The UK goal of net zero by 2050 will require a rewiring of the energy network on a scale not seen since the industrial revolution. The new government has set the target of 50GW of solar power by 2030, tripling the UK’s current capacity. Residential and rooftop solar alone will be insufficient if we are to meet those ambitious targets, meaning that ground-mounted, utility scale solar developments on rural land will be a vital piece of the puzzle.

Much of this will come very likely from solar farms of varying scale, which by their nature are almost exclusively sited in the countryside. How, therefore, does Britain marry the needs and concerns of rural communities with the national necessity to decarbonise the power grid? This panel discussion of experts, co-organised by Photovolt Development Partners and the Earth Emergency Research Cluster at Wolfson College, will seek to delve into this issue and explore possible solutions to a delicate balancing act.