Britain’s state-owned energy company, GB Energy, will no longer be permitted to use solar panels, wind turbines, or batteries linked to slave labour, following a significant policy reversal by the government.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband will introduce a legislative amendment to ensure that all supply chains involved in clean energy infrastructure are free from slavery and human trafficking.
The move comes after Labour MPs previously blocked a similar amendment to the Great British Energy Bill. Although none voted against the party line, 92 MPs abstained, prompting what a government source described as a “recognition of the strength of feeling.”
Concerns have mounted over the use of polysilicon – an essential material in solar panel production – that is largely sourced from China’s Xinjiang region.
This area has faced international scrutiny for alleged human rights abuses against the Uyghur Muslim population.
Reports suggest up to 97% of solar panels sold in the UK include materials from Xinjiang, placing around 40% of Britain’s solar panel industry at risk of being linked to forced labour.
Campaigners had prepared case studies showing such panels being installed on public buildings. In response, ministers are said to be convinced that GB Energy “needs to be an industry leader” in ethical sourcing.
One government source stated: “We are committed to ensuring Great British Energy is a sector leader in this area, developing resilient, home-grown supply chains free from forced labour.”
While the decision has been welcomed by human rights advocates, it has raised concerns about its impact on the UK’s environmental targets.
Andrew Bowie, acting Shadow Energy Secretary, warned The Times that the policy would cause a “real slowdown in the deployment of solar in the United Kingdom,” and questioned whether Labour’s clean energy goals could still be met.
John Flesher, deputy director of the Conservative Environment Network, called the shift “long overdue,” but stressed: “The government must now act to ensure that this knee-jerk U-turn doesn’t damage our environmental goals and the solar industry.”
Luke de Pulford of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China echoed campaigners’ support, saying: “We cannot build a just transition on the backs of Uyghur slaves.”
[Image credit: Lauren Hurley / DESNZ]
