Large-scale Solar Farms

18 Mar

Question

The UK's move towards expanding solar energy as part of its clean power mission took center stage in this Question session. Primarily, the session addressed the debate around the balance of solar farm expansion and its impact on agricultural land, reflecting the Government's clean energy agenda and the intricacies involved in strategic energy planning. The discussion highlighted the importance of both ground-mounted and rooftop solar projects, with future steps outlined in the forthcoming solar roadmap. Sir Edward Leigh raised concerns about the local effects of large-scale solar developments in Gainsborough, stressing the need for a cumulative assessment of applications to safeguard food production and the environment. In response, constraints on land use for solar farms were clarified, showcasing a clash between energy expansion and land use for farming. The session further illustrated the evolving energy policies of political parties, with criticisms from Labour about Conservative stances on solar and onshore wind developments. A notable progress update was the advancement of GB Energy, aiming to bolster the UK's clean energy infrastructure.

Outcome

The debate underscored differing party perspectives on solar developments and energy policies, with commitments to expand GB Energy as a pivotal component of the UK energy system. The session also left open questions about balancing energy development with agricultural land conservation.

Key Contributions

Sir Edward LeighMP

Conservative

Called for holistic evaluation of solar farm applications in context with environmental and agricultural impacts.

Michael ShanksMP

Explained strategic spatial energy planning as a measure to address comprehensive energy systems.

Luke MurphyMP

Labour

Criticized Conservative shifts in energy policy focusing on solar and wind.

Original Transcript

Sir Edward Leigh

Gainsborough

Con

Question

UIN: 903242

14. What recent discussions he has had with Cabinet colleagues on the development of large-scale solar farms.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero

Michael Shanks

Meeting our clean power mission will require a significant increase in the deployment of both ground-mounted and rooftop solar projects. As well as consenting record amounts of ground-mounted solar, we want to see a much greater deployment of rooftop solar power.

We will soon publish the solar road map—work that started under the previous Government—to bring together our next steps in this area.

Sir Edward Leigh

12:20

The Government say that only 1% of agricultural land will be taken up by solar farms, but in the pipeline around Gainsborough 10,000 acres have already been put aside for solar farms, with another 4,000 announced a couple of weeks ago—up to 15% of my constituency, which is the most arable and most fertile in the country.

I make one quite reasonable request of the Secretary of State: will he consider applications in the round rather than individually, and look at their cumulative effect on food production and the local environment?

Michael Shanks

Under even the most ambitious scenarios, less than 1% of agricultural land would be occupied by solar farms. On the right hon.

Gentleman’s point about their being holistically planned, the strategic spatial energy planning that we have taken forward is important in having a coherent view of the entire energy system. That is work that we should have done many, many years ago.

Mr Speaker

I call Luke Murphy.

Luke Murphy

Basingstoke

Lab

12:20

Now that the Conservative party opposes large-scale solar, net zero and onshore wind, I am tempted to ask the Minister what he makes of that party’s new energy policy, which is to take us back to the past, rub two sticks together and hope for the best.

Instead, will he update the House on the progress of Great British Energy in delivering our clean energy mission?

Michael Shanks

I think we have rehearsed the arguments about the absolute failure of the previous Government over the past 14 years. The Conservatives have just gone further back today. On GB Energy, I was delighted to be in Aberdeen yesterday to join the board of GB Energy for its first board meeting.

The Bill will soon, we hope, complete its passage through Parliament. It can then get on with delivering for the British people.

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