policy

In the UK, a new wave of large-scale solar projects continue to emerge as the country accelerates towards net zero targets, including reaching a decarbonised power system by 2035. At the heart of these are Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs).

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has released the Chris Skidmore MP independent review into the UK’s net zero prospects which calls for a “rooftop revolution” to unlock 70GW of solar generation by 2035.

The 350MW Mallard Pass Solar Farm has now moved into the public consultation stage via pre-examinations after the Planning Inspectorate (PINS) accepted the project’s Development Consent Order (DCO).

Solar Energy Scotland has welcomed the Scottish Government’s inclusion of solar energy systems in the non-domestic rates regime, announced in the Scottish Budget 2023-24 last week (15 December).

Community Energy England (CEE) has joined forces with Morrisons, M&S, Tesco and three of the UK’s biggest co-operatives – the Co-op Group, Central Co-op and MidCounties Co-operative – to urge the UK Government to prioritise unlocking additional renewable energy generation capacity, including solar.

JBM Solar has had a planning appeal for a 49.9MW solar farm in Langford, Devon, successfully approved becoming “one of the first” to be greenlit under the Sunak government.

Global renewable company Low Carbon is set to develop a combined solar capacity of over 75MW across three sites after securing financing from NatWest, Lloyds Bank and AIB.

In a bid to boost the long-duration energy storage market in the UK, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) has provided over £32 million to five winners of the Longer Duration Energy Storage (LODES) competition.

The Scottish Government promised that a “much bigger, renewed focus” will be given to solar power in the upcoming Energy Strategy draft during a debate on renewable energy last week (25 November).

As a result of the Autumn Statement and the introduction of the windfall tax, Bluefield Solar Income Fund has estimated that its audited NAV would have decreased by 3 pence per ordinary share (pps).