Commentary: Industrial Strategy and Investment Summit – views from Foresight Solar Fund

The International Investment Summit and the government’s new industrial strategy have laid a pathway to secure critical private investment to support Britain’s growth. Ross Driver, Fund Manager at Foresight Solar, shares his views on the strategy and how it impacts the UK’s clean energy build-out.

“Creating a stable, supportive investment environment to leverage public and private capital and turbocharge the UK’s renewable energy infrastructure is critical to meet our climate targets and to secure energy independence, as well as cheaper electricity bills.

“We must not, however, forget the basics and a reliable energy system is built from a balanced electricity grid. Right now, the delays in connecting to transmission and distribution lines pose one of the most acute threats to our country’s infrastructure. Our outdated ‘first come, first served’ model has resulted in ‘zombie’ plans blocking viable renewable projects for decades. With the support of the private sector, we want to see the grid reform measures translated into action.

“The energy transition is one of the biggest investment opportunities of our generation. We urge the government to work with private institutions and the public markets to break down the barriers to unleash the UK’s full clean energy potential.”

ABOUT FORESIGHT SOLAR

Foresight Solar is a FTSE 250 closed-ended investment company which develops, builds and operates solar farms and battery storage systems to deliver a strong and growing yield for investors. The sustainability-focused fund contributes to a lower carbon future by investing in and managing 1GW of renewable energy infrastructure in the UK, Spain and Australia, with a portfolio of 61 assets and a 1GW development pipeline.

ROSS DRIVER, FUND MANAGER

Ross has almost 20 years’ experience in infrastructure and renewable energy investment, covering asset management across multiple asset classes. Prior to Foresight Solar, Ross was an Investment Director at InfraRed Capital, where he focused on greenfield infrastructure and renewables investments.