Rooftop revolution on solar panels ‘long overdue’

A call for the government to remove planning permission for solar panels and to ensure all new homes should have them by 2025 is long overdue.

Midlands green energy expert Ron Fox was commenting on former energy minister and Conservative MP Chris Skidmore’s Net Zero report to the government.

In his review he made 129 recommendations saying how tackling climate change has led to many changes in the UK and across the globe. But more needed to be done to reap the economic benefits of these opportunities and to achieve the legally binding target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

“I agree with the ex-minister’s report that decarbonising homes is vital in cutting our carbon footprint,” said Ron, of Noreus Ltd on the University of Keele Science Innovation Park.

“One good move would be to remove the existing constraints and barriers to putting up solar panels on residential and commercial buildings across the UK and to provide incentives for householders and businesses.”

Ron said it was interesting that a million homes have solar panels, which were paid for partly with cash incentives in 2010. But when these financial encouragements were cut back, the number of solar panel installations stalled.

MPs on the environment audit committee have also agreed that solar power should be mandatory on all new homes by 2025.

Ron said the advantages of solar panels are that they are an environmentally-friendly choice to provide a home with electricity, central heating or hot water.

They also ensure there are no more nasty surprises in bills from the utility companies and that there are attractive green energy incentives backed by the government.

The report also said that to achieve net zero in a decade’s time no gas boilers should be sold after 2033 and the sale of homes that are not in the energy efficiency band C should be banned by that same date.

About 18 million gas boilers are sold annually, compared to 55,000 heat pumps last year. The government has already set a target of installing 600,000 heat pumps a year by 2028 and have already begun offering households £5,000 to fit an air source heat pump which cost between £7,000 and £13,000.

These moves will boost the economy as official statistics show there are already around 400,000 jobs in low-carbon businesses and their supply chains across the UK, with turnover estimated at £41.2 billion in 2020.

Both the British Energy Security Strategy and Net Zero Strategy believe this could grow to an additional £100 billion of private investment, while supporting an extra 480,000 British jobs by 2030.

“I think the minister was right when he said that this is a huge economic opportunity for the UK, but it is also a huge economic risk to the UK if we can’t keep up with other countries in this green revolution,” concluded Ron.

If you want any advice on solar panels and green energy contact call Ron on 0845 474 6641.

Caption: Facing a brighter future – All new homes should be built with solar panels says Ron Fox.