UK solar energy leapfrogs to third in world

The UK is now third in the global rankings for utility-scale solar energy after a surge in installations in the first quarter of 2015.

According to figures released by wiki-solar, the UK is behind only China and the US in terms of capacity, this places us above Germany, India and Spain (view the rankings on the wiki-solar site here).

With over 300 attendees, the Large-Scale Solar UK Conference took place this past week in Bristol where the NFU's chief energy adviser, Dr Jonathan Scurlock, made two presentations on the subject of multi-purpose land use (for food, energy and biodiversity), and also took part in a panel discussion chaired by BBC Countryfile’s Tom Heap.

The majority of Britain’s large solar installations are hosted by farmers, supporting profitable food production.

According to Dr Scurlock: "It's a remarkable testament to the entrepreneurial spirit and skill of British solar farm developers that they have built a world-class clean energy sector in collaboration with farmers and landowners – but with little recognition (and fast diminishing support) from the 'greenest government ever'!"

By 2025, solar power could become one of the cheapest forms of energy in many areas of the world, but success depends on stable financial and regulatory conditions.

In 10 years, the cost of producing solar power in countries across central and southern Europe could drop to 4 to 6 cents per kilowatt hour, going as low as 2 to 4 cents by 2050, according to the study by Agora Energiewende.

Cost-effective energy

Currently, solar power is cost-effective in sunny places like Dubai. A contract was recently signed in Dubai for a long-term power purchase contract for 5 cents per kilowatt hour.

Closer to home in Germany, large solar plants can deliver power for less than 9 cents.

However recent developments in materials efficiency may realise a significant cost reduction for the UK market with solar delivering power at 8 cents.

Electricity from new coal and gas-fired plants currently costs between 5 and 10 cents per kilowatt hour. Nuclear energy can cost as much as 11 cents.

Dr. Patrick Graichen, Director of the Agora Energiewende says that the study shows solar has become cheaper than most had predicted and wants plans for any future power supply systems to be revised worldwide.

Stable conditions

However, much of the study’s predictions rely on stable financial and regulatory frameworks because of the high initial costs involved in solar photovoltaic (PV) installations.

Unstable conditions could lead to a market dogged by poor regulation and high risk-premiums. These could raise the cost of solar plants by up to 50%.

Dr Graichen says that it is up to policy makers to create and maintain these market conditions.

The Agora study, however, only used fairly conservative assumptions about technological developments expected for solar energy.

If there are major breakthroughs in the technology, this could reduce costs even further.

Solar in the UK

Solar power usage in the UK has grown in recent years.

Solar PV capacity at the end of 2014 in the UK was at 5,095 MW. This is a massive increase of 79% (2,249 MW) from the end of 2013.

This represented 649,787 installations, which is an increase of 28%, or 141,316 installations, from the end of 2013.

Henry White, associate in Resources & Energy at Strutt & Parker said: “The rapid growth of solar PV installations in the UK and the Government roadmap has led some in the market to claim that solar will achieve grid parity by 2020 making it one of the most cost effective sources of generating renewable electricity.

"We still believe there is a lot of potential for new solar PV installations whether it be ground or rooftop.”