Government accused of not making solar technology a priority

A group of industry experts and academics has claimed solar PV technology is not seen as an “industrial priority” by the government.

A report by the Solar Commission, which contains academics and industry figures and is supported by the UK Energy Research Centre and managed by Regen, claims the government’s industrial strategy makes only one mention of PV technology, which could be “the key global energy course of the future”.

“Despite the potential of solar PV and the UK, the technology is not currently identified as an industrial priority by the UK government and its innovation agencies,” the report states.

The report quotes the Committee on Climate Change, which states the UK has contributed to driving costs of solar down globally, through open markets and well-established financial institutions.

In 2018, it says solar generated 13TWh or nearly four per cent of total UK electricity, a more than six-fold increase in just over five years.

It adds the UK strengths in many parts of the solar PV market, including innovative solar cell technologies, storage and communications have “sometimes been obscured” by a focus on China’s domination of the manufacture of current crystalline solar PV panels.

Instead, it calls on the government and industry to work together on a new initiative, which would recognise the role solar PV could play as part of a smart, decentralised energy system and invest in the UK’s capabilities in the sector.

“In other areas, such as cell technology and building integrated solar PV, the UK has considerable capabilities, that are not sufficiently recognised or supported,” the report adds.

“In these areas, the commission is recommending much greater focus, particularly in government funding of research and innovation, to attract private investment.”