London’s Solar Together scheme has so far resulted in 1,500 successful installations and 1,456 complaints.
The London Assembly is concerned that the programme does not appear in the Mayor’s 24/25 climate budget, given that nearly £1 million has been spent promoting the scheme and the ongoing evaluation work of the programme has no set date for completion.
Because of this, it is today calling on the Chair of the London Assembly to write to the Mayor asking for a clear timetable for the scheme’s evaluation is set out, and what steps the Mayor will take to replace the scheme.
Emma Best AM, who proposed the motion, said:
“Members of the London Assembly have today called on Sadiq Khan to provide a clear timetable for publishing an evaluation of his flagship Solar Together scheme.
“After spending almost £1m on promotion, Solar Together has generated 1456 complaints and just 1500 successful solar panel installations.
“This scandal has dented public confidence not only in solar energy, but also the concept of retrofit and renewable energy.
“We’ve called on the Mayor to explain how the scheme’s failure will impact London’s net zero ambitions and what action he is taking to replace the failed scheme.”
The full text of the motion is:
This Assembly acknowledges the Mayor’s consistent and genuine apology for the Solar Together scandal which, as of May 2023, has resulted in 1456 complaints and a total of just 1500 successful installations. The failure of this scheme has dented public confidence not only in solar energy, but also the concept of retrofit and renewable energy.
This Assembly is concerned that Solar Together, previously a flagship programme for the Mayor, does not appear in the 24/25 climate budget, given that nearly £1 million was spent promoting the scheme and the ongoing evaluation work of the programme has no set date for completion.
This Assembly calls on the Chair of the Assembly to write to the Mayor asking that a clear timetable for the evaluation of Solar Together is set out. In response, we believe the Mayor should also address how London’s pathway to net zero is affected by the discontinuation of Solar Together, and what steps the Mayor will take to replace the failed scheme.
Notes to editors
- Watch the full webcast.
- The motion was agreed unanimously.
- Emma Best AM, who proposed the motion, is available for interviews.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Anthony Smyth on 07763 251727. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer.