Greg Barkers Confirms 2020 22GW Target For UK

Greg Barker has publically declared the government's intended goal to incorporate 22GW of solar based energy into the UK energy market but has agreed that this is an aspirational goal than a DECC official target. The Energy and Climate minister took to twitter to explain his commitment to the goal.

The twitter announcements followed a parliamentary questions session when Shadow Energy Secretary Caroline Flint challenged Barker's previous announcements of a 22GW goal in light of the government's overall austerity goals to cut costs where possible. With the changes in the FiT reduction the Shadow Minister suggested household installations had "˜flatlined' and it seemed unlikely the government would achieve the 4 million household rooftops that it hoped to see installed by 2020.

Barker responded by reminding the Shadow Minister that the actual goal was 22GW of solar could be deployed in the UK if the cost of solar could be driven down. Although Barker was quick to point out the goal of lowering costs to achieve affordable energy he gave no detail as to whether costs had reduced in line with his goals or what the cost requirements would be for the government to actively pursue a domestic goal that many in the industry felt was stalled by the changes that were made to the FiT system.

Following the question time Barker took to Twitter to confirm that he had responded to Flint and committed to massive solar expansion but suggested that was dependent on achieving grid parity this decade. Following Twitter requests to affirm the 22GW stance for 2020 Barker quickly replied that this was the goal but this time suggested a leap in the entire value chain costs were required to achieve the desired outcome.

Although not a declaration of a DECC initiated solar target the news could help allay fears of some industry players who have complained of a lack of defined direction from the government department.