Pictured: Mark Lee
Renewable energy will continue to expand despite recent
Government cuts to solar panel subsidies, an expert insists.
Mark Lee, partner in the real estate department at
Stratford-upon-Avon law firm Lodders, said the reductions were
"disappointing" but would not significantly set back progress.
Lodders has a growing niche practice advising clients on the
myriad layers of legal requirements involved in renewable power
sources such as wind farms and solar.
Headed by the firm's senior partner David Lodder, it has advised
on opportunities to develop "sun farms" - solar power farms - and
on leases for such sites.
It has also advised on a number of wind farm proposals.
Mr Lee said: "The Government subsidy changes may temporarily
hold back the expansion of solar power, both by business and home
owners, but renewables overall continue to be driven forward.
"According to official figures, more than 10 gigawatts of our
electricity capacity is renewable. That's enough to power six
million homes. By Christmas we will have 3GW of biomass installed,
and by Easter 5GW of onshore wind.
"To hit our EU renewable energy target, we must generate 30 per
cent of our electricity from renewables by 2020. That means a
fourfold increase in deployment. So it is not as if the whole
market for renewables has somehow collapsed as the furore over the
solar power subsidy reductions might have suggested."
Mr Lee said criticism that subsidies for renewables meant dearer
energy was misleading. Recent electricity prices hikes were
generally down to the rising cost of gas. Globally, subsidies for
fossil fuels outstripped subsidies for renewables by a factor of
five.
He said: "The UK desperately needs a better balanced energy
requirement that takes in fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables.
"Solar, wind and biomass have a massive part to play in the
future of power generation. It is good for the environment and, in
terms of both job creation and having a more stable, less volatile,
energy resource, it is good for the economy.
"Both the Government and public opinion are behind renewables -
there remains a huge future for the sector.
"Greener buildings are becoming increasingly popular and while
it is easier and cheaper to incorporate renewable energy systems
into new builds, occupiers and investors should look at the
potential for both generating energy and income from their existing
buildings, even at the new rates. For example, and where the
structure of the roof permits, locating solar panels is
particularly applicable to factories and warehouses which tend to
have very large expanses of roof space.
"Those countries who previously embraced wind energy have reaped
the rewards. In Germany 80,000 people are employed in the wind
energy sector. The UK has lagged behind; we need to go forward with
renewed commitment."
Mr Lodder added: "With our present teams of specialists in
agricultural and rural business matters and tax we can provide much
needed crossover of experience on all layers of business advice
needed in areas such as the renewable energy industry."
For more information about Lodders, please visit their website
here: www.lodders.co.uk