The UK government's ambitious target of installing 70GW of solar generating capacity by 2035 is facing a significant shortfall if urgent action is not taken, warns the Environmental Audit Committee. The committee recently published recommendations on how the government can achieve its target, including better collaboration to address grid constraints and access to capital for households.
Solar Energy UK has welcomed the committee's recommendations and demands for shorter waiting times for solar and battery projects to connect to the grid. The organization warned that waiting times for large solar projects' connection to the electricity grid, both on roofs and ground, can often stretch well into the 2030s.
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According to the committee, historical underinvestment, unresponsive distribution network operators, and a regulatory failure with Ofgem failing to prioritize net zero are the main reasons for the long waiting times. The MPs have called for a new mission statement for Ofgem that requires grid operators to speed up investment to address the issue.
Solar Energy UK chief executive Chris Hewett called the situation “grossly unacceptable,” adding that solar projects with planning consent and finance ready to go are being forced to wait more than a decade to connect to the grid, causing billions of pounds of economic damage to the UK.
The committee's recommendations and demands for urgent short-term solutions to these problems are crucial to realizing the full potential of solar energy in the UK. Solar Energy UK hopes that the government will take swift action to address the issues and ensure a bright future for solar energy in the country.
