Solar Energy UK

30 April 2025

Plans to train a ‘clean power army’ to provide energy efficiency upgrades for homes and buildings have been welcomed by the UK’s solar energy sector.

The government has opened a competition for training providers and further education colleges to secure £8m to deliver 9,000 retrofit training places across England, with a further £9.3m expected to be allocated over a second phase. One strand of the Warm Homes Skills Programme is dedicated to providing NVQ Level 2 or 3 equivalent training in fitting small-scale solar photovoltaic systems.[1] Other elements cover retrofit assessment and coordination, insulation

“The residential solar power market saw 22,623 MCS registrations in March alone, a number that has not been exceeded for a decade. But the availability of skilled professionals has the potential to hold us back. That’s why Solar Energy UK launched Solar Careers UK earlier this year, to encourage more people to join our fast-growing industry,” said Sturge Mazzocchi.[2]

“I look forward to collaborating with the Government and training providers to maximise the programme’s take-up,” he added.

Today’s announcement came as part of a broader package of measures Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, aimed at bolstering the energy performance of private rented homes and cutting the cost of fitting a heat pump.[3,4 ]

“Raising the minimum energy performance certificate for renting out a home from level E to C by 2030 will stimulate even more solar, battery and energy storage upgrades. It should also go some way to delivering more equitable access to net zero technology and lower bills for richer and poorer households alike,” said Chris Hewett, Chief Executive of Solar Energy UK.

“Although efforts to cut the cost of installing a heat pump should also be welcomed, running costs can be an issue. That’s why combining them with free solar power is so beneficial,” he added.

[1] Warm Homes Skills Programme

[2] Best start to a year for rooftop solar panel installations in more than a decade

[3] Improving the energy performance of privately rented homes: consultation document

[4] Families to get more choice over home upgrades

– ENDS –

Editor’s notes

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Gareth Simkins, Senior Communications Adviser

gsimkins@solarenergyuk.org

news@solarenergyuk.org | solarenergyuk.org

The post Solar sector backs warm homes programme appeared first on Solar Energy UK.

Solar Energy UK

25 April 2025

Solar farms are providing ecological refuges from the pressures of intensive agriculture, finds Solar Energy UK’s newest report.

The third investigation of the wildlife found among British solar farms, Solar Habitat 2025, was launched at the trade association’s first ever parliamentary reception earlier this week.[1] It reinforces the conclusions of its predecessors that the sector provides homes for many declining species, with the most seen on sites managed specifically with wildlife in mind.

As Edward Morello MP said in a speech opening the event, “Solar doesn’t stop at just providing renewable energy [but has] real biodiversity benefits.”

Energy Minister Michael Shanks said: “We often hear that solar is a trade-off with nature, which is simply not the case. Solar power is a fundamental part of our clean power ambitions, strengthening our energy security and protecting bill payers, whilst supporting nature, farmers and local communities.”

“Three years ago, we knew anecdotally that solar farms were good for wildlife. The evidence is strong now. We are starting to see clear benefits for biodiversity, with over 50% of sites seeing red-listed birds,” said Solar Energy UK Chief Executive Chris Hewett.

Produced in collaboration with Lancaster University and ecological consultancies Wychwood Biodiversity and Clarkson & Woods, the report is based on data collected from an unprecedented number of sites. A total of 124 solar farms submitted data, up from 87 last year and 37 when the report was launched in 2023.[2,3]

The total number ever surveyed for the Solar Habitat initiative now stands at 248. As the data set grows and an increasing number of sites are monitored regularly, long terms trends will hopefully become an additional feature of future reports.

The average age of the sites surveyed last year and reported now is nine years, the same as the national average. Their locations broadly mirror the national distribution, with an average size of 16 hectares almost matching the national average of 14ha.

Solar farms’ increasingly important roles in the natural environment are perhaps best exemplified through Solar Habitat’s bird surveys, undertaken across 63 solar farms. They recorded an average of 86 birds per site (up to 238 in one instance), with the number of species seen ranging from nine to 39.

Among them were the red-listed nightingale, seen during two surveys of one solar farm and reported as a possible breeding site. Its population has plummeted in recent decades, attributed to the degradation and loss of the scrubby woodland habitat in which they breed. The iconic songbird is now restricted to a few patches of southern and eastern England.

