The next UK government should step up its solar ambitions to help businesses and homeowners lower their bills, according to Adrian Williams, managing director of Solar Technology International.
Williams believes that the latest deployment statistics released by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) which show that over 650,000 PV installations have been completed under the feed-in tariff scheme are just the beginning. He explains: “Although this means there are now enough solar panels to supply the equivalent of 1.5 million homes in the UK, there are over 23.4 million homes in England and Wales alone according to the ONS. So there is a long way to go as this represents only 6.4% of the total housing stock.”
Williams is critical of successive governments which he claims have failed to recognise the benefits of green policies, stating that the government is too focused on empowering traditional energy generators rather than the public. Williams notes: “The price of solar panels in particular is very competitive and the quality has improved considerably. One suggestion is that the government could offer a points scheme to householders so the more energy-saving installations or products a householder or business has, then the lower their electricity bill.”
Williams’ comments fall on Earth Day 2015, a day that is dedicated to raising awareness of global renewable energy potential and the role it plays in protecting our environment. Williams concluded: “We are looking at the need to make a change in culture – and that has to be encouraged. Earth Day goes some way in highlighting the issues but importantly empowers citizens to put pressure on governments to be more active. We have to think of future generations, not just ourselves.”
All of the main UK political parties have now published their manifestos however, the majority of them fail to mention solar PV and its role in the UK's future energy mix.