The Brit-Govt’s Government 165-page Clean Growth Strategy sets out proposals for decarbonising all sectors of the UK economy and explains how the country can benefit from low carbon opportunities, while meeting national and international commitments to tackle climate change.
And – according to renewable energy developer Anesco, the strategy has finally provided a ‘level of certainty’ for the sector.
Steve Shine, Executive Chairman, Anesco, commented: “Innovative companies in the cleantech sector like Anesco need government to set out a cohesive, documented pathway for the role that renewables will play for the UK moving forward.
“Importantly, we need greater certainty for the sector and to increase investor confidence – as investors will play a major role in whether any vision becomes a reality.
“However, we do need to see tangible action to support investors in solar energy – it is now both affordable and subsidy-free and we hope that the promised update later this year will provide much needed long-term certainty for the solar industry.”
Last month, Climate Change Minister Claire Perry, MP, officially opened Anesco’s Clayhill Solar Farm in Bedfordshire – which is the UK’s first subsidy-free solar farm and combines 10MW solar PV with 6MW energy storage.
However, the Solar Trade Association lamented the ‘limited opportunities’ for the industry in the Brit-Govt strategy.
An STA spokesman said: “While the astonishing cost reductions in solar are cited several times in the Strategy there are no explicit new measures to boost current deployment which has plummeted
“The industry has been waiting over a year for clarity on the FIT Review and the clean power auctions and major job losses have been incurred in a sector which employed 34,000 people just a few years ago.
“The Government needs to stop putting the UK solar industry at a competitive disadvantage.
Whether it is tax breaks for fossil fuels, a continued emphasis on big centralised power over local power, or access to auctions – solar is not being treated fairly. Solar empowers local people and communities, and it stimulates smart innovation more than any other energy technology.”
13 Oct 2017
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