Draft Solar Action Plan For London Released

London Calling – For More Solar (Apologies To The Clash) | Image: MariaGodfrida

Meeting the Mayor of London’s ambitious zero carbon target will require 1 GW of solar capacity to be installed in the city by 2030 and 2 gigawatts by 2050 – hard targets to reach.

Mayor Sadiq Khan’s draft solar action plan, which has a special focus on rooftop solar panel systems, was released last Friday and proposes a number of actions.

• Leading by example through installing solar wherever possible on Greater London Authority group buildings and land.
• Encouraging solar energy installations through the planning system.
• Assisting Londoners in retrofitting solar energy technologies on their homes and workplaces through Mayoral programmes and funding.
• Providing Londoners with information and tools to make informed decisions about investing in solar energy.
• Calling on government to set a national policy framework that will unlock London’s solar energy potential, particularly with regard to small-scale installations.

Significantly boosting solar capacity in London is accompanied by major challenges.

• Half of London’s homes are flats, logistically harder to retrofit and in many cases requires the agreement of multiple stakeholders.
• 28 per cent of the city’s homes are privately rented – and landlords currently have little incentive to install solar panels.
• London has a high number of leased commercial buildings – again, incentive can be an issue.
• Access issues for homes and buildings for installations to occur.
• A large number of unsuitable locations.
• Competition for roof space with other building service equipment.

Currently, London has around 95MW of solar capacity in place. While Mayor Sadiq Khan is committed to undertake the actions above to boost solar uptake in the city, it’s expected these will deliver an estimated extra 100 MW of installed capacity by 2030 – which is still a long way of the desired total of 1 GW by that time.

“London’s true solar potential will only be realised if action is taken by London’s residents, businesses, community groups, the public sector and others,” says the draft action plan. “This plan is therefore a call to action to people from across London to make the most of the capital’s solar opportunity.”

The plan notes the greatest barriers to solar uptake are uncertain national policy and the reduction in financial support through feed-in tariffs.

“.. since the reduction in the FiT,  the uptake of solar energy technologies across the country, including London, has plummeted and is unlikely to regain previous levels without a supportive policy framework to address delivery barriers.”

The Draft  Solar Action Plan for London can be downloaded here. The feedback period on the plan is open until November 17, 2017.