The Financial Times reported on April 23 that the UK’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has proposed, in an amendment to the Energy Bill, to restrict companies from using any Chinese solar panels “linked to forced labour.”
The new ban, however, will only apply to Great British Energy (GBE), the newly – established state – owned energy firm in the UK. It will not extend to private – sector operators who are building their own solar farms in the country. These private operators may even be eligible for generous government subsidies through “Contracts for Difference.”
The Financial Times also highlighted that some officials within the Starmer government have privately expressed doubts about GBE’s ability to source a sufficient quantity of solar panels while adhering to the restrictions on Chinese products, given China’s dominant position in the global supply of solar panels and batteries.
Currently, the amendment is still under parliamentary scrutiny.
Great British Energy, the UK’s latest state – owned energy enterprise, plays a pivotal role in supporting the country’s transition to clean energy, achieving energy independence, and reducing household energy costs. Earlier, the UK Parliament indicated that the company would receive an injection of £8.3 billion (approximately RMB 78.3 billion) during the new parliamentary session. Nevertheless, in last October’s budget, it only secured an initial fund of £100 million.
Recently, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced an initial allocation of £300 million through Great British Energy to invest in the domestic offshore wind supply chain.
