FLOATING SOLAR.
30 x 30.
JOIN THE CAMPAIGN FOR 30GW OF UK FLOATING SOLAR POWER BY 2030.
30GW OF FLOATING SOLAR POWER BY 2030
Join the campaign
We’re calling on UK’s leading political parties to commit to this target in their 2024 election manifestos.
HUGE POTENTIAL
Floating solar is a new sector worldwide but has huge potential - up to 9,000GW. The UK can and should act quickly and decisively to gain early-mover advantage.
UK MARKET
In England and Wales, floating solar panels could deliver 16GW of secure, cheap and renewable power just using the water industry’s reservoirs. When expanded to the UK and including appropriate manmade water bodies, for example hydropower reservoirs, 30GW of floating solar is possible by 2030.
READY TO GO
Floating solar technology is ready for immediate commercial deployment at scale, but the sector needs clear signals and support from government.
BENEFITS
Delivering 30GW of floating solar by 2030 would contribute significantly to the UK’s energy security, unlock sizable economic benefits, and re-cement the UK’s global leadership on tackling climate change.
30GW OF FLOATING SOLAR POWER BY 2030
What is at stake?
A NEW
OFFSHORE
WIND
The UK has a golden chance to become a technology leader in floating solar, seizing the associated manufacturing and export opportunities. Britain led on offshore wind but didn’t capture the industrial benefits - floating solar is a new chance to get it right and secure more jobs here in the UK.
CLEAN DOMESTIC
RENEWABLE POWER
The UK is committed to decarbonising its power sector. Floating solar will deliver significant renewable capacity across the country. It can do so close to population centres due to the location of major reservoirs and other manmade water bodies.
GREEN JOBS.
GREEN INDUSTRY
The supply chains and skills base for floating solar technology and components are not yet well-established outside of Asia, although in France and Germany services for the sector are starting to emerge. By testing and leading on component design and innovation, the UK could become a manufacturing centre for vital elements of the system – floats moorings and anchors - and also create the industries and jobs required to support development of the sector. British designed and manufactured floats, moors and anchors could be deployed on British waters, and exported across the world.
WHY 30 X 30?
To ensure that all the benefits such as jobs, investment and manufacturing, are captured, the UK should set an ambitious but achievable target to drive investment and innovation.
MAKING 30 X 30 HAPPEN
What is needed?
The UK should look to accelerate innovation, investment and deployment of floating solar technologies.
01
Planning and regulatory reforms to streamline deployment and avoid unnecessary hurdles to development and transmission.
02
Support for a floating solar test hub through grant and or revenue mechanism. As well as encouraging innovation, this will also stimulate domestic industries around floats, moorings and anchors, and associated services.
03
Inclusion in a CfD pot will signal Government backing for floating solar, and underpin investment at scale.
The Government can act to remove barriers and underpin investment, making the UK the go-to market for floating solar.