A SOLAR technology expert based in the North East will use an upcoming conference to push for more political and financial backing for photovoltaic technology in the UK.
At the Solar Flair conference at County Durham’s Lumley Castle next month, Northumbria University’s Dr Ian Forbes will warn that the nation must dig deeper to avoid falling behind countries such as Germany, Japan and the USA.
Dr Forbes – a member of international research body PV-21 Supergen – believes the next decade will be crucial in determining whether Britain will be a major supplier or a buyer of solar power.
He said: “A lot of people don’t believe it is reasonable to use PV in the UK but that’s not the case. Germany is the biggest market with around 40% of the world’s total and the UK has only about 15% less sunlight on average than Germany. The market is going to be there and we are either going to be able to benefit from it or not.
“If we say it won’t happen here, by the time we realise it can happen here we will have missed the boat.
“The decision-makers need to be aware of what’s happening elsewhere and not think that it’s not possible here. If they do rule it out they are effectively putting a constraint on our economy. It’s the biggest resource available and outstrips nuclear, wind and other energy sources.”
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