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Energy minister Greg Barker is touting a target for solar PV double what the network can handle, according to National Grid analysis.
Last week, Barker told investors at global conference Intersolar, in Germany, that Britain has “the potential to deploy a staggering total of 20GW by 2020”. Getting to that level from the current installed capacity of 2.5GW would involve large solar arrays on brownfield land as well as roof-mounted panels, he said.
National Grid has previously warned that building more than 10GW would make it “significantly more challenging” to manage the network in its current form. It could require constraint payments to shut off solar in the sunniest periods.
The target has been criticised by think-tank the Renewable Energy Foundation for having the potential to add costs to consumer bills over and above subsidies awarded.
Barker subsequently told the Telegraph 20GW was not a target but a “long-stated ambition” and “we have some way to go before solar reaches the limitations set by the current National Grid”.
A National Grid spokeswoman said the network would “work to respond to the changing generation mix”.
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