Cirl bunting was also observed at one site. The species’ range is now only 15% of what it was 50 years ago, with only a small strip of south Devon and Cornwall left.

Skylark, yellowhammer and linnet – again, all red-listed – were also commonly observed by ecologists.

The report very much agrees with an RSPB and University of Cambridge study from earlier this year, which found that well managed solar farms can support biodiversity.[4]

They found that the abundance and species richness of birds on six East Anglian solar farms were greater where mixed habitats were present – either due to greater floral diversity compared to more intensively managed solar farms or arable land, or through providing structural variety through cover and perches. Thus the effects of solar farms may differ depending on whether they are deployed in areas intensive arable agriculture or those that already contain diverse grasslands or other natural habitats.

As Solar Habitat states, the study, “echoes the notion that solar farms can provide relief for birds from the impacts of intensive agricultural practices in the surrounding landscape.”

Most solar farms monitored last year were assessed for how on-site habitats are managed. More than half were assigned to ‘category 3’, indicating some consideration of biodiversity, with a greater focus being demonstrated at 30% of sites, assigned to category 2. The remainder were placed in category 4.

None were placed in the top division, largely due to the practical challenges of removing grass after cutting, which encourages greater plant diversity and thus that of wildlife. Specialist machinery is often required for it, which the report explores in a case study.

As may be expected, there were clear links between site management and biodiversity, with category 2 sites having the greatest richness in invertebrate, plant and bird species. There was also an evident correlation between plant and invertebrate species richness.

In parallel, a more detailed categorisation system is being trailed, describing the management of hedgerows, field margins and grassland around the panels individually. Two thirds of hedgerows were given the top management rating.

The data supplied by the consultancies complies with the Standardised Approach to Monitoring Biodiversity on Solar Farms, which was updated earlier this year.[5] For the first time, some information was provided by a third-party ecological consultant, Envance. It is hoped that a growing number of consultants will submit data to support future reports.

“It was a pleasure to work on the production of the third annual Solar Habitat report. It’s encouraging to see the number of sites growing year on year, a sign of the commitment there is among the site owners to support biodiversity on solar farms and to understand the impact they are having,” said Harvie Agnew, Senior Policy Analyst – Consents and ESG at Solar Energy UK.

In numbers

• Around 7,500 individual birds were counted, across 94 different species. Of these, 28% were Amber Listed, and 20% were Red Listed.
• Almost 3,000 butterflies and bumblebees were recorded, comprising 29 different species.
• Eight species of mammal were recorded, including water voles, common shrew, roe deer and brown hare.
• 44 different woody plant species were noted.
• More than 2,000 quadrats (randomly placed one-metre squares used for ecological surveys) were taken.
• 314 plant species were recorded.
• 764 transects were surveyed.

Future reports

The ecological knowledgebase underpinning Solar Habitat is set to grow even further in the coming years.

Novel automated monitoring technologies are already being trialled at Westmill Solar Park in Oxfordshire to assess the presence of invertebrates, birds and bats, in a study led by Lancaster University. The approach can capture data much more frequently than conventional surveys, which could miss more mobile or rarer species.

The authors are also considering the development of a small number of ‘research intensive’ solar farms, which would enable more frequent monitoring that would overcome the effects of the season and daily weather fluctuations. Volunteer monitoring of birds and invertebrates is also being considered, which should contribute to the richness of the data.

Lastly, Lancaster University has been conducting a deep investigation of the data from 87 sites collected in 2023, which should hopefully the most effective management approaches for promoting biodiversity that have not been picked up already.

[1] Solar Habitat 2025

[2] Solar Habitat 2024: Ecological Trends on Solar Farms in the UK

[3] Solar Habitat 2023: A Look into ecological trends on solar farms in the UK

[4] Solar farm management influences breeding bird responses in an arable-dominated landscape

[5] A Standardised Approach to Monitoring Biodiversity – 2025

– ENDS –

Editor’s notes

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Gareth Simkins, Senior Communications Adviser

gsimkins@solarenergyuk.org

news@solarenergyuk.org | solarenergyuk.org

The post MPs back solar farms’ biodiversity benefits appeared first on Solar Energy UK.

