The Solar Trade Association (STA) has published a set of '10 Commitments' it wants its membership to abide by during the construction and management of solar farms. Meanwhile the sector has been boosted by the results of a poll by YouGov which show that two thirds of the public support either 'any' or 'good quality' solar farms across the UK. The level of support rose to 71 percent when best practice principles were explained.
The '10 Commitments' have been developed by leading solar developers over the past three months. The STA recognises that solar farms must be developed in harmony with the concerns of local communities including sensitivity to the landscape and protecting ecological value.
"When solar farms are done well they can be a force for good in the local countryside, as well as building national energy security and protecting the global climate" said STA CEO Paul Barwell. "For the UK, with its beautiful countryside, maintaining strong public support for solar farms is a challenge this new industry is keen to take on by delivering the very best practice. Solar farms create no noise or waste, have no moving parts, require minimal maintenance and have a low visual impact, so it is clear why good schemes enjoy public support. We've been impressed by the level of enthusiasm from conservation groups telling us that solar could help their efforts to protect vulnerable British plant and animal species."
Mr Barwell added that the STA's '10 Commitments' set out the direction of travel for the solar industry which will deliver multiple benefits for both the climate and the British landscape. The STA wants all its members to comply with the commitments and also believes that the entire industry should support these standards.
"As the big roll out of solar gathers pace and the sector scales up, the deployment of solar PV must be carried out in a manner which is thoughtful, sustainable and respects both the landscape and the views of the communities among which it is deployed" commented Energy Minister Greg Barker. "So the Solar Trade Association's '10 Commitments' are a very welcome inititiative to help retain the strong level of public support. I look forward to hearing the industry's plans to take this forward."
The Rural Enterprises Director at the National Trust, Patrick Begg, also welcomed the initiative, adding that it is "hugely refreshing and heartening to see the industry making a robust commitment to best practice when it comes to locating, setting up and then managing solar farms."
Dr Jonathan Scurlock, the National Farmers Union (NFU) Chief Adviser on Renewable Energy and Climate Change, said that farmers are well-placed to capture renewable energy flows while maintaining farming's traditional role in providing food along with other environmental land management services.
A recent YouGove poll has also found that seven times more people would rather have a solar positioned near them than a gas fracking operation. Solar farms were the most popular of a range of four options given to respondents, with 40 percent opting for solar farms, 25 percent favouring wind, 10 percent nuclear and shale gas 6 percent.
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