UK can hit 60 GW of solar by 2030 with bold govt action - CEBR

Sep 25, 2014 - The British solar energy industry can reach 60 GW of installed capacity and support 49,400 jobs by 2030, but the government’s current unreliable and unstable treatment is threatening the sector’s progress.

These projections and warnings were made today by the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR). It presented a detailed analysis of the UK solar market that shows the ground-mounted segment, in particular, can bring to the UK economy GBP 25.5 billion (USD 41.6bn/EUR 32.7bn) in gross added value by 2030 and save consumers GBP 425 million by lowering energy costs.

Already the average solar park in Britain uses 62% local components, operations and expertise, and the CEBR expects this figure to grow to 71% by 2030.

The research unit calculates that large-scale solar can turn into the cheapest source of new power capacity in the UK, cheaper than new gas (CCGT) by 2018. By 2024, its cost is seen dropping below the wholesale electricity price.

Industry leaders are now calling on decision-makers to support a stable transition away from subsidy, by setting clear Renewables Obligation support for the coming two years, the CEBR said in its press release. They are also demanding that the government gave solar a bigger share of the levy control framework and reviewed the feed-in tariff rules for larger projects in order to unlock the huge potential of non-domestic rooftop solar.

The projected 60 GW of solar capacity will be producing enough to meet the needs of 18 million households. This, however, cannot be achieved without "bold government action".

(GBP 1 = USD 1.631/EUR 1.281)

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