GREENPEACE SUPPORTS SOLAR TASK FORCE CALL FOR GOVERNMENT ACTION ON SOLAR

6 November 1997

Strongly welcoming the statement made by the Government initiated Solar Task Force today, Greenpeace called upon the Government to act immediately on the recommendations and create a world class British solar industry.

Britain has the chance to create a multi-billion pound solar industry, which will bring new solar factories for Britain, thousands of new jobs and which will deliver clean affordable electricity to Britain and the world. Unless the Government acts on these recommendations Britain will loose out on the race to commercialise solar power - a key technology in the fight against global warming.

Other countries, such as Japan and America, are undertaking ambitious national programmes to support the development of their own solar industries. Unless the UK Government acts, the British solar industry, led by BP, will loose out.

Greenpeace Solar Campaigner Marcus Rand said, "BP and other companies are telling the Government that if it acts now it will create a world class solar industry for Britain. If the Government is serious about leading the world on climate change and about creating new, positive industries for this country, it will act immediately on these recommendations."

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Greenpeace Press Office on 0171 865 8255/6/7

Notes to Correspondents:
  1. In June 1997 President Clinton announced that the US will install a 'Million Solar Roofs' by 2010. To date 'pledges' for some 300,000 roofs have been made. The US Government will install solar on 20,000 Federal buildings.
  2. Japan will install 70,000 solar roofs by the year 2000. To date this year 3,500 solar roofs have been installed. The Japanese Government has announced it will increase its solar budget next year to $205 million, an increase of over 20% on 1997. The Japanese government provides 50% capital grants as part of a national programme to expand the Japanese solar industry - led by Kyocera, Canon, Sharp and Sanyo.
  3. The Italian Government is currently considering a 10,000 roof-top programme by 2002. Capital grants of 80% are being proposed.
  4. The current global market for solar is estimated to be worth $1 billion. BP solar currently has 10% of the global market. The global market is growing at some 25% per year - fuelled by the Japanese programme. Shell predicts the market to be worth some $6 billion by 2010 and $25 billion by 2020.
  5. BP have announced that they intend to increase sales from around $500 million a year at present to $1 billion a year in ten years.
  6. Last month Shell announced it will be investing heavily in solar and will be building a new solar factory in the Netherlands. Shell intends to match BP and plan to capture 10% of the global market by 2005.
  7. The UK Government is currently reviewing the future of solar and other renewables. At present the Government provide a mere £1 million a year to solar. There are only 5 grid-connected solar homes in the UK - 3 of those were installed by Greenpeace in June of this year in London.
  8. Greenpeace International has submitted a plan to the European Commission to create a 'Million Solar Roofs' for Europe by 2010.