In the wake of the Labour Party’s landslide victory in the UK General Election, there have been swift and substantial moves to back the solar industry. The new government, keen on a clean energy transition, has already approved over 1 GW of new solar capacity. Chris Hewett, CEO of Solar Energy UK, highlighted that the government’s clear support for the solar industry is unprecedented and central to their economic strategy.
Ed Miliband, the newly appointed Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, has hit the ground running. He has greenlit three major solar projects totaling over 1.3 GW and appointed Chris Stark, former head of the Climate Change Committee, to lead a new clean energy taskforce.
Additionally, the government has revived the Solar Taskforce, co-chaired by Miliband and Hewett, signaling strong collaboration between the government and industry.
The Labour government plans to update the Solar Roadmap, a strategic document outlining deployment trajectories, reflecting their heightened capacity targets. This document, which was nearly published before the election, is expected to be released in the fall of 2024.
UK Labour Government Fast-Tracks Solar Energy with Over 1 GW Approved
The government’s proactive approach includes support for residential solar through the Warm Homes Plan, which will offer grants and loans to improve household energy efficiency, complementing upcoming standards that will likely mandate solar on new buildings.
At the utility scale, the government seems poised to approve more large-scale solar projects. Gareth Phillips from Pinsent Masons noted that several significant projects might receive development consent orders (DCOs) soon.
Miliband’s approval of three major projects, despite one having faced opposition, demonstrates a bold commitment to advancing solar energy. His willingness to override planning inspectorate advice indicates a strong prioritization of national over local interests.
Miliband’s decisions are framed within updated national policy statements, which emphasize the critical importance of low carbon infrastructure. These updates likely influenced the approval of projects like Sunnica Energy Farm, despite initial recommendations against it. By prioritizing national need over local impacts, the government has made it clear that advancing solar energy is a critical national priority.
