Controversial tax hike could leave country lagging behind as continent powers ahead
The UK risks being left behind in Europe’s home battery boom because of a controversial tax hike on solar-battery systems, according to a report.
The energy consultancy Wood Mackenzie has predicted that Europe’s home battery capacity could climb fivefold in the next five years as more households plug their rooftop solar panels into battery packs.
The analysts expect that by 2024, annual home battery installations across Europe could total more than 500MW, the equivalent of building a new gas-fired power plant every year.
The report said the battery boom had already taken hold in Germany and would accelerate across Italy and Spain as battery power became more economic.
However, the UK is likely to lag behind its European neighbours due to its “unfavourable” policy frameworks and a VAT increase for solar-battery packs this October.
Read more: The Guardian