Solar Energy UK
Immediate release
24/06/2021
2021 Progress Report to Parliament underlines need for clear deployment target
Solar Energy UK has praised the Climate Change Committee’s call for “long-term ambition” around solar and other renewables as a means to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in line with the Government’s commitment to achieving a net zero economy by 2050.
The report points to analysis from the International Renewable Energy Agency that highlights some solar generation sources as now producing the cheapest electricity in history [1] and draws parallels with the International Energy Agency’s recommendation for a rapid build-out of renewables, particularly solar and wind, in order to deliver a net zero power sector by 2035. [2] The CCC’s recommendations specify that renewables need to meet 70% of the UK’s electricity demand by 2035.
Solar Energy UK Chief Executive Chris Hewett said: “Green NGOs, energy trade bodies, and now the Climate Change Committee are all calling for the Government to be ambitious around solar energy. We need to deploy this affordable, proven technology as fast as possible to ensure we can meet the clean power needs of a net zero economy. We will go faster with some timely interventions from Government.” [3] [4]
The report highlights the Contracts for Difference scheme as a proven policy for delivering greater solar energy capacity, but states “clarity is needed on the auction schedule and pathway of volumes to be procured to 2030,” echoing the policy recommendation made in Solar Energy UK’s Lighting the way report published last week. [5]
Solar Energy UK is calling on the Government to target 40GW of solar PV capacity by 2030, in line with the CCC’s net zero recommendations. [6] It has outlined several policies that should be introduced to achieve this in its Lighting the way report.
ENDS
Editor’s notes:
[1] IRENA (2020) Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2019.
[2] IEA (2020) World Energy Outlook 2020; Lazard (2020) Levelized Cost of Energy and Levelized Cost of Storage.
[3] Energy Networks Association – Energy industry unites and calls on government to build back greener ahead of COP26: https://www.energynetworks.org/newsroom/energy-industry-unites-and-calls-on-government-to-build-back-greener-ahead-of-cop26
[4] E3G – Statement on solar priorities for UK government: https://www.e3g.org/publications/statement-on-solar-priorities-for-uk-government/
[5] Solar Energy UK – Lighting the way: http://bit.ly/40by30
[6] Climate Change Committee – Net Zero Technical Report: https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/net-zero-technical-report/
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