Solar Energy UK

23 April 2025

Solar Energy UK welcomes the government’s proposed amendment to the GB Energy Bill on forced labour in the supply chain.

We look forward to seeing the text and responding in more detail.

The government and GB Energy can take a global leadership position on the issue through more active engagement in the Solar Stewardship Initiative (SSI), which is actively building the “buyers’ club” that was spoken of this morning.

The SSI is already having a real impact on the global supply chain. By the end of this year, SSI-certified manufacturing facilities will be able to produce 100 gigawatts of solar panels per year, from independently assessed sites which are not complicit in forced labour. That is around five times more than all of the UK’s existing solar panels put together, more than enough to meet both UK and EU demand. This number will continue to grow.

Contrary to this morning’s coverage, if we continue in alignment with European partners, we are confident there will be no slowdown in solar deployment or that the amendment threatens the attainment of clean power by 2030 or net zero by 2050. As a cross-border, cross-economy issue, the UK should be moving in the same direction as our neighbours to make sure Britain isn’t left behind.

– ENDS –

Editor’s notes

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Gareth Simkins, Senior Communications Adviser

gsimkins@solarenergyuk.org

news@solarenergyuk.org | solarenergyuk.org

The post Solar Energy UK backs GB Energy Bill amendment appeared first on Solar Energy UK.

Solar Energy UK 
15 April 2025

Responding to Ofgem’s announcement on grid connection queue reform, Solar Energy UK’ Chief Executive, Chris Hewett, said:

“Reforming the connections queue is critical to reaching Clean Power by 2030, and paving the way for the 60GW industry can deliver. While we welcome Ofgem’s announcement in principle, Government must ensure network operators do not impose arbitrary caps that disadvantage solar and battery storage. Restricting viable projects would undermine the pipeline needed to achieve Government’s energy mission, and contradicts its call to “choose Britain” for investment.

The recent updates to accommodate transmission solar projects are welcome, but the industry still needs clarity from Government and NESO that they interpret 2035 projections the same way, and that they are flexible enough to accommodate growth of distribution solar too. As our new economic impact report shows, solar and battery storage could deliver over £5billion in GVA and 42,000 jobs by 2035—but only if the connections framework actively supports, rather than curbs, the sector’s expansion.”

 – ENDS –

Editor’s notes

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Gareth Simkins, Senior Communications Adviser | gsimkins@solarenergyuk.org

news@solarenergyuk.org | solarenergyuk.org

The post Solar Energy UK responds to the Decision on Connections Reform Package (TMO4+) appeared first on Solar Energy UK.

Solar Energy Scotland
10 April 2025

Lack of access to low-cost finance for solar power and battery energy storage systems is hitting the roll-out of heat pumps, says Solar Energy Scotland.

In a letter to Acting Minister for Climate Action Alasdair Allan MSP, the body’s chair Josh King noted that there were 21% more air source heat pumps (ASHPs) installed across the UK in the first three months of the year compared to the same period of 2024. “However, Scotland experienced a worrying fall of 13%,” the letter says, quoting figures from standards body MCS.

Furthermore, 66% more ASHPs were installed per household in Scotland than the UK in Q1 2024. That has since fallen dramatically to only 19% more.

However, “Solar and battery energy storage technologies can play a critical and immediate role in facilitating Scotland’s transition to low-carbon heating and transport,” King wrote. In combination with heat pumps, they can greatly reduce home running costs. A Solar Energy report from 2022 put the potential benefit at several hundred or even thousands of pounds per year.[1]

The message comes as the Scottish Government considers revisions to the Heat in Buildings Bill to ensure an affordable and just transition to low carbon heating. A new version of will send “a strong signal to homeowners, landlords and other building owners on the need to prepare” for new heating systems, while also making provision for energy efficiency standards for owner/occupier and non-domestic properties, those for private rented accommodation being introduced via existing regulations.

