The UK government has recently unveiled its Solar Roadmap, introduced on June 30, which outlines actionable steps to achieve the nation’s solar photovoltaic (PV) targets. A key focus of this government-industry collaboration is to seize the “once-in-a-generation” opportunity to enhance the local solar supply chain and manufacturing capabilities within the UK. This initiative aligns with the government’s Clean Power 2030 mission and aims to promote growth where it is economically viable.
Currently, the supply chain for silicon-based solar modules is predominantly situated in China, a fact that has been widely recognized within the solar industry for some time. Although establishing domestic silicon panel manufacturing may not be economically feasible, the roadmap indicates opportunities for expanding the production of transformers, inverters, switchgear, structural supports, battery storage, and cabling. Additionally, there is potential for lightweight perovskite technology and research and development (R&D) in the UK. Notably, British company Oxford PV made headlines last year by shipping the first commercial perovskite tandem modules. The company’s CEO, David Ward, participated in a panel discussion hosted by PV Tech and Energy-storage.news earlier this year at Intersolar Europe 2025 in Munich, Germany. During the panel, Ward emphasized the need for innovation in the solar sector, stating, “You cannot make a sane argument for doing traditional, old-school PV in Europe… You make an argument for doing innovative, high-end silicon PV; you make an argument for doing tandem and standing on the shoulders of [traditional silicon PV] to do the next generation.”
The Solar Roadmap represents the culmination of two years of efforts led by the Solar Taskforce, co-chaired by Chris Hewett, CEO of the solar trade body Solar Energy UK (SEUK), and Energy Minister Michael Shanks. This taskforce was established following a recommendation from former Conservative MP Chris Skidmore in his 2023 Review of Net Zero and was reconvened by the current Energy Secretary shortly after the government took office.
Moreover, the roadmap intends to bolster industry standards such as the Solar Stewardship Initiative (SSI), ensuring that solar panels are sourced from supply chains free from forced labor. “The UK Government is clear that there should be no procurement of solar panels where there is evidence of forced labor. Through the Procurement Act, Government will empower contracting authorities to exclude suppliers from government contracts who have committed labor market misconduct and/or environmental offenses in the UK or overseas,” the roadmap states.
The Solar Roadmap outlines 72 actions aimed at accelerating the efficient deployment of solar energy across the UK, categorized into six areas: Rooftop Solar, Electricity Networks, Supply Chain and Innovations, Skills, Planning and Support Schemes, and Collaborating with Others. Among these actions is an investigation into the safety of ‘plug-in panels’, which are currently being used on balconies in Spain and Germany. According to the German Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur), Germany installed nearly 435,000 plug-in balcony solar panels in 2024, contributing to 400MW of new solar capacity. The agency noted that this figure may be understated as not all installations have been officially recorded. Although this technology is banned in the UK, it theoretically simplifies and reduces costs for domestic solar installations by allowing panels to be plugged into standard home sockets.
This article was initially published on our sister site Solar Power Portal, which provides additional insights on the Solar Roadmap.
Michael Shanks, the UK’s Energy Minister, delivered a keynote address at Solar Media’s Clean Power 2030 Summits earlier today, an event running from July 1-2, 2025. This summit combines the UK Solar Summit, the Wind Power Finance & Investment Summit, and the Green Hydrogen Summit, focusing on the evolving role of solar in the energy mix and its alignment with net-zero and other governmental targets.
For more detailed information on the Solar Roadmap and its implications for the solar industry, visit our sister publication.
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