Trade association Solar Energy UK has published recommendations to the government for policy support that would establish and support a domestic solar energy supply chain.
Solar energy generation has constituted a significant portion of energy production government response to the energy crisis as a result of the American-Israeli invasion of Iran. Solar Energy UK (SEUK) said a domestic supply chain would further protect Britain from global energy shocks.
The trade body already works closely with the government, with CEO Chris Hewett part of the government’s Solar Taskforce and has worked closely on the Solar road map.
The roadmap itself states that the government must support a domestic supply chain.
Hewett said: “Every energy jolt reminds us why clean energy is important – and why we need to make more of it at home.”
The solar energy supply chain could contribute £5 billion to the UK economy by 2035
The new recommendations, launched in Parliament with the approval of ministers, build on the government’s plans for clean energy by 2030. SEUK points out that the target, while indicative of a supportive regulatory environment, is relatively short-term given the capital costs associated with starting production activities.
Based on its own figures, SEUK says the solar and storage industry contributes £1.9 billion to the economy, and with the right support this could rise to £5 billion by 2035, the report says.
It is widely accepted that module production is too expensive to develop and scale up in Britain to be competitive with global markets. SEUK’s document focuses instead on strengthening domestic production of cables, batteries, inverters and support structures.
The government’s flagship energy company, Great British Energy, will mobilize £1 billion to land the sustainable energy supply chain. laid down in the five-year plan.
Last year I spoke at Solar Media’s UK Solar Summit: Rob Gilbert, supply chain director at GB Energy, said the government-backed organization is well positioned to play a role in plugging gaps in the supply chain.operating “at that turning point between the public and private sectors; that role that we fulfill in a unique way”.
SEUK notes that domestic companies are developing thin-film alternatives to conventional panels and that support for research and development (R&D) would further help kick-start domestic production.
“The UK has world-class researchers and a fast-growing market, and this article sets out how we can turn that into a world-class supply chain,” said Hewett.
The 10 suggestions are:
1. The government must provide clarity to the solar and storage sector on the project pipeline that will be needed after 2030
2. Government should work with the solar and storage sectors to establish an assessment of supply chain capabilities and encourage the prioritization of local content and services
3. The government should work with the solar and storage sector to develop an industry-appropriate mechanism to incentivize investments in domestic supply chains
4. Great British Energy must work with the solar and storage sectors to strengthen the domestic supply chain through strategic investments, including in the UK engineering, procurement and construction markets
5. Colleges of Technical Excellence in Clean Energy should have a specific objective to develop the workforce and skills needed for the solar and storage sector
6. A strategy should be developed to support the commercialization of innovative solar and storage technologies, including providing targeted funding for industrial research
7. More domestic testing facilities should be set up for UK companies developing innovative solar and storage technologies, including outdoors and in the real world
8. The government should establish a ‘Solar Energy and Storage Bureau’ within the Ministry of Business and Trade
9. The government should work with the solar and storage sectors to create a database of the components, systems and wider services offered by UK companies
10. The solar and storage sector, supported by government, should promote fair contracting practices and encourage the use of project bank accounts where possible and appropriate
This year the UK Solar Summit will be part of the Clean Energy Summit 2030hosted in London by Solar Media. Chris Hewett, CEO of Solar Energy UK, will speak at the event, which takes place from June 30 to July 1, 2026.
The 2026 edition of the Clean Energy Summit 2030 ensures stakeholders are equipped to translate ambition into action, drive progress and secure a sustainable energy future for the UK. View the agenda on the event website.
