Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the findings of the report by the International Energy Agency entitled Special Report on Solar PV Global Supply Chains, published in August 2022 on China’s increasing share of the solar panel supply chain.

The Department has noted the findings of the IEA report.

The Solar Taskforce will focus on identifying and taking forward the actions needed to develop resilient, sustainable and innovative supply chains, to support the significant increases in deployment of solar panels needed to meet the UK’s net zero and energy security goals.

The Government already encourages large-scale developers accessing its flagship Contracts for Difference scheme to grow the supply chain through the Supply Chain Plan process and supports supply chain innovation through a range of schemes, such as the Energy Entrepreneurs Fund, and initiatives funded by UK Research and Innovation.