The Building Podcast
Mark Wakeford is Chairman of the National Federation of Builders, vice-chair at Constructing Excellence Midlands and a Governor at Construction College, Moulton College. He has run a large regional building contractor and now chairs Evoenergy, one of the UK's foremost renewable companies, bringing low carbon solutions to corporate Britain.
Mark talks to leading experts from across the construction sector to discuss issues facing the built environment. He explores various challenges with his guests, who offer solutions, information and ideas that listeners can apply to their own situations, be it in a company, on a project or studying at college.
The Building Podcast aims to provide CPD on the go. Supporting the sector with easily digestible ideas to support a rapidly changing industry!
The Building Podcast
Mark talks to Ben Fawcett
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The Solar Taskforce, an industry / Government collaboration has been in existence since May 2023, working with both Governments to see how solar generation can be rapidly deployed to support the de-carbonisation of the electrical grid and the UK’s statutory net-zero target for 2050. I have been privileged to serve on this taskforce with many of the industry’s big hitters as we have identified blockers and solutions, with our partners at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero and co-authored the Solar Road Map, which was recently published.
These podcasts with senior leaders who were on the Taskforce and other movers and shakers who influence the sector aim to inform and explain the Solar Road Map to support its understanding and to provide context to its recommendations.
The lion’s share of new generation will come from solar farms, large scale ground mounted installations that seek to provide the economies of scale, many of which are supported by Government through the Contracts for Difference mechanism. Ben Fawcett is the Chief Operating Officer for Europe Energy Parks, part of the multi-national Pacific Green Group, and has been heavily involved in large scale development and operation of solar assets. Ben is also on the Solar Taskforce, bringing his expertise from the front line of development to inform and challenge the rest of us on grid connections, skills and planning reform.
Ben is very optimistic about the long-term potential for a low cost, de-centralised generation capability within the UK. He believes that the market is only now beginning to pick up and that this heralds a long-term boom in the sector. Ben also believes that the sector is coming of age and that as it matures, the issues surrounding planning, skills and grid modernisation are all working in our favour. He believes that much of the cost that consumers will need to accommodate is reflected in the modernisation of the grid, which will have to happen whether the UK burns fossil fuels or renewables.
While there is lots to be done, Ben believes that the sector can confidently grab the opportunities created by the current momentum and that it should use the political momentum to secure its position within the public’s mind as a low cost, reliable, clean and well-paid industry.
Website: https://exagen.co.uk/