THERE IS now a 'golden opportunity' to put renewables and green technology at the heart of the UK's economic recovery from the Covid-19 crisis.

The UK's Committee on Climate Change has set out six key principles for a resilient recovery, making reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change essential. The first principle calls on the Government to 'use climate investments to support economic recovery and jobs', and highlights that many green tech installations are 'labour-intensive, spread across the UK and ready to roll out as part of a targeted and timely stimulus package'.

Welcoming this intervention, Solar Trade Association chief executive Chris Hewett said: “It is vital that the Government’s recovery package aligns with its obligation to tackle climate change and deliver a resilient, net zero economy.

“The Government must not miss this golden chance to place renewables at the heart of the recovery. Solar and energy storage in particular offer swift, job-intensive opportunities for growth, with average ground-mount sites able to be built in a few months, and rooftop installations often taking only a day or two. There is an 8GW pipeline of solar projects ready to be unlocked.”

In recent weeks, sunny weather coupled with skies free of soot have helped solar power outputs to deliver a new coal-free record for the grid.

Mr Hewett said: “Ideal weather conditions and lower levels of pollution than normal mean solar is providing record levels of cheap, clean power to the grid. At a time when most of us are working remotely, we can say that solar is truly keeping the WiFi on.”