“The solar industry stands ready to scale rapidly to support Scotland’s decarbonisation ambitions. Indeed, March 2025 marked a record-breaking month with over 21,000 MCS certified solar installations UK-wide, nearly 2,000 of which were in Scotland. Such numbers have not been seen for a decade. Yet growth in Scotland remains constrained due to the wait for clear policy direction for solar and storage,” King said.

In the summer of 2023, Home Energy Scotland withdrew stand-alone loans for solar energy systems on homes, without warning.[2] Up to £11,500 had been available, in the form of grants and interest-free loans to fit solar, battery and heat pump technologies together. A year later and just as abruptly, the body announced that it would no longer offer loans for solar panels or battery energy storage at all.[3]

A Scottish Solar Vision, expected to set a goal to deliver between four and six gigawatts of solar generation capacity at all scales by 2030, was announced in October 2023.[4] It remains unconfirmed.

Backing the creation of more solar-powered homes and businesses would not only bring down bills, it would also make the adoption of heat pumps more likely. The public has much great confidence in solar technology, with 68% of owner-occupiers saying that they would probably or definitely install solar panels or had already done so, compared to 25% for heat pumps.[5,6]

“Solar energy should not just be considered as part of a package to cut running costs. It is a gateway to further energy efficiency upgrades. Households with solar panels are much more likely to switch to electrically-based heating in the future than those without it,” said King.

A recent report from the Scottish Government’s Green Heat Taskforce says that lessons should be learned from the success of iChoosr, which has collaborated with over 200 local authorities to offer discounted residential solar installations.[7] It adds that a “critical avenue” for action would take inspiration from Whitehall’s Warm Homes Plan, which combines grants and low-interest loans to support investment in insulation, solar panels, batteries and low-carbon heating systems, with funding to upgrade 300,000 homes a year.

[1] The Value of Solar Heat: The Role of Solar Heat Technologies in Meeting Scottish Net Zero Targets

[2] ‘No warning’ of withdrawal of Scotland’s solar home loans

[3] Ditching home solar loans makes no sense amid cost of living crisis

[4] Announcement of a Solar Ambition for Scotland

[5] DESNZ Public Attitudes Tracker: Headline findings, Winter 2024, UK

[6] DESNZ Public Attitudes Tracker: Heat and energy use in the home, Spring 2024, UK

[7] Scottish Government statement on the revised Heat in Buildings Bill 

– ENDS –

Editor’s notes

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Gareth Simkins, Senior Communications Adviser

gsimkins@solarenergyuk.org

news@solarenergyuk.org | solarenergyuk.org

The post Scotland risks falling behind on clean heat appeared first on Solar Energy UK.

Solar Energy UK
2 April 2025

Solar power and battery storage is powering up the UK’s economy. The sectors are expected to almost triple their annual contribution to £5.1bn by 2035, while employing well over 40,000 people, says a new report.[1]

Around 20,000 people already work in the sector, providing £321m to the Exchequer, according to a new report by BiGGAR Economics. It was commissioned by Solar Energy UK and launched today at the Solar & Storage Live London conference and exhibition at the Excel Centre, London.[2]

Put together, the two sectors are estimated to have contributed £1.9bn to the economy last year, expressed as gross value added (GVA). Furthermore, jobs in the industry and its supply chain contributed almost £90,000 in GVA on average, over 40% more than the UK average.

By the report’s estimation, at the end of last year solar generation capacity stood at 20 gigawatts, consisting of 4.2GW on homes, the same on commercial-scale rooftops and 11.5GW mounted on the ground. This is consistent with other industry estimates. Battery energy storage systems (BESS) in homes are estimated to come to 1GW, those in commercial premises being put at 0.5GW and grid-scale BESS at 6GW, totalling 7.5GW at all scales.

Current projections are that solar capacity will rise to 90GW in 2035, with 15.3GW on homes, 15.3GW at commercial scale and 59.3GW of solar farms. Residential and commercial-scale BESS installations are each projected to hit 8.3GW, with 33.3GW at grid-scale.

The findings show that there could be as much as £3.5bn of GVA provided from solar energy at all scales by then, with 28,700 jobs. Meanwhile, expanding BESS installations would deliver 1.6bn of GVA in 2035, employing 13,900 people. For the residential sector alone, solar energy and BESS are projected to deliver 7,960 jobs in 2035, contributing £537m to the economy.

