On Tuesday 21 January, Chris Hewett, Chief Executive for Solar Energy UK, gave evidence to the UK House of Lords Industry and Regulators Committee for their inquiry addressing “The energy grid and grid connections.”
Chris discussed the solar targets for 2030-2035 and, as Co-Chair of the Solar Taskforce, solar’s role in helping to deliver the UK’s climate targets.
With solar increasingly becoming a priority for the UK government going into 2025, we’re looking back at Chris’ assessment of the industry as the year came to a close at the 2024 edition of Solar & Storage Live UK.
Interview with Chris Hewett, Chief Executive for Solar Energy UK
“As an industry, we need to engage with local communities and have honest, practical discussions about what solar projects will look like and how they’ll affect their areas.”
Xtra: With the UK’s change of government, what’s the most exciting thing on the horizon for Solar Energy UK?
Chris: It really feels like there’s now a government with genuine political will behind the clean power transition. There’s no doubt the entire government is aligned on this, which is very exciting.
What’s also encouraging is the urgency they’ve shown. We were calling for key decisions to be made within the government’s first few weeks, and they delivered. For example, large solar farm approvals were granted, an auction round brought us three gigawatts of solar, and changes to the planning system were implemented – all within a short time.
The government’s rhetoric has been consistently pro-solar, which is fantastic to see.
Xtra: There has been some public pushback against agrivoltaic sites over time. How should the government help to address these concerns?
Chris: While a small number of people remain concerned about the impact of solar in their area, the issue is quite limited.
On food security, it’s crystal clear that solar farms don’t negatively impact it. Even the National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has publicly acknowledged this.
As an industry, we need to engage with local communities and have honest, practical discussions about what solar projects will look like and how they’ll affect their areas. Once those conversations happen, nearly all schemes are approved.
Xtra: How is Solar Energy UK working with the UK government?
Chris: We’ve restarted the Solar Taskforce with the government. It is co-chaired with myself and Ed Miliband, Secretary of State – who is a more senior minister than we had under the previous government. It’s great progress.
In October (2024), we’ll begin drafting the roadmap we were working on with the previous government. The core issues remain the same, but this time, we’ll be ramping up the ambition.
The plan is to redraft and publish it while the government is also working on its Clean Power Consolidated Plan, which is progressing simultaneously.
Xtra: What industry issues will Solar Energy UK focus on over the next few years?
Chris: Two key issues we’re focusing on are accelerating grid connections and improving network management to facilitate faster collaboration between solar and battery storage. This is a top priority for us.
We’re also committed to driving the growth of skills and labour capacity in the UK market. Recruitment is a challenge across the industry, and we need to upskill the workforce to meet demand.
Xtra: What benefits does Solar Energy UK see in attending Solar & Storage Live UK?
Chris: At the show, Solar Energy UK has an established presence with initiatives like the Installer Training Hub and the Recruitment Zone, which we deliver in partnership with Solar & Storage Live.
These initiatives not only showcase what the Trade Association does for the industry but also address critical issues like skills development and recruitment. By doing this, we’re helping businesses attract new talent.
The UK solar market is vibrant and dynamic, driven by strong government support. But even without those policy changes, the activity and innovation on display at the show make it clear that the industry is thriving.
Missed out on Solar & Storage Live, or want to come back for more? Don’t miss the London edition from 2-3 April 2025 – or find a Solar & Storage Live event closer to home.
