uptake of cost-effective and popular solar energy.