The UK Government released its new Solar Roadmap in June, outlining its strategy for scaling solar energy in the United Kingdom. It sets out over 70 actions to accelerate the deployment of solar technology and addresses key barriers, making it clear that solar is top of the Government’s agenda.

You can read the full (70 page!) report here - but we’ve picked out the key takeaways for businesses below:

Key Headlines

The UK is aiming to triple solar capacity to 45-47 GW by 2030, enough to power up to nine million homes.

A new Solar Council will oversee progress, bringing together government and industry to progress over 70 actions across a number of sectors.

Businesses investing in solar stand to benefit from lower energy costs, enhanced ESG credentials, and a competitive advantage in a decarbonising economy – with installers and green tech firms benefiting from sector growth too.

Green Tech Opportunities

Commercial rooftop solar is a major focus of the roadmap, with plans to address barriers to installation particularly on warehouses, retail space and industrial buildings.

Solar car parks are being explored as a scalable solution, with floating solar and ground-mount installations presenting opportunities for landowners and developers to diversify assets.

Infrastructure and planning reforms

Planning reforms will streamline approvals for solar projects, particularly on commercial sites. Support schemes are being reviewed to better incentivise commercial uptake.

Grid connection improvements will help business avoid delays and reduce costs when integrating solar into their operations.

Workforce and skills

The roadmap estimates that there will be 35,000 jobs in the solar sector by 2030 (double the current estimate).

Outside of installation, businesses engaged in training, recruitment and education can tape into the demand for solar-specific skills across engineering and maintenance.

It’s clear that the Government is prioritising solar in its efforts to reach net zero and making Britain a ‘Clean Energy Superpower’. With increased support and investment, there’s never been a better time to decarbonise your business or looking to diversify into solar installations and engineering.

If you’re a business looking to take advantage of solar, we can help – get in touch with an advisor to see how you can access funding, training and new market opportunities.

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