A Complete U-Turn
1. Opportunities for All
White Paper February 2001
"By supporting renewable energy in the UK, we can also ensure that British industry is well placed to exploit the growing global demand for renewable energy technology. We will embark on a major initiative with industry and others to achieve a UK solar photovoltaic demonstration programme in line with those of our main competitors."
"The programme we propose, subject to approval by the European Commission, will establish the UK as a credible player in the PV market, alongside Germany (100,000 roofs by 2007) and Japan (70,000 roofs by 2002)."
2. Hansard 13 July 2001 Parliamentary Written Answer:
Mr. Kidney: "To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the contribution that solar power can make to meeting the United Kingdom's energy needs."
Mr. Wilson: "Solar power is a technology with significant longer-term potential in helping to meet the UK's energy needs."
"With a view to bringing forward this technology's potential, we are supporting a range of initiatives such as domestic and large-scale commercial field trials plus the first phase of a major PV roofs programme aimed, in time, at matching those in Germany and Japan."
3. DTI Press release 1 November 2001
WILSON LAUNCHES NEW SOLAR POWER INITIATIVE
Brian Wilson, Minister for Energy, said:
"The Government's solar housing and large scale building trials are the start of a long term strategy. I want to see tens of thousands of roofs covered by solar panels over the next ten years, rivalling the large programmes in Germany and Japan..."
4. Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt, speech to IPPR Low Carbon Economy Conference 4 December 2001
"We're funding solar photovoltaics in 32 housing projects, involving over 500 homes. And we will build on this with a Major PV Demonstration Programme, which will put us on course to catch up with the Japanese and German PV roofs programmes"
5. DTI Press release 26 March 2002 HEWITT GREEN-LIGHTS £20M FOR SOLAR POWER
Trade and Industry Secretary Patricia Hewitt said:
"The Government has a commitment to developing and exploiting all forms of renewable energy, so I am delighted to announce the first phase of this very important programme."
6. Energy White Paper February 2003:
"2002-2012: Implementation of solar PV Demonstration Programme in line with our competitors, as set out in the "Opportunities for All" white paper." (p55 A Renewables Timeline).
"we committed in the Opportunities for All white paper to embarking on a major initiative with industry and others to achieve a UK solar PV demonstration programme in line with those of our main competitors. The current programme, worth £20 million over 3 years is the first stage of this process." (p58)
7. Prime Minister's speech: 'Concerted international effort' necessary to fight climate change' 24 February 2003
"A few months ago, I asked a team of experts from Imperial College here in London to produce a report saying how the world could reduce its emissions of greenhouse gases. I found the report fascinating - and startling. It said that by using known technologies or those very close to market, the world could reduce emissions by over 60%. This would not involve huge shifts in the economy, or enormous changes in lifestyles. It would allow developing countries to increase emissions, in the medium term, on a conventional development path. And it could be achieved gradually, over a period of years."
"Solar energy alone, for example, could supply world energy demand using 1% of the land currently under crops and pasture."
8. Government's Response to the House of Commons Environmental Audit Select Committee Eighth Report on the Energy White Paper - Empowering Change 19 November 2003
"The strategy for the deployment of photovoltaics is largely set out in the 14 recommendations of the Government-Industry PV Group Report of March 2001. The principal recommendation was for a 10 year £150 million programme with a target of 70-100,000 roofs." (paragraph 24)
"There are other recommendations which we are still working on, including changes to Building Regulations, encouragement of equal tariffs, and PV on Government buildings. These issues are all part of the long-term development of the market and overcoming the barriers to the market. (paragraph 25)
9. DTI Press release 11 October 2004 - SOLAR PROJECTS GET GOVERNMENT BACKING
Energy Minister Mike O'Brien said:
"Solar power is one of the renewable energy sources of the future. This latest round of successful applications is proof of its growing appeal throughout the country. The growth and development of the solar power industry will help take us a step closer to achieving our renewable energy target of 10% of electricity by 2010, and into the decades beyond
10. Parliamentary Answer Hansard 3 March 2005, column 1091
Mr. Chaytor: "Does my hon. Friend accept that other countries- particularly, Germany, Japan and the United States-have moved much further and faster than the United Kingdom in the development of solar photovoltaics? Does he also accept that continuity of support is essential if that embryonic industry is to grow strong in the United Kingdom? Is he still committed to the original target of between 70,000 and 100,000 solar photovoltaic roofs to be constructed by 2012?"
Mr. O'Brien: "We have long-term commitments that we seek to maintain." "Also, the budget for major PV programmes increased from £25 million to £31 million last September, and the budget for the clear skies programme increased from £10 million to £12.5 million, showing the Government's continued commitment. My hon. Friend is right to say that the industry needs long-term commitment..."
11. DTI Microgeneration Strategy and Low Carbon Buildings Programme Consultation June 2005
"The (Low Carbon Buildings) programme will continue support for the microgeneration industry by providing a confirmed opportunity to deploy significant volumes of small-scale renewables." (para 6.2 p30)
"The Clearskies and Major PV Demonstration programmes have gone some way to towards developing a market for microgeneration technologies but have not delivered the scale of projects that require the level of mass production that, in turn leads to cost reductions." (paragraph 6.3 p30)
NB the proposed £28.5 million over three years funding for the LCBP announced this week is a clear cut in support to pv and the micro-renewables sector (£1.5 million of the £30 million announced is being brought forward for allocation under current programmes). We are now expected to believe that a cut from £11.25 million per annum in capital grant support for pv and all micro-renewables to £9.5 million per annum from 2006/7 is going to deliver the aspirations outlined in paras 6.2 and 6.3 above.
