The Solar Trade Association (STA) believes the solar industry is being undermined by ‘questionable research and poor advice’.
The Renewable Energy Strategy (RES) announced last week pledged investment in renewable energy in the UK in order to reach targets on climate change. However, the RES outlined downgraded strategies for solar power. It said: “Our latest modelling also suggests that solar heat may deliver less than we had envisaged in our Renewable Energy Strategy consultation last year. This is due to a reduction in our estimates of average heat output from this technology.”
But the STA believes the research into solar energy is based upon a report that was widely discredited by the industry. The report, claims the STA, was based on inaccurate data and is the main reason behind the reduction in aspirations for the solar industry in the RES.
Solar thermal is the only zero-carbon heat source and could provide 49 percent of Europe’s heating and cooling by 2050, but the UK is a long way behind its European counterparts in installing solar thermal technology. There is currently 160TW of solar thermal installed in Europe, but the UK will only have 5.4TW installed by 2020.
Howard Johns, Chairman of the STA, said: “Solar thermal has got so much potential to provide low-cost renewable heat for the UK, but this huge opportunity seems to be being missed by our policy-makers.
“Not only could solar thermal play a significant part in helping the UK to meet its 2020 target, it could also provide lots of jobs, and very quickly. We will have to lobby hard over the coming months to ensure that the true potential of this simple and accessible technology is not limited by inadequate financial modelling and ineffective incentive schemes.”
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