What will the Taskforce focus on?
At present, the UK government has a target for 70GW of solar power by 2035 which the Taskforce believes will be achieved by utilising commercial sites for solar installation, including warehouses, schools, and car parks. The typically large surface areas of these sites make them ideal locations for solar PV farms.
Alongside this, the taskforce will focus on cutting installation costs, upskilling the workforce to efficiently rollout solar, and improving grid access in aid of a solar revolution.
Chris Hewett said:
“Installing rooftop solar power, whether at residential or commercial scale, is one of the best investments available, offering dramatic savings on energy bills and the opportunity to be paid for sending excess power to the grid.”
“Solar is the most popular form of power generation amongst the British public and consumer demand has never been higher,” he adds. “The rate of rooftop installation must double to help hit 70GW by 2035. The number of solar farms will also have to increase significantly.”
Solar industry leaders are joining the discussion to ensure the UK’s ambitions are achieved. Presently, over 99 per cent of the UK’s solar capacity has been installed since May 2010, with installations occurring at a rate of over 500 a day in March 2023. Utilising commercial spaces and coordinating farmers with solar firms is a realistic means of achieving higher rates of installation.
Longer term, the Taskforce has detailed plans to:
- Publish a solar roadmap by 2024
- Upskill and expand the workforce to service demand
- Secure resilient supply chains and innovation
