CHANCELLOR SUNAK has been asked to exempted renewable energy technology from 'punitive' business rates to help bolster a green economic recovery.

A coalition of trade associations representing major British industries including retail, property, construction and technology, has written to the Chancellor to ask that renewable energy installations such as solar PV and battery storage be excepted from business rates to boost their commercial deployment.

The trade bodies argued that many businesses shelved plans to install solar on their sites after a change in the way business rates were calculated saw early-adopters punished by skyrocketing premiums, in some cases well over 500% more.

The Solar Trade Association estimates that excepting solar PV from rates could deliver 1500 to 1800 additional jobs annually, and increase business investment in the UK by more than £315million a year.

STA chief executive Chris Hewett said: “This will help businesses in Britain to build back better and contribute towards a green economic recovery by easing the frankly unjustified and disproportionate tax burden on renewables, driving the uptake of new solar in the commercial sector and delivering thousands of high quality green jobs across the country.”

National Federation of Roofing Contractors CEO James Talman added: “The roofing industry is in a prime position to help the government reach its net-zero target through the installation of solar technologies on Britain’s commercial roof spaces. However, we are being held back by the archaic business rates system, which is stifling investment and innovation.

“We urge the Chancellor to rectify this by exempting renewable energy generation and storage from business rates to help reduce carbon emissions and create thousands of quality skilled construction jobs, as well as generating millions of pounds of green business investment.”