Written Question·Department for Energy Security and Net Zero·UIN 102806

Solar Power: Soil

Tabled: 5 January 2026
Answered: 13 January 2026

Question

Kevin Hollinrake

ConservativeThirsk and Malton

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what recent assessment he has made of the potential risk of soil contamination from materials used in solar panels, cabling, inverters or battery storage systems.

Answer

Michael Shanks
Solar panels are designed to be highly durable, and there is no evidence that they pose a leaching risk under normal operating conditions. New solar sites must have conducted environmental surveys, and environmental and habitat impact assessments. They mu...

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