Together, the sectors could contribute up to £698m to the public finances in 2035, through income tax, national insurance, VAT from employee expenditure, corporation tax and non-domestic rates.

Graeme Blackett, Managing Director of BiGGAR Economics, who led the research said: “This report highlights that as well as contributing to renewable energy targets, the solar and storage sector is having a substantial and growing impact on the UK economy. The diversity of the impacts is striking, including for example, installers of domestic rooftop solar, specialist construction and engineering services for utility scale storage and providing income diversification for farmers.”   

The expansion of solar farms is already playing a significant role in the rural economy, helping to keep hard-pressed farmers in business by providing a dependable income. Last year, payments to them are estimated to have come to around £61m. They are expected to be well over £300m in 2035, equating to 7% of the total income that English farms received in 2023, according to Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.[3]

“Growing renewable energy generation at pace, alongside the capacity to store it, is obviously of critical importance to meet the UK’s climate change goals. But beyond being cheap, flexible and low-carbon, the effects of solar and battery energy storage on the economy have played little part in public discourse to date,” said Gemma Grimes, Director of Policy and Delivery at Solar Energy UK. “The report makes clear that the sectors are already a significant economic player, with their anticipated growth making them a massive stimulus within the next ten years,” she added.

Aside from being the least expensive source of energy, solar energy also enjoys the highest level of public support compared to others, with solar farms being most popular among people who live near them.[4,5] As the report notes, “It is also easily scalable, suitable for residential, commercial, and large, utility scale applications, and can be deployed more quickly than other renewable technologies. These features make solar an attractive way of supporting the electrification of the UK’s energy system.”

As the UK’s electricity networks decarbonises, battery systems are becoming increasingly used to store excess energy for use during low production times, such as the evenings. BESS therefore helps to balance the flow of power in and out of the grid, providing stability and reliability. Being inherently modular, it is also suitable for all scales of application.

[1] The Economic Impact of Solar and Battery Storage Report

[2] Solar & Storage Live London

[3] Agricultural facts: Summary

[4] DESNZ Public Attitudes Tracker

[5] 2023: A Transformative Year for Solar

– ENDS –

Editor’s notes

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Gareth Simkins, Senior Communications Adviser

gsimkins@solarenergyuk.org

news@solarenergyuk.org | solarenergyuk.org

The post Meeting UK’s solar targets will be a ‘massive stimulus’ to the economy appeared first on Solar Energy UK.

Solar Energy UK
27 March 2025

Solar Energy UK is proud to announce its new market intelligence platform SolarPulse.

SolarPulse provides critical information on over 4,000 utility-scale solar photovoltaic and battery energy storage projects across the country:

⚡ Engage with projects at the earliest opportunity, highlighting opportunities to tender for business.

🔌 Stay ahead of competitors with frequent updates, advanced search capabilities and interactive mapping.

☀️ Track and analyse projects using our powerful filtering tools – project name, capacity, development status, location and ownership, plus details on biodiversity net gain and land quality.

🔋 Download data for analysis.

SolarPulse will be available exclusively to members of Solar Energy UK for an additional subscription fee. It will be previewed exclusively at Solar & Storage Live London at the Excel Centre from 2-3 April, on our stand C41.

The platform responds to a survey of members, 70% of whom requested better market information from the association.

Who is SolarPulse For?

📊 Developers, Asset Owners & Investors: Discover new opportunities, assess risks, and track market trends.

⚡ Utility Companies & EPCs: Optimise project planning, supply chain decisions, and competitor analysis.

📈 Business Development & Strategy Teams within equipment suppliers and service companies: Gain a competitive edge with real-time, data-driven insights.

🎯 Government & Policy Makers – Access a complete, data-backed view of the UK solar and battery sector.

“SolarPulse will be a vital resource for the solar and battery storage industry. My team has been working hard to ensure that SolarPulse is ready for subscribers and I very much look forward to demonstrating it at Solar & Storage Live London,” said Solar Energy UK Commercial Director Stephen Wilding. “We also have plans to further develop the platform, with information on grid access points, political geography and NESO’s regional boundaries,” he added.

