RENEWABLES

A strategy to win 15 per cent of the world photovoltaic market by 2010 is being urged on the British government by the British Photovoltaic Association (BPA). The BPA points out that Britain’s current 8 per cent of the world market has been won with infinitesimal state help.

The BPA claims UK companies could advance the technology, and that the global photovoltaic market could be worth £1.2 billion by 2010.

Addressing the Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group (PRASEG), the BPA claimed that the government should devote 10 per cent (£10 million pa) of the fossil fuel levies currently imposed to promote renewable energy to photovoltaics.

It was announced that a grid connected market would be developed, and a rural electrification programme mounted in a developing country.