Solar power can deliver 100,000 new UK jobs by 2020

According to research from the UK Photovoltaic Manufacturers Association solar power could deliver 100,000 much needed jobs in the UK construction industry, helping kick start the UK’s economic recovery. The report, ’2020 A Vision for UK PV’, has been released as over 150 representatives of UK Government, Parliament, business and NGOs meet at the House of Commons today to discuss the potential for solar power to help economic recovery in the UK. Spurring this demand will be a Feed-in Tariff for solar power from April 2010 where solar producers may be paid three to four times than at present for their clean energy. Details of the much needed Feed-in tariff (FIT), as in place in over 18 European countries, are due to be announced by the Government this week.

Members of the ‘We Support Solar’ Campaign wanting a substantial role for solar power in contributing to the UK’s 2020 renewable energy target include over 270 MPs who have signed the Commons motion (EDM 689) in support of solar PV in the UK, making it the second most popular Commons motion out of over 1,800 tabled to date in this Parliamentary session. The weight of MP support for the motion reflects the views of thousands of individuals and hundreds of organisations signed up to the ‘We Support Solar’ campaign.

Tim Smit CBE, The Eden Project said: "Eden believes an aggressive FIT for PV can not only help the PV market grow and compete with other more established renewables, but the FIT adds a key piece to the jigsaw that helps demonstrate what a broad based, holistic green industry could look like. That means resilient jobs not just installing the technology, but in training and education combined with developing innovative R&D and manufacturing. This could help establish the UK as a major player in the green economy, a place we simply must take if we are to survive and thrive into the uncertain times that lie ahead."

Source: solarcentury