Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what steps his Department is taking to increase solar energy production.

The UK’s flagship Contracts for Difference scheme is the main mechanism for incentivising large scale renewable generation, including solar and will move to annual auctions from 2023, helping further to accelerate the deployment of clean, low-cost generation.

The Smart Export Guarantee ensures small-scale low-carbon electricity generators, such as homes or small businesses installing solar panels, get payment for electricity they export to the grid. The Government has removed VAT on residential solar panels and is providing financial incentives to encourage businesses to install rooftop solar. The Government is exploring options to facilitate low-cost finance to help households with installation costs and reviewing permitted development rights to support deployment in commercial settings.