Among the suite of new polices from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, briefed to trade association Solar Energy UK, is reactivating the Solar Taskforce. The joint government-industry body is co-chaired by Solar Energy UK Chief Executive Chris Hewett and was charged during the previous parliament with establishing the practical measures needed to reach 70GW of generation capacity by 2035.[1]
Its Solar Roadmap, almost ready for publication when the general election was called, will need to be revised slightly to align with Labour’s goal of 50GW by 2030 and its enthusiasm for faster delivery.
“We will encourage in whatever way we can”
The taskforce will now be co-chaired by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, who said: “I want to unleash a UK solar rooftop revolution. We will encourage builders and homeowners in whatever way we can to deliver this win-win technology to millions of addresses in the UK so people can provide their own electricity, cut their bills and at the same time help fight climate change.”[2]
The taskforce was formerly co-chaired by Conservative energy ministers Andrew Bowie and Graham Stuart.
Miliband’s words echo those of the 2022 Independent Review of Net Zero, written by former MP Chris Skidmore. His report called for a “solar revolution” and led to the formation of the Solar Taskforce.
Miliband’s comments came shortly after approving three large-scale solar farms, with a combined capacity totalling 1.35GW – about two thirds of all the solar generation capacity installed in the UK last year. The Sunnica project alone could deliver an estimated 1,500 jobs.
Publication imminent
Responding to the reintroduction of the taskforce, Chris Hewett said: “I very much look forward to returning to chair the Solar Taskforce, and I am sure that its expert members would echo my thoughts. A lot of the groundwork for the Solar Roadmap has been done already. I have every confidence that we will be able to publish it within a few months.”
“However, the new Government’s eagerness to generate more solar power means redoubling efforts to make the electricity networks fit for purpose, equip Britain’s workforce with the right skills for the solar rollout, and invest in a UK supply chain in areas like batteries, steel mounting and engineering, procurement & construction. This will ensure the UK economy really gains from the growth in clean power,” he added.
As SEUK has lobbied for, the forthcoming Future Homes Standard will effectively mandate the installation of solar panels on newbuild homes, to a stronger degree than current building regulations. The Future Buildings Standard will do the same for non-residential buildings, helping to cut energy bills and push the country towards net zero.
Reforms to the planning system are also expected, including reinforcing the need for solar energy in the National Planning Policy Framework. There will also be a consultation on raising the threshold for solar farms to be considered as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), currently set at 50MW. This should reduce the time taken to develop and build some solar farms.
The Government is also expected to liberalise rules on installing rooftop solar panels on listed buildings and in conservation areas. A review of these rules began some months ago.
Together, the measures will cut energy bills, boost energy security, deliver economic growth and cut greenhouse gas emissions.