At launch, SolarPulse will cover utility-scale groundmount solar projects of at least five megawatts. As the product is further developed, further features will be introduced, including commercial-scale rooftop projects.

Email swilding@solarenergyuk.org for further details.

– ENDS –

Editor’s notes

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Gareth Simkins, Senior Communications Adviser

gsimkins@solarenergyuk.org

news@solarenergyuk.org | solarenergyuk.org

The post Introducing SolarPulse: Real Data. Real Insights. Real Impact. appeared first on Solar Energy UK.

Solar Energy UK and Terrapinn
24 March 2025

The Solar Roadmap, Warm Homes Fund and REMA to headline the presentations at Solar & Storage Live London, featuring more than 150 global solar and storage suppliers.

Solar & Storage Live, the UK’s largest event dedicated to solar and energy storage, returns to London on 2–3 April 2025. This highly anticipated, free-to-attend event will bring together 10,000 industry leaders, policymakers and innovators to explore the latest developments in the renewable energy sector and drive the transition to a net zero future. 

Solar & Storage Live London will showcase more than 150 exhibitors who will display cutting-edge technology and solutions in solar and energy storage, including leading names such as GivEnergy, Segen, JA Solar, Sunsynk, LONGi, British Solar Renewables, AIKO and Huawei.

The show-floor agenda will feature over 60 hours of presentations addressing key challenges and opportunities such as the UK Solar Roadmap, the Warm Homes Fund and the Review of Electricity Market Arrangements (REMA). Highlights include keynote addresses from: 

• Michael Shanks MP, Minister for Energy at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, will speak on the forthcoming Solar Roadmap.
• Bill Esterson MP, Chair of the Energy Security and Net Zero Committee, will discuss the policy landscape and future of the UK’s energy transition. 
• Mete Coban MBE, Deputy Mayor of London for Energy and Environment, providing insights into London’s renewable energy strategy and the role of solar in the capital’s net zero goals. 
• Ian Brown, Head of Banking at the National Wealth Fund, speaking on funding opportunities and financial support for large-scale renewable projects. 
• Dan McGrail, acting CEO of Great British Energy, sharing perspectives on building a resilient and sustainable energy infrastructure. 

Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the latest advancements in solar panels, inverters, battery storage, and smart energy solutions, with live product demonstrations and expert advice available on the exhibition floor. New for 2025, this year’s event introduces some innovative features designed to support and accelerate solar and storage projects: 

• Meet the Installers Zone – Leading UK-based installers will be available to offer insights and advice, including DCL Renewables, Greenvolt Next, Kimble Solar, Perfect Sense Energy, Preserve First, AI Solar, Harvest Green Developments, and Ampergia.
• The Installer Training Hub – Hands-on training in Solar PV Module and Mounting, Battery Storage, and Inverter Installation & Commissioning will be available, with sessions led by industry leaders including GoodWe, GSE Integration, and JA Solar. 
• Professional Services – Connect with solar project advisors, insurers, banks, and legal firms, including Greenhearth Energy, Triodos Bank, Two Blues Solar, Net Zero Asset Finance, PowerfulTechnology, Solar Tree, Instinctif Partners, PNR Consult, Qualitymark Protection, C&C Insurance Group, Willis, Miller Insurance, Sturdy Edwards Insurance Brokers, and Michelmores.
• The Recruitment Zone – Focusing on attracting new talent into the industry, with companies including British Solar Renewables, Clarke Energy, Net Zero Careers Accelerator, HDM Solar, and NextEnergy Group showcasing job opportunities and hosting screening meetings. 
• Networking Opportunities – Free networking events facilitated by key industry associations including the Global Solar Council, Solar Nation, London & Partners, SolarAid, POWERful Women, and WiSEu.

Solar and Storage Live London, in partnership with Solar Energy UK, will provide a platform for industry collaboration, knowledge sharing and deal-making across the energy, finance, construction, and public sectors. 

“This second edition of Solar and Storage Live in London will showcase the incredible innovation and leadership driving the UK’s renewable energy sector,” said Rebecca Sloan, General Manager, Solar and Storage Live London at Terrapinn. “With a strong line-up of exhibitors and speakers, including government policy makers, the event plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of solar and storage in the UK.” 

“The Solar and Storage Live events are the highlight of the solar industry’s calendar. That’s even more so this year, with the industry gearing up for unprecedented expansion and the Solar Roadmap just around the corner,” said Chris Hewett, Chief Executive of Solar Energy UK. “Aside from being the number one networking opportunity for the year for those already in our fast-growing sector, it’s also a great way to join via our Recruitment Zone and gain new skills at the Installer Training Hub.”

– ENDS –

Editor’s notes

Solar & Storage Live London: Design, install & operate solar projects

Join us at Solar & Storage Live London taking place 2-3 April 2025 at ExCeL London, as we spearhead the revolution towards a brighter, greener future! Our mission is to accelerate the adoption of solar energy propelling us towards a global landscape powered by clean, renewable energy sources.

We do this by bringing together the titans of solar and storage manufacturing alongside dynamic local players and distributors. The event attracts a large local audience of installers, commercial and industrial users, property owners, landowners and utility companies. All eager to source solar and storage solutions to drive a change in their community.

Solar and Storage Live London is part of the leading global series of Solar & Storage Live events taking place in 20 destinations and organised by Terrapinn. The trade exhibition is free to attend for business professionals.

Opening times:
Wednesday 2 April: 09:30 – 18:00
Thursday 3 April: 09:30 – 16:00
Venue: ExCeL, London

Quick links:
For more information and to register, click here 
To view the general website, click here
To view the Exhibitor directory, click here
To view the full agenda, click here

Press enquires:
To request a free press pass and for general enquiries, please get in touch with: roney.chan@terrapinn.com

Onsite contact (2-3 April 2025): katie.devaney@terrapinn.com

The post London’s largest solar industry event returns on 2-3 April appeared first on Solar Energy UK.

Solar Energy UK 
21 March 2025

Great British Energy’s decision to finance £180m of solar energy for schools and hospitals across England has been praised by trade association Solar Energy UK.[1]

The body’s first major investment is expected to deliver 70-100 megawatts of generation capacity, boosting the capacity of the commercial-scale* solar sector by up to 2.5%. The investment could also include battery energy storage systems, allowing excess solar power to be retained for use in the evening, rather than buying expensive electricity from the grid.

Solar Energy UK has also welcomed an additional £12m to support community energy, which commonly backs solar projects on the public estate, plus £9.3m for projects in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

“This is a very wise piece of public investment. Slashing bills while cutting emissions is exactly why Great British Energy was established. Just like households, schools and hospitals alike have been beset by high energy bills over recent years, pulling precious funds from where they should be going. So every penny put into solar photovoltaics and energy storage for public buildings means more cash for the services we all depend on – and help teach the next generation the value of renewable energy,” said Chris Hewett, Chief Executive of Solar Energy UK.

The largest rooftop solar installation in the country is at the Port of Hull, coming to 6.5MW.[2] The largest known to be planned is 31MW, at the Port of Liverpool.[3]

[1] Great British Energy to cut bills for hospitals and schools

[2] Port of Hull case study

[3] Record-breaking rooftop solar project welcomed by Solar Energy UK

– ENDS –

Editor’s notes

*Commercial-scale refers to medium-sized solar installations, typically on supermarkets, factories and warehouses. The sector’s total capacity is estimated at around four gigawatts.

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Gareth Simkins, Senior Communications Adviser

gsimkins@solarenergyuk.org

news@solarenergyuk.org | solarenergyuk.org

The post GB Energy’s public sector solar investment applauded appeared first on Solar Energy UK.

Solar Energy UK and Copper Consultancy
20 March 2025

The British public is becoming even more supportive towards solar farms, according to the latest polling, despite myths and misconceptions about them persisting.

More than three quarters of respondents to a survey conducted by Copper Consultancy backed the development of solar energy in their local area. Over two thirds said that they had changed their attitudes over the past year: of these, over 81% had become more supportive of the sector.[1]

More than half thought that solar energy should be a priority for national planning decisions, given the need to hit net zero targets.

Overall, there has been a 4% increase in backing for solar farms – the cheapest source of power in the country – since 2023.[2,3] There has also been a small increase in opposition, indicating that the industry must do more to communicate its benefits.

However, there has been dramatic and welcome change in public awareness of solar farms’ benefits to biodiversity, though appreciation is still far from universal.

In 2023, 42% of respondents were unaware of solar farms contribution to nature recovery. This has since plummeted to only 11%, as awareness grows of the positive impact solar farms can have on biodiversity net gain.

But when asked what the key benefits of solar farms in the local area would be, biodiversity placed last, with only 13% of respondents citing it. Similarly, the proportion of respondents who perceived that solar farms’ effect on wildlife was the sector’s most important impact rose from 27.5% to 42%. So, despite growing awareness of biodiversity net gain, the perception of impact on wildlife has increased.

Providing low-cost and clean energy were seen as the biggest benefits.

“Solar farms are popular and public support is getting even stronger. As more solar energy is deployed across the country, and public awareness grows further, it is good to see that the nature benefits are becoming better known, but we need to keep improving community engagement so more people understand how locations are selected, and the multiple benefits the projects will bring,” said Chris Hewett, Chief Executive of Solar Energy UK.

“As concerns over climate change and energy security continue to rise, more people are recognising the critical role solar power plays in securing a sustainable energy future. This continued rise in public support is a positive step towards greater investment in clean energy solutions, helping to ensure that the UK stays on track to meet its net zero goals while powering homes and industries with renewable energy. However, we must continue to engage and support communities to leverage the scale of benefits that large scale solar can provide for local areas over a sustained period,” said Sam Cranston, Director of Energy Infrastructure at Copper Consultancy.

The observations on biodiversity follow the publication of research by the RSPB and Cambridge University last month, finding that East Anglian solar farms have almost three times more birds than nearby arable land.[4]

“This research very much accords with what the industry has known for years. The varied habitats found on well-managed solar farms offer true havens for wildlife, with the sector playing an increasing role in conserving some of Britain’s most vulnerable species. Our most recent compilation of independent ecological monitoring results, Solar Habitat, found that yellowhammers and linnets are common sights, with spotted flycatchers, corn buntings and nightingales also being observed. All are red-listed species,” said Rachel Hayes, Consents and ESG Policy Manager at Solar Energy UK.

The next edition of Solar Habitat is due in the spring.[5]

Nevertheless, minimising environmental impacts remains the most important issue to address when developing a solar farm, in respondents’ views. Creating local jobs, skills and supply chain opportunities, alongside providing benefits to the local community, are also among their highest priorities.

The survey also found that there has been an improvement in the public’s knowledge of why solar farms are built in particular locations. In 2023, over a third of respondents thought there was no particular reason for sites being chosen. This has since fallen to just over 20%.

However, only one in ten had the correct impression that the main rationale is being able to access the electricity network. As the report states, “Limited public awareness of the reasons behind site selection remains a challenge.”

In conclusion, the report makes clear that developers must continue to consider and challenge perceived impacts, despite clear public support for more solar energy on the grid. The industry should collectively explain the benefits of solar for hot topics such as energy bills, net zero and jobs, dispel the myths and collaborate with local communities to encourage a more positive and informed outlook among the public.

[1] Support continues to grow for solar (Copper Consultancy / Solar Energy UK)

[2] Large-scale solar provides cheapest power, says Government report (Solar Energy UK)

[3] 2023: A Transformative Year for Solar – A study of public attitudes to solar development (Copper Consultancy / Solar Energy UK)

[4] Solar farms managed for nature can boost bird numbers and biodiversity (RSPB)

[5] Solar Habitat 2024: Ecological Trends on Solar Farms in the UK (Solar Energy UK)

– ENDS –

Editor’s notes

BMG Research, on behalf of Copper Consultancy, polled 1,562 adults in Great Britain on 2-3 October 2024 online. The results are weighted to reflect the profile of adults in Great Britain. BMG Research is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.

For more information or to request an interview, please contact:

Gareth Simkins, Senior Communications Adviser | gsimkins@solarenergyuk.org

news@solarenergyuk.org | solarenergyuk.org

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