Dear Participants,
Welcome to Solar Power UK 2012
Solar energy has a key part to play in our future energy mix, helping us cut emissions and remove our dependence on volatile international fossil fuel markets, as we move to a low carbon economy. The costs of solar energy, solar photovoltaics in particular, have fallen dramatically over the last few years and at the same time the scale of deployment in the UK has increased substantially. This growth has been driven by you: by UK installers pushing down their costs and opening up new markets; by new entrepreneurs getting involved; and by existing businesses realising that investing in solar energy makes good business sense. Solar is now commonplace across the nation, and it is fantastic to see this type of renewable energy starting to reach its potential.
But we can go much further than we have so far. We are working to ensure that the financial support for renewable technologies is set up on a stable and long term basis to remove risk and uncertainty for householders and businesses. We will reflect this commitment by including solar in the next update of the Renewable Energy Roadmap. And we are introducing the Green Deal to make it even easier for households to install energy efficiency and renewables in their homes.
With strong support from this Government and an active and progressive industry, we are now very much in the decade for UK solar energy growth. I hope this exhibition and conference will enable you to push forward your plans and by doing so help deliver the strong, long term future I see for solar energy in the UK.
Rt. Hon Gregory Barker MP
