Solar PV Forecast as Cheapest Technology in UK for Years to Come

NEW GOVERNMENT FIGURES indicate large-scale solar will be the lowest cost power generating technology to deploy and maintain over the next two decades.

Analysis of electricity generation costs published by the department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy have marked large-scale solar PV as the outright cheapest electricity generating technology available in the coming years.

For projects commissioning in 2025, large-scale solar PV is expected to come in at below half the cost of combined-cycle gas turbines (CCGT), and cheaper still in 2030, 2035 and 2040, where costs could fall as low as £28/MWh.

STA Chief Executive Chris Hewett said: “The industry has known for a long time that large-scale solar is one of the cheapest power technologies available today, and we are pleased that this has now been officially recognised.”

“Now it is time for the Government to set an ambitious target for the deployment of solar PV in the UK, as it has done with offshore wind.

“Our favoured goal – 40GW by 2030 – aligns with recommendations made by the Committee on Climate Change and the National Infrastructure Commission, and is achievable with moderate policy support.”