Below is the text of a letter which Solar Twin Ltd has sent to the UK government pressing for renewable energy to become a major plank of the forthcoming Budget.

Dear Prime Minister and Chancellor,

Today we face three of the greatest challenges of our time: global recession, energy security and the threat of catastrophic climate change.

The only solution to this triple crunch is a low carbon recovery. Millions of jobs could be created, global warming emissions slashed and energy security increased. There is no choice between economic recovery and climate recovery – they are one and the same.

But time is running out. So we request bold measures at the heart of this year’s Budget to build a new low carbon economy. This wll include ramping up energy efficiency and providing microgeneration and renewable energy for as many households and businesses as possible.

Right now the UK renewables industry is poised to grow rapidly. But as yet it does not know for sure whether Government really sees it as a major player in the UK’s energy infrastructure. It urgently needs your long term commitment and strategic support to enable it ganin investment and to grow confidently with a security of demand in sight.

To help provide the critical investment required to deliver this, we call on you to set up and fund a Green Infrastructure Bank, backed by Green Bonds.   This could leverage over £100 billion in private finance to help create a dynamic low carbon energy system.

This financial support must be used to drive programmes that ensure by 2020 every UK home is a low carbon home, the UK meets its renewable targets and is a world leader in renewable energy manufacturing and deployment.

It is time to re-build and re-power the UK.

Yours sincerely, Barry Johnston

Managing Director, Solar Twin Ltd.