Newsletter: The escalating politicisation of solar farms

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In the wake of the environment minister Elizabeth Truss’ comments that solar farms are ‘blighting’ the countryside, commentators from all sides of the fence have come forward. Guy Smith, vice president of the NFU and ‘proud solar farmer’ has called for a more ‘sober’ debate on the benefits and drawbacks of going solar. The CLA condemned Truss’ comments and the STA said that solar and farms go ‘hand in hand’. Elsewhere, Solar Power Portal spoke to the developer behind the proposed 2GW non-UK CfD solar project in Tunisia who said that it would boost, not harm UK solar. All this and much more can be found in today’s newsletter.

Peter Bennett
Editor
Solar Power Portal

NFU VP calls for ‘sober’ debate on fuel vs food

The vice president of the National Farmers Union has called for a “sober” debate on fuel vs food following comments made by the environment secretary that UK farmland was being “wasted” and “blighted by solar farms”.

The escalating politicisation of solar farms

Here we go again. On Sunday, the department of environment and rural affairs (Defra) released one of the most astonishing press releases I’ve ever seen.

Business

Investor TRIG eyes rooftops to mitigate solar farm cuts

TRIG has said it is to focus on rooftop solar due to cuts in funding for solar farms.

Primrose Solar agrees £29 million UK solar farm finance package with M&G

Installations

Campbell & Kennedy secures Medway Council contract

Clydebank-based PV installer, Campbell & Kennedy has announced that it has been appointed to undertake the supply and installation of solar on Medway Council’s main council office and the council’s Medway Tunnel control building.

Opinion

‘Damaging and incorrect’: Industry reaction to solar farm CAP scrap

The department for environment, food and rural affairs’ (Defra) shock announcement that payments under the CAP for land underneath solar farms will cease in the New Year has sent shock waves through the solar industry and agricultural stakeholders alike.

Policy

Farmers with solar farms will lose CAP payments from January 2015

Farmers with solar farms will no longer be eligible for farm subsidies under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) for the land taken up by the development from January 2015.

Market

Exclusive: Foreign CfD project will help not hinder UK solar, says TuNur

The ambitious North African-based Concentrated Solar Project (CSP) TuNur said it will not discourage the success of UK-based solar developments, despite TuNur’s size or plan to apply for funding from the British government via the contracts for difference (CfDs) scheme.