British Independence from the EU-bloc paints a picture of mixed opportunities and threats for renewable energies.
Solar power development may actually profit from Brexit, as the EU anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures for cells and modules from China tend to artificially inflate the cost of China-made solar panels by about 10%.
Yet again, the rate of value added tax (VAT) applied within the UK may be impacted by Brexit, affecting the cost of essential equipment such as wind turbines, solar panels, labour and capital costs.
Leaving the EU would most certainly slow progress of large cross-border infrastructure projects like interconnectors, which is key to businesses trading with electricity. At present, the UK imports a significant amount of electricity from abroad – mostly nuclear power from France.
The UK anaerobic digestion energy sector (AD-energy) and the production of biogas could possibly suffer as the UK will no longer be required to comply with EU waste and recycling directives.
Less ambitious regulations would affect separate food waste collections thus limiting the sector’s growth.
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