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Islanders encouraged to install solar panels amid electricity price rise

Islanders encouraged to install solar panels amid electricity price rise

Friday 22 March 2024

Islanders encouraged to install solar panels amid electricity price rise

Friday 22 March 2024


The Environment Minister has encouraged homeowners to install roof-based solar panels, as he warned that the historically low electricity prices enjoyed by the island could be coming to an end.

Answering a question in the States Assembly on Tuesday, Deputy Steve Luce warned that energy prices across Europe are set to increase.

Transport and home heating were his priorities in terms of energy, he explained, adding that solar energy will play an "important part" in the transition from fossil fuels.

Talking about the importance of roof-based solar energy, he said: "We need to be careful of how much solar we put in the countryside, but I would encourage anyone who has the ability to put solar on their roof to do that."

Deputy Luce added that in 2015 when he served as Environment Minister under Chief Minister Ian Gorst, he pushed forward plans to increase the permitted level of solar coverage on the roofs of homes from 50% to 90%.

He also served on the Planning Committee that approved the first large-scale ground-mounted solar array in St Clements last year.

Although Deputy Luce was unable to commit to specific timelines for the development of an energy strategy for Jersey, he explained that it would be dependent on the outcome of the wind farm decision and analysis on the energy market.

He added that the strategy will be a joint effort between relevant Ministers, scrutiny, energy providers, and external stakeholders – including Guernsey, the UK, and France. 

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