Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps she is taking to encourage the retrofitting of solar photovoltaic panels on existing commercial and industrial rooftops; what financial incentives are available to businesses to support such installations; and what assessment she has made of the potential merits of increased rooftop solar generation to reduce demand for ground-mounted solar developments on agricultural land.

The Solar Roadmap published last year set out actions for Government and industry, including for commercial solar.

Since 2022 there has been a business rates exemption for plant and machinery used in connection with onsite renewable generation. The exemption applies from until 31 March 2035.

The Annual Investment Allowance is permanently set at £1 million which gives 100% tax relief to businesses on plant and machinery investments.

The Government does not take a prescriptive approach to the proportion of future rooftop and ground-mounted solar. Both forms of deployment will be needed to meet our clean power ambitions.