With Solar & Storage Live London 2025 just six weeks away, the spotlight is on the UK’s solar industry and its path to net zero.
In this interview from the Birmingham show, Wera Hobhouse, MP for Bath and Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Energy and Climate Change, shares her insights on the policies shaping the solar sector, the need for upskilling new talent, and how to bring communities on board with agrivoltaics.
Interview with Wera Hobhouse, MP for Bath, UK
“The truth is that energy transition and food security are not in competition.”
Xtra: What legislation do you think will positively contribute to the UK’s solar industry?
Wera: We have the net zero legislation, and we have the Committee on Climate Change, which monitors the government’s progress toward net zero. Overall, legislation currently is quite strong, especially in international comparisons.
I think the biggest challenge we currently face is investment – creating a regulatory framework with the right incentives and disincentives to move away from fossil fuels and accelerate the renewable energy transition.
Xtra: How can we incentivise more talent to join the industry?
Wera: We know there are skills gaps, and a lot of the transition will depend on people who actually know how to deliver ed to engage with colleges, schools, and universities – building clear career paths and promoting a positive vision for the future.
Instead of seeing the transition as doom and gloom, we need to show people that green energy offers a bright future with plenty of job opportunities. Some roles require only a relatively short reskilling, while others offer long-term career paths that begin in school and continue through college or university courses.
Xtra: Considering your background in renewables, how do you see the solar industry evolving over the next decade?
Wera: I was disappointed to see that the previous government didn’t meet its targets for rolling out solar across the UK. With the new government, we have an opportunity – but of course, it’s still early days.
As a Liberal Democrat in opposition, our role is to hold the government accountable and push for a fast, transformational rollout of solar.
We will face some backlash from communities that don’t want installations in their backyard or infrastructure like cables and pylons in their area. Persuading people will take effort, and we need to involve communities in decision-making, giving them a sense of ownership. The landscape will change, but it’s for a positive future.
Still, we need to do a lot of outreach to bring some communities on board.
Xtra: How can installers and the government work together to gain more public support for agrivoltaics installations?
Wera: Some concerns are purely about visual impact, and there are ways to mitigate that. We also need to do a lot of myth-busting – for example, the idea that solar takes away good arable land for food production. The truth is that energy transition and food security are not in competition.
Politicians still have a long way to go in making that argument and countering misinformation, much of which comes from the fossil fuel industry and is amplified by certain media outlets. We must acknowledge people’s concerns while ensuring they have access to accurate information.
Building trust between local communities and installers is also key. That’s why mandatory accreditation is important – it should be a properly regulated market where only qualified professionals can call themselves installers.
The MCS is doing great work to ensure installations are carried out by accredited professionals, which is crucial for maintaining public confidence.
Xtra: Why do you think attending Solar & Storage Live UK is important?
Wera: For me, it’s been eye-opening to see how strong the support for solar is and how fast the industry is growing. I understand the event has doubled in size since last year – congratulations! That’s a real success story.
We need you: the solar industry is a key part of our journey to net zero.
With the London edition of Solar & Storage Live only weeks away, don’t forget to register for your free ticket and join us at the London ExCeL from 2-3 April 2025 – or find a Solar & Storage Live event closer to home.
