In the latest stage of its Technological Innovation and Climate
Change inquiry, the Environmental Audit Committee has today
announced that it is to look at the role onshore solar energy
technologies can play in the UK’s journey to net zero.
Electricity generation from solar panels – including their
manufacture and construction – are estimated to have a carbon
footprint up to 20 times lower than coal or gas with carbon
capture and storage.
The technology of photovoltaic cells is a fast-developing area:
current and emerging technologies appear to increase the
potential for solar cells on flexible substrates and in locations
with varying amounts of light.
Numerous energy storage technologies are under development in the
UK that can provide the surplus energy from solar panels when it
is most needed.
The rising cost of living is thought to be contributing to the
increase in demand for solar panels on residential and commercial
properties. The Committee is keen to consider whether market
capacity for supply and installation is sufficient to meet this
demand.
In its British Energy Security Strategy, the Government outlined
plans to increase solar capacity to 70GW by 2035, with
initiatives including amending planning rules for ground-mounted
solar. 75 onshore solar projects were included in the Contracts
for Difference allocation round 4 awarded in July 2022.
Chair's comments
Environmental Audit Committee Chairman, Rt Hon MP, said:
“The amount of energy from the sun that strikes the Earth in a
single hour is greater than the amount the global population
consumes in a year. Developing solar technologies for domestic
and large-scale use provides a major opportunity to harness this
energy, building up domestic energy resilience and helping to
meet the UK’s net zero goals. The UK is way behind other
countries in deployment of solar energy generation. Our Committee
wants to find out why, and how we can light the way to a new
solar dawn.
“Can the supply chain support the anticipated increase in demand
for solar installations in response to the rising cost of living
and the drive to reach net zero? Is current storage and
distribution capacity limiting the country’s potential to develop
solar energy? Are current incentives sufficient to drive the
level of progress required, and what barriers are preventing more
rapid uptake?
“During our short inquiry we will be considering these issues
with experts before putting our findings to Government. I welcome
anyone with views on the potential for solar energy deployment to
get in touch with the Committee.”
Terms of reference
The Committee invites written submissions addressing any or all
of the issues raised in the following terms of reference, by
17:00 on Thursday 1st December 2022:
- What role can developments in solar panel technology play in
the UK’s transition to net zero?
- To what extent is the contribution of onshore solar
technologies to the UK’s renewable energy mix limited by storage
and distribution capacity?
- How significant are current technological developments in
solar energy storage and distribution for the potential
contribution of onshore solar to the UK’s renewable energy mix?
- What are the current barriers (regulatory, technological or
otherwise) to expanding the number of small and large-scale solar
installations in the UK?
- Are government support schemes sufficient to encourage
small-scale solar technology deployment by consumers? What role
does the pricing of energy under these schemes play in the uptake
of solar technology by domestic and commercial properties?
- Does Government policy and current planning guidance
adequately address the issues raised by proposals to install
solar farms on land with high agricultural or ecological value?
- How sustainable is the supply chain for solar panel
manufacture? Do levels of sustainability differ between mature
and emergent technologies?
- Does the concentrated global distribution of solar panel
supply chains (80% manufacture in China) pose a risk to solar
technology expansion in the UK? If so, how could this be
mitigated?
- What needs to be done to facilitate solar farm access to grid
connection, to enable wider distributed energy generation from
solar installations?
- Are emerging proposals to utilise solar energy overseas
capable of supplying additional sustainable grid capacity via
interconnectors to the UK?
