Supporting Islanders installing solar panels

WQ.421/2025

WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT BY DEPUTY H.L. JEUNE OF ST. JOHN, ST. LAWRENCE AND TRINITY

QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 3rd NOVEMBER 2025 ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 10th NOVEMBER 2025

Question

"Further to the announcement that Jersey Property Holdings is developing a map allowing Islanders to see if their property is suitable for solar panels, will the Minister advise –

1. what policy changes and/or additional resources, if any, are being considered to support Islanders who wish to install solar panels;
2. whether he had input into or sight of the map during development; and
3. whether, once the map is finalised, it will be utilised across Government to enable more Islanders to invest in solar energy as part of their overall energy consumption, and if not, why not?"

Answer

1. There are currently no policy changes being considered with respect to solar panels.

The Carbon Neutral Roadmap Phase 1 policies and associated budget for 2022-2025 do not include any financial incentives for PV panels. The Phase 1 policies focus on prioritising reducing the emissions generated from the combustion of fossil fuels in Jersey. PV panels allow owners to generate their own low carbon electricity at their property, thereby reducing their consumption of grid supplied electricity, which in Jersey's case, is low carbon as it comes predominantly from nuclear and hydro electric sources from France. While generating your own low carbon electricity has benefits in terms of lower electricity bills and security of supply and can play an important role in reducing peak demand and reliance of the importation of electricity from the French grid, the overall impact on Jersey's greenhouse gas inventory is low. Phase 2 of the Carbon Neutral Roadmap for delivery 2027-2030 and associated budget allocation will be agreed in 2026 by the incoming States Assembly, and it will be for them to decide whether any funding for solar panels should be included as we move into the next phase of our decarbonisation plans.

In approving P.11/2025 (as amended) [Evidence-Based Energy Strategy] the States Assembly requested the Council of Ministers to develop, and before 31st December 2026, start implementing an evidence-based energy strategy, that sets out Jersey's long-term energy requirements, and balances the need for affordability, safety, security, a market that delivers competitive outcomes and carbon-neutrality of the energy sector in Jersey. Work on the Energy Strategy is underway in accordance with that timeline. The role of solar power in Jersey will be considered as part of that work.

In line with Pathway 2050 – an energy plan for Jersey (the Energy Plan), the rules governing the need for planning permission in Jersey have already been reviewed so that, in many cases, the installation of equipment for the generation of electricity from renewable sources is exempt from the need to secure planning permission, to enable and encourage its adoption and use. This includes the installation of solar panels; air and/or ground source heat pumps; and a single wind turbine.

In most cases, solar panels or photovoltaic (PV) panels can already be installed without the need for planning permission. There are, however, some circumstances where permission may still be required. These include:

• if the installation is within a designated area where it could impact the safe operation of the airport;

• if the property is a listed building or located within a conservation area; or

• if the panels exceed certain size or placement limits - particularly on rooftops.

Information about these exceptions and the need to apply for permission is already available: see Solar panels (permissions))

2. The PV map is still under development, and the Minister of the Environment has attended a briefing session on the latest iteration of the map.

© The map was developed as internal resource to better understand the PV potential of States owned property and as such was led by Jersey Property Holdings under remit of Minister for Infrastructure. Officers across a range of teams / departments have been briefed on it. The hope is that it will be made available to the public by the end of the year as an information tool for Islanders to get an initial idea as to the PV potential of their roof space, to raise awareness and to inform consideration as to whether investing in PV installation would be a viable option.