Question to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, what recent assessment he has made of the potential merits of installing solar panels along (a) motorways and (b) industrial units, rather than on agricultural land.

Solar is a key part of the energy mix and needs sustained growth in both ground mount and rooftop capacity to meet our energy security and net zero goals.

Installing solar panels along roads has been tested in some countries but experienced practical problems, including rapid panel deterioration due to heavy traffic vibrations and difficulties in accessing sites for maintenance.

The Government is supporting the installation of panels on the roofs of industrial units where this is technically feasible through a business rate exemption until 2035 and tax relief.

The Government is also reviewing existing permitted development rights to simplify planning and enable more rooftop solar deployment on industrial buildings.