Look around. In your immediate vicinity, how many things are you using that depend on electricity? By 2035, will your house have electric heating? Will your car be charging outside? How will you – or your business – get on if faced with a blackout?

According to The Guardian (Power struggle: fears for UK energy generation as green projects delayed 16/2/24), in 2035 we could have 28 hours when there will not be enough energy supply to meet demand – an ‘electricity gap,’ which presents a critical challenge in the transition to a fully decarbonised energy system.

We have an opportunity to prevent this risk becoming a reality, but it means committing the country to solar power and other renewable energy sources that are vital for securing a sustainable and resilient energy future.

While the Labour Government has made significant progress in both messaging and actions since the election in July, the reality on the ground is that too many projects have languished in planning battles and grid connection purgatory. The path must be cleared quickly to build and connect as many quality renewable energy projects as possible to ensure our economic and environmental future.

The Strategic Importance of Solar Power

Solar power offers distinct advantages that makes it an essential component of the UK’s renewable energy strategy. It’s clean and sustainable, coming from an inexhaustible source of energy. Myths persist that panels can’t produce energy in our cloudy climate, but the technology continues to improve to make it more efficient at capturing and storing power.

Solar farms are scalable – they range in size from small community projects to large utility installations. This flexibility allows for projects tailored to their environment and the specific energy needs of different regions.

Compared to other forms of energy, solar farms can be built relatively quickly to address the immediate need for additional clean power generation. Once installed, solar farms have low maintenance and operational costs. The absence of fuel costs and minimal wear and tear on equipment make solar power a cost-effective energy solution in the long term.

While rooftops and brownfield locations are optimal, we need more solar power than these sites provide. Within days of the election, Labour began fighting myths and released a public statement clarifying solar farms do not pose a threat to the UK’s food security and agricultural industry.

Labour recognises that despite claims to the contrary, solar farms do not compete with agriculture. 70% of UK land is used for farming, while solar panels take up just 0.1% – and at most, the Government plans solar panels to cover 0.3%. Solar farms help keep farmers solvent offering dependable income in volatile times. And agrivoltaics, the dual use of land for solar energy production and agriculture, is beneficial for the soil, provides shade and better nutrients for sheep who graze near the panels and offers biodiversity net gain – increasing natural capital as well as energy security.

Though our current energy mix favours wind and nuclear power, solar energy offers a lower cost opportunity to decarbonise the grid, as the cost of solar panels decreases and the technology advances.

Yet planning applications for solar farms are often hindered by NIMBYism and misinformation. While solar farms may represent a sacrifice to some, they combat climate change, secure our energy future and improve our economy with low cost, clean power. We need communities to see the beauty in the better world they can help create.

Government Action for a Solar Future

To decarbonise the grid and achieve net zero, the Government must implement policies and initiatives that support the growth of the solar industry:

• Incentivise investment. Increased private investment in solar farms depends on financial incentives, such as grants, tax breaks and subsidies.

• Simplify planning and approval processes. The approval process for solar farms must be further streamlined to reduce bureaucratic delays.

• Expand grid infrastructure. Upgrading the grid to handle distributed energy sources will allow efficient transmission and distribution of renewable energy.

• Promote research and development. R&D in solar power will offer improved technology, efficiency and cost reductions.

• Increase public awareness and education. Public awareness about the benefits of solar power and community participation in solar projects will create a more supportive environment for renewable energy initiatives.

The Future of Solar Power in a Decarbonised UK

The electricity gap presents a significant challenge, but it also offers an opportunity to transform the UK’s energy dependence on fossil fuels. Cheap and clean, solar power should be at the forefront of our journey to net zero.

By committing to the rapid expansion of solar farms, the UK can pave the way to a sustainable, secure and decarbonised energy future. Solar power must be a central pillar in the nation’s transition to clean energy.