About the REA Solar & Storage Forum

The Forum is the UK’s largest cross-sector group of its kind, with members including project developers, asset operators, manufacturers, financiers, consultants, legal specialists, supply chain businesses, and service providers.

The REA has a long history of supporting and championing the solar sector — from securing the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) that spurred early growth, to defending the industry against damaging subsidy cuts and policy rollbacks, and now to creating pathways for subsidy-free and flexible solar projects. Within storage, the Forum is recognised as a leading industry voice, contributing to major government and Ofgem initiatives such as the Smart Systems and Flexibility Plan, which maps the UK’s transition towards a smarter, more flexible energy system.

Solar & Storage members benefit from direct engagement with key policymakers, regulators, and system operators. Consultation responses are shaped by member input, ensuring the sector speaks with a strong and united voice.

Key work streams include:

• Development of routes to market for solar, including subsidy-free projects and Contracts for Difference (CfD) reform.
• Smarter energy system design, flexibility markets and capacity market reform.
• Grid connection processes, queue reform and grid charging arrangements (including Ofgem’s reviews).
• Planning and permitting for solar farms and storage facilities.
• Building regulations, Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)/Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) reform and ensuring effective policy on rooftop solar.
• Lobbying for fairer taxation, including VAT treatment and business rates on installations.
• Technical standards, safety and best practices across solar and storage projects.
• Co-location opportunities, combining storage with solar, wind and other generation assets.
• Supply chain sustainability, battery recycling and product standards.
• Consumer protection and standards, including collaboration with Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC) for domestic installers.

For further information about the Solar & Storage forum, activities or joining, please contact Matt.

Governance of the Forum

The REA Solar & Storage Forum is led by an elected Chair and Steering Group, ensuring representation across the range of technologies, market scales, and business models in the sector. The group combines expertise in project development, operations, finance, legal frameworks, and technical innovation.

Chair: Alessandra de Zottis – Head of Government and Regulatory Affairs, Sonnedix

Steering Group members:

• Louise Dalton – Partner, CMS
• Richard Gow – Head of policy (UK), DRAX
• Sarah Griffith – CEO, Hydrostor
• John Macdonald-Brown – Founder & CEO, Syzygy Consulting
• Francis Mann – Senior Government Affairs Manager, Lighthouse bp
• Mark McLoughlin – Commercial Manager, DLL
• Giuseppe Sgro – Sales Leader, Eaton
• Vijay Shinde – Head of New Technology Solutions, Siemens Energy
• Hazel Starmer-Jones – Principal Development Manager, BW ESS
• Robin Stopford – CEO, Powervault
• Dominic Walters – Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Highview Power

Member and External Engagement

The Forum holds regular each year, with additional topic-specific sessions as required. These range from policy workshops to technical roundtables and networking events, ensuring members can engage with decision-makers, industry innovators, and peers.

Regular communications are provided via newsletters, REA publications, and website updates, keeping members informed of policy developments