Shropshire Star

Shropshire at the forefront of revolution in generating power from the sun

Solar power is supplying 15 per cent of the UK's electricity needs during the heatwave, the industry claimed today.

Published

As the UK basks in warm weather, solar-powered homes, commercial rooftop schemes and solar farms were being opened to the public as part of "solar independence day".

The nearest event for Shropshire is at Willersey Solar Farm in Evesham – but our county is at the forefront of the revolution in power using the sun.

The industry believes the Government can double the amount of solar and make it as cheap as fossil fuel electricity by 2020.

An ambitious programme to deliver two million homes with solar power, 24,000 commercial rooftops and 2,000 solar farms by 2020 and providing 56,900 jobs would cost around £13.35 on the average consumer energy bill by the end of the decade.

Though it would cost £350 million more than the Government's planned spending of just under £1.2 billion in 2020, it would deliver around twice as much solar capacity as current policies and would lead to solar being free of subsidies, the industry argues.

The latest statistics show there are more than 709,000 solar installations around the country. Telford & Wrekin Council has set up a farm in Wheat Leasows, producing enough electricity to power 1,000 homes and intended to make a profit that will help fund borough services in years to come.

Developer Vogt Solar this week submitted an application to Telford & Wrekin Council to build on Cheshire Coppice Farm in Bratton.

The near 19-acre development would see thousands of panels installed to meet the electricity requirements of, on average, around 1,500 UK homes per year.

Other applications have proved unpopular and there has been widespread opposition to plans for solar farms on sites in south Shropshire.

Paul Barwell, chief executive of the Solar Trade Association, claimed eight out of 10 people backed the concept of solar energy.

He said the "solar independence day" was a way of getting the message across of the potential of the power source.

He added: "We want to show solar really gives power back to the people, allowing households and businesses to generate their own clean, green electricity.

"At more than 80 per cent public support, solar has been shown in opinion polls to be the country's most popular form of energy."