Solar deployment is set to ramp up over the next decade according to the Scottish National Party’s (SNP) energy and climate change spokesman, who said Scotland represents a huge opportunity for solar. Speaking at the launch event of Solarcentury’s Sunstation yesterday evening, Callum McCaig said the re-elected SNP would be focusing on solar following a prolonged period of wind deployment. “There has clearly been a huge deployment of onshore wind in Scotland in the last decade or so and perhaps to a degree that has constrained the ability to which we can see solar coming,” he said. “But the re-elected SNP government has the target of having 100% electricity produced from renewables and clearly the broader mix that we have in that the better. That means there will be a huge opportunity for solar deployment over the next five to ten years or so.” The SNP won the Scottish elections on a manifesto which included plans to increase community energy schemes, create a government owned energy company and a Scottish Renewable Energy Bond to help the public invest in clean energy. Despite pledging to work closely with the Solar Trade Association to expand deployment, there was little mention of solar-specific plans in the manifesto. However, McCaig’s comments suggest the new minority government has big plans for the technology north of the border.
Solar Portal 11th May 2016 read more »
The Scottish National Party’s (SNP) victory in last week’s elections is “good news” for the solar industry in Scotland according to the Solar Trade Association, which contributed to some of the party’s campaign winning manifesto. In a long-predicted outcome of the Scottish elections, Nicola Sturgeon’s party stormed to victory winning 63 seats at Holyrood. Among the policies promised by the SNP during the election were a series of pledges towards solar deployment and more specifically, community energy projects. These include plans for greater control over feed-in tariff revenues; the possible creation of a government owned energy company to help grow local and community energy projects and a Scottish Renewable Energy Bond to allow savers to invest in Scotland’s renewable energy sector.
Solar Portal 9th May 2016 read more »
Sadiq Khan’s decisive victory in the London Mayoral elections means a “clean energy revolution” will soon be underway in the capital following the Labour mayor’s election pledge to be “the greenest mayor London has ever had”. Following a bitter campaign between Khan and Conservative candidate Zac Goldsmith, the Labour candidate won out after attracting well over a million first preference votes. As well as his plans for affordable housing and cheaper travel around the city, Khan also pledged to deliver several key renewable energy programmes, not least the establishment of ‘Energy for Londoners’. This not-for-profit company will seek to “take a lead” on clean energy initiatives across the city as well as create a dedicated solar strategy which will see more solar deployed on London’s rooftops particularly on Transport for London (TfL) Great London Authority (GLA) land and buildings.
Solar Portal 9th May 2016 read more »