Guernsey renewables move should be incentivised - developer

Alex Whitmore, director at architectural firm PF+A said the decision from the DPA was “coming from the right place” and a “positive thing”.

However, he expressed concerns about the standing of the move.

Whitmore said: “A mandatory requirement without going through a review process and consultation seemed a bit hard-hitting and almost a bit out of the blue.”

He added it had the potential to “slow progress down in terms of renewables and reducing carbon footprint”, particularly if people look at the cheapest way of getting solar panels due to build costs without considering effectiveness.

Despite the costs, Whitmore said as a percentage of the whole build it was “very small” and he does not believe it will slow down building appetite.

Guernsey Electricity said it welcomed the announcement by DPA, but it “needed to be mindful” of the impact behind-the-meter renewables can have on the stability of the electricity grid when replicated at scale.

The firm highlighted the need to make sure the connection of renewable technologies is managed in a way which meant they can “continue to provide a secure and reliable supply to all customers”.

“We continue to work proactively with the government and wider energy industry to facilitate local renewable generation,” a spokesperson said.