Solar power central to UK renewables growth

The government wants to see solar energy grow five-fold in coming years but is making this conditional on environmental considerations and community consent.

Future decisions on the location of solar PV projects need to take account of visual impacts and the effects on landscape, heritage and local amenity, according to DECC.

The stipulation is one of the four guiding principles published by the department on 8 October. These set out the ground rules for the government’s backing of the solar sector and will form the basis of a solar PV strategy expected next spring.