Covering grid access, workforce, rooftop deployment and the supply chain, the sub-groups will seek to identify ways to remove the barriers to success in these key areas.
Electricity networks
The role of this sub-group is to unlock regulatory and other challenges preventing timely and cost-effective grid connections. This concerns solar power at all scales: residential, commercial and industrial rooftop and utility-scale.
Its priorities will be to reduce grid connection waiting times, improve connections management for battery storage systems and expand the network.
The group also aims to improve the management of smaller-scale rooftop installations.
Skills
A sub-group to identify how to develop and deliver the skills and training needed for the future solar workforce in both the short- and long-term.
Key aims are to maintain and improve the quality of installations as the sector scales up, improving diversity and ensuring that young people, those changing careers and those returning to the jobs market are aware of employment and training opportunities in solar energy and the skills needed for it.
Rooftop
The Rooftop Sub-group, the largest of the four, focuses on regulatory and other barriers to deploying commercial, industrial and domestic rooftop solar.
Its remit includes selling power to the grid, public procurement, lowering upfront costs, raising public awareness of solar energy and securing appropriate planning rules and property regulation regimes.
Supply chain
The role of this sub-group is to facilitate resilient, sustainable and innovative supply chains for deploying rooftop and ground-mount solar.
This means mapping the existing domestic supply chain, exploring the potential for international collaboration to strengthen the UK industry, increasing the attractiveness of the UK market for investment and identifying export opportunities.
The work of the Taskforce is expected to conclude in February 2024.