It is always pleasing to report good news. Figures produced in the last few days by the Department of Energy and Climate Change do make for good reading.
For any of you working within the solar industry and, indeed, for many that do not you will be pleased to hear that as at the end of 2014 solar capacity had just about reached 5GW in the UK. What is pleasing is that this figure has increased significantly from the position as at the end of 2013 when solar capacity stood at 2.8GW.
There are now in the region of 650,000 solar panel installations in the UK. That includes the likes of solar panels on the roofs of homes, ground mounted solar panels in peoples’ back-gardens, solar panels on commercial buildings and solar farms. It just goes to show that, working together, what can be achieved.
Another interesting statistic is that it has been estimated that the solar panels already installed in this country have the capacity to provide power to in the region of 1,500,000 homes in this country. Yes, there may still be a long way to go but progress would appear to being made.
It is estimated that, potentially, the solar industry could be employing as many as 50,000 people by 2030 and that, by 2020, electricity produced by solar energy could be competing with the gas industry.
We have been saying for quite some time that by everybody within the solar industry pulling together in the same direction here in the UK we will have the greatest opportunity of achieving our renewable energy and carbon emission targets by 2020. There can be no doubt that the solar panel industry is here to stay and will continue to be a major source of green energy.
As always, we would very much welcome the thoughts of our readers so feel free to leave your comments.
