Solar Energy UK is targeting 70GW of solar by 2035. That’s eleven years to triple current capacity and help lead the transition to a clean and resilient energy system for the UK. Later this year, we’ll publish a strategic roadmap on how to make this happen. In the meantime, you can learn more about our progress in our latest Impact Report.
About us
Solar Energy UK is an established trade association working for and representing the
entire solar and energy storage value chain. We are funded largely by our membership
and represent a thriving member-led community of over 390+ businesses and associates.
Our members range from ambitious and innovative SMEs to global brands.
We are a non-profit organisation working on an exciting agenda.
To catalyse the collective strengths of our members
to build a clean energy system for everyone’s benefit.
If you know anything about Solar Energy UK, you know our core values—commitment, collaboration, and credibility—underpin everything we do, from our work with industry leaders to our making things happen.
These three values go to the heart of what we’re about and are reflected in our determination for change, our partnership orientation and the robust positions for which we have become known.
Solar Energy UK was founded in 1978 as the Solar Trade Association, initially to support the UK’s fledgling solar thermal industry. Later, as solar photovoltaic technologies became prevalent, the association’s remit was expanded to champion the breadth of the solar energy and energy storage value chain.
In 2021, over four decades on, our name was changed to better reflect this broader remit, although our underlying ethos remains the same—to be a powerful voice for our members and clean up the UK’s energy system by catalysing their collective strengths.
Our team
We are a small team committed to making big change in the world, working in collaboration with our members and strategic partners.
Chris Hewett, Chief Executive
Chris has 25 years’ experience in policy and campaigning on energy and the wider sustainability agenda. He was previously a Senior Fellow at the Finance Innovation Lab, an Associate at Green Alliance and Head of Climate Change for the Environment Agency.
Gemma Grimes, Director of Policy and Delivery
Gemma has over 15 years’ experience in renewable energy policy and project development, having spent many years at RenewableUK, leading on onshore wind policy issues, before moving into renewables project development and consents at the National Trust and RWE. She also sits as a town councillor in Wiltshire.
Solar Energy UK is truly member-led. The association and its members are subject to a rulebook covering issues such as competition and discretion, and our voting structure means that every member has an equal say in key decisions.
Moreover, the association is overseen by a board of non-executive directors elected from our membership. Members also chair our working groups covering the breadth of the solar value chain.
We value an inclusive culture and workforce and are committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all, not only within our team but also in the wider energy industry we represent.
We welcome speculative applications from prospective employees and industry secondees and run a paid internship programme every summer. Please contact us to learn about opportunities as they arise.