What is Labour’s ‘rooftop revolution’ initiative?
A change of government means that old policies are reversed and new ones are launched. That includes the Conservative restrictions on the expansion of solar power, as the new Labour Energy Secretary announces increases in rooftop solar and the approval of new solar farms, aiming to triple solar electricity generation by 2030 whilst reducing costs.
Domestic Solar Panels
There are multiple aspects to Labour’s new energy policy, but the “rooftop revolution” announced by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband specifically refers to the installation of solar panels on homes and businesses.
Charities and experts have already been advocating for this and the service is already offered by specialist installers such as https://gsmlimited.com/services/solar-panels, but the plan is to make the process easier. This includes amending the regulations that restrict solar panel installation on listed buildings and in conservation areas and instituting new rules to incorporate solar power production into the building of new houses.
According to Miliband, this revolution is multipurpose, supporting increased energy independence for every household to allow them to save money whilst trying to reduce carbon emissions. Government support will be targeted at both homeowners and builders to ensure the technology can spread to as many UK buildings as possible.
New Solar Farms
Another part of the expansion of solar is the development of new solar farms that can provide much more electricity. The panels may be in fields rather than on rooftops but they will still supply a significant amount of energy to domestic and commercial properties.
Three large proposed solar farms that had previously been rejected by the Conservatives – one on the border of Lincolnshire and Rutland, one in Lincolnshire proper, and one on the Cambridgeshire-Suffolk border – have now been granted planning permission by Labour. Together, the three farms will produce as much as two-thirds of 2023’s total solar energy generation in the UK.
As we switch from energy based on fossil fuels to renewable sources of power, solar technology is becoming increasingly important. More government support means it may be easier for more homes to receive their electricity from the sun.
