We can confidently say that we’re leading the way in the industry, with an ambitious target of 700MW by 2027 and our strong commitments to biodiversity. Our passion and enthusiasm drive us to constantly learn more, through attending key events like Solar and Storage Live.

Being well-informed allows us to always follow best practices. Connecting with others provides opportunities for collaboration - an approach that’s crucial for the ongoing progress of the industry. And with that in mind, we’ve shared our key takeaways from the last two days at Solar and Storage Live that will keep the industry moving forward.

1 – The planning reforms proposed under the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will likely assist in accelerating planning decision making

Laura Fogarty, our very own Planning Manager, took to the Keynote Theatre stage on the first day of Solar and Storage Live to discuss breaking planning barriers and accelerating solar power deployment.

Forget acquiring Little Crow, Gareth Phillips (Solar Energy UK), chair of the panel introduced hiring her as the best thing BSR ever did (he’s not wrong), as she was joined alongside representatives from EDF, Pinsent Masons, and Cotswold Ecology.

A key talking point was the recently published Planning and Infrastructure Bill. The takeaway, however, will take some time to come into effect and for the impact to be seen on our projects. Other key changes that will impact us include the new national scheme of delegation, mandatory training for LPA committee members at and LPA’s being able to set their own planning fees.

2 – The UK has achieved a new solar record of 12.6GW as of April 2025.

Actually, in Michael Shanks MP’s ministerial address on the Keynote Theatre, it was recorded as 12.2GW -- the record has already been broken in a matter of days.

This record-breaking stat goes to show both the sheer progress and potential that solar has in playing a key part in plans for the clean energy system, and it is not getting the credit that it deserves.

The entire industry needs to collaborate with the Government to deliver the Clean Power 2030 goals. Solar especially is key to reducing our dependence on volatile fossil fuels for greater energy security and reducing energy costs.

3 – Bird populations are significantly higher where there’s a mix of habitats.

Isobel Morris from RSPB spoke to their latest research, highlighting how diverse habitats like hedges, wildflowers, and more, can nurture a bird population more than intensive arable farmland. To back this up, NextEnergy shared how their solar sites have shown an increase in bird population and biodiversity.

This is the proof needed to show that solar farms can deliver for nature. The key is working with the landowners to utilise their local knowledge of the land.

Demonstrating the ecological benefits of building solar could help change the perception of industrialising the countryside. Developers must strive towards greater BNG targets, but they also need policy frameworks that better incentivise nature friendly developments that reward delivering on both climate and nature.

At British Solar Renewables, we’ve launched the Nature Protection Pledge – our promise to increase biodiversity, improve soil structure and support healthy ecosystems on all the land within our stewardship. Find out more.

4 – Early legal and planning considerations are crucial in navigating grid reform effectively.

Thomas McMillan at Savills shared his insights on grid reform and the impacts for landowner-developer agreements at the Utility-Scale Theatre.

The changes to the grid reform increases the need for more detailed contracts, requiring the involvement of land agents and solicitors at an earlier stage. Therefore, keeping documents simple and balanced is crucial, which could be tackled in a two-tier approach to agreements:

Stage 1: Short-form Heads of Terms (HoTs)

Stage 2: Long-form Heads of Terms (HoTs)

Stage 3: Option Agreement

Red Line Boundaries must be considered too. The red line boundary should be clearly defined early in the process, as significant changes later are not permitted. Expanding the boundary to encompass all the landowner's property can increase their risk by limiting future use for other projects or farming. Reducing the boundary at an earlier stage can help mitigate potential risks.

5 – Teams that are geographically and gender diverse make better business decisions 87% of the time.

Carmen Madrid from Women in Solar Europe, Anna Stanford from POWERful Women, Lawrence Johnson at PWC and James Cameron, Mission Renewable underlined the key need for Diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) in the workplace.

As an example, only 32% of middle management positions are held by women in the energy industry. Part of the reason this is slow to grow is down to companies focussing predominantly on attraction, not retention.

Their panel conversation highlighted DE&I isn’t a fad and must be framed as a mindset instead, particularly when companies who embrace DE&I initiatives experience economic benefits.

Events like Solar and Storage Live are crucial for the industry to foster discussions on new ideas and solutions. Whether it's hearing from MPs who drive change or those working in the details to influence decisions, attending and participating - where possible - allows us to be exemplars of best practices and encourage more people to tackle the climate crisis.