Prime Minister acknowledges key role of solarPV
Prime Minister David Cameron has said that SolarPV ‘has the potential to play a valuable part of the UK’s energy mix’ in response to a letter from a coalition of over 150 businesses from the solar industry and other organisations who signed a letter warning him of the threat to Britain’s thriving solar industry.
Their letter expressed ‘concern about the levels of uncertainty in the solar power industry as a result of recent policy changes by your energy department’. It also stressed that ‘just a short period of Government support is needed to deliver subsidy-free solar in the UK by the end of the next Parliament’.
David Cameron also stated how he hoped the ongoing discussions between DECC ministers and the Solar Trade Association [STA] would continue ‘as we work together on laying the foundations for the successful future of the solar PV sector in the UK. He added that ‘rapid deployment has created a significant opportunity for growth in the sector and the wider economy.’.
The STA points out that DECC’s own assessment shows that they changes they are proposing to the existing FITs will add only five to 15 of the largest roof schemes per year and could lead to a cut in overall PV development by 2020 of 420 MW.
Leonie Greene, head of external affairs at the STA, commented, ‘Here is what we can do to work together: make absolutely sure that Contracts for Difference [being introduced under energy-market reforms] will work for solar, retain but review the existing Renewables Obligations to ensure we don’t lose the level playing field for solar, and fix he Feed in Tariff for large roofs as soon as possible.
‘The solar industry has done its bit to lay the foundations for the successful future of UK solar. But we can’t start building the house if the architect keeps changing the designs. Solar can become subsidy-free next Parliament, but only if the Government provides a level playing field and stable policy.’
