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The government’s buildings and estate will become a 1GW solar “power station” under plans set out in the UK Solar PV Strategy, which has been published today.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (Decc) has stated that is will “make sure that not one inch of suitable government roof space is wasted” as it rolls out solar PV across public buildings – including MoD property and hospitals.
The strategy also included plans to turn factories, supermarkets and car parks into “solar hubs” as the government aims to “maximise the potential of the as yet little tapped mid-size projects on commercial and industrial rooftops”.
Part of this initiative will see Decc ministers meeting with senior representatives of the large retail and financial sectors to overcome difficulties, including complexities in the landlord-tenant relationships.
One option being examined is allowing businesses that relocate to take their existing PV installations with them and to retain their eligibility for the Feed-in Tariff scheme.
Decc will also launch an initiative targeted specifically at schools in England and Wales to encourage them to install solar panels and reduce the current £500 million annual spend on energy.
Education secretary Michael Gove said: “Solar panels are a sensible choice for schools, particularly in terms of the financial benefits they can bring.
“It is also a great way for pupils to engage with environmental issues and think about where energy comes from.”
Climate change minister Greg Barker said he aims to see the current level of PV capacity increase from 2.7GWp to 20GWp early in the next decade, helped as costs come down towards grid parity.
Barker added: “There is massive potential to turn our large buildings into power stations and we must seize the opportunity this offers to boost our economy as part of our long term economic plan.
“Solar not only benefits the environment, it will see British job creation and deliver the clean and reliable energy supplies that the country needs at the lowest possible cost to consumers.”
The industry has also welcomed the strategy, as Ray Noble, PV specialist at the Solar Trade Association said it is a clear signal that “solar in the UK makes total sense”.
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