Paul Barwell has been CEO of the STA since 2012, overseeing the transformation of the trade association, originally established in 1978, to become the leading voice of the UK solar power sector fully able to support the industry’s rapid growth. Over this period, the industry has seen over 12 GW of solar capacity deployed across the country, supplying 4 percent of UK electricity.
Under Paul’s tenure, the STA managed to achieve a number of key wins for the sector, as well as providing national leadership on industry standards. This has in turn helped to generate record levels of public support the technology.
These successes include softening the Government’s proposed Feed in Tariff changes during two major reviews, reducing the impact of the Renewables Obligation (RO) closure for investors, negotiating fair business rates for exported solar and defining national standards for the development and construction of solar farms through the STA’s ’10 commitments’.
The STA has also identified barriers to non-domestic rooftops and secured permitted development. It has won 5 percent VAT for solar and new storage and defined strong standards for operation and maintenance of solar projects and also established UK ‘Solar Independence Day’.
“This was a hard decision” Mr Barwell said. “It has been a real privilege to support the growth of a unique & special technology that is so vital for a prosperous future. I've had the pleasure of working with some brilliant colleagues, members and partners, which has meant we punch well above our weight. But there is no doubt the solar industry has faced more challenges than it should, given a track record of exceptional achievement. It is time for a change for me personally but I won't be going far. I am pursuing some commercial interests that are very much embedded in the solar sector and I hope to remain a part of the STA's extraordinary network as a member in due course”.
STA's Chair Jonathan Selwyn added that everyone has seen the great contribution the STA, under Paul's leadership, has made in the public realm to support the growth of solar in the UK. What they may not appreciate is the quality of Paul's management and industry engagement behind the scenes which has attracted a membership that is characterised by high standards and which manages around a third of all the solar deployed across the UK today.
Paul's superb strategic management of the association and his ability to maintain its membership levels against the backdrop of challenging market conditions means that the STA is in its strongest financial position ever. It has also meant the STA has moved successfully into new policy areas such as the storage space where it is already securing early policy wins.
Mr Selwyn said that the STA is now looking for a CEO who can build on these achievements as solar and storage plays an ever more important role at the heart of the UK energy transformation. The STA is seeking a replacement CEO with a proven background of achievement at Director level, including in the commercial sector.
Paul will stay on to support the STA while a new CEO is recruited.
The STA has a clear vision for the solar sector as it moves away from subsidised support. For the existing large-scale assets, the emphasis is on managing solar farms efficiently and responsibly to maximise returns. The STA is facilitating good working relationships with the network operators and influencing regulatory reforms to ensure the full benefits of solar and, increasingly storage are valued in the energy market and is pressing for access to long term contracts which will stimulate new investment and allow consumers to benefit from continued falling costs of solar.
With the future of rooftop solar increasingly being entwined with the development of smart power systems and the increasing benefits of self-generation as energy storage becomes more affordable, the STA is focusing its work on ensuring that there is a level playing field so the benefits of solar and storage are fully available to commercial and domestic consumers. The STA is also focussed on educating and expanding new markets, including a forthcoming push with local government.
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