Engaging with MPs at Westminster on the future of solar

This week, Lightsource bp were privileged to hold a drop-in event at Parliament. We’re grateful to Andrew Selous MP for hosting the event, and we are delighted to be continuing to work with him following his visit to a Lightsource bp solar project in his constituency earlier in the year.

The event was a success, with MPs, Peers, and staff from a range of parties getting the opportunity to discuss solar projects in their constituencies and get an insight into our goals and commitments as a business, beyond solar. Topics of discussion included community engagement, our working relationships with farmers, and the biodiversity gains that our projects achieve in the UK. We also handed out samples of our very own solar honey, made by bees on Lightsource bp solar projects across the UK which have been specifically planted to provide habitats for bees, perfectly demonstrating one of the many ways in which solar and food production can work together.

The session also provided a chance to discuss some of the key challenges facing our sector, including grid capacity and planning, and how tackling these challenges will be crucial in supporting energy security in the UK. The UK Government has put in place a target of 70GW of solar developed by 2035, which is a five-fold increase from where we are now. At Lightsource bp we’re dedicated to driving the solar industry forwards, and engaging with the government is a key part of that, through our role on the Solar Taskforce, site visits, and beyond.