Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Oral Answers to Questions

Ian Lavery Excerpts
Thursday 5th February 2015

(9 years, 9 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Amber Rudd Portrait Amber Rudd
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My right hon. Friend is entirely right. The reduction in cost and the success of solar PV mean that, according to the industry itself, it will become subsidy free, we hope, by the end of the decade. That is because of investment under this Government. It will be something to celebrate, and something that the taxpayer, as well as everyone in the Government, will appreciate.

Ian Lavery Portrait Ian Lavery (Wansbeck) (Lab)
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There are some excellent energy companies springing up in my constituency, such as Saving Energy Renewables, a PV solar panel firm, but projects are stalling because of the low-grade capacity for exporting energy from the systems. What can the Government do to ensure that companies can connect these systems and make serious contributions to both rooftop solar and deployment as part of the solar road map laid out by this Government?

Amber Rudd Portrait Amber Rudd
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Solar is an essential part of the renewable energy mix; the hon. Gentleman is entirely right. We continue to look at this under the community energy strategy, and hope to develop plans to help deliver the sorts of projects he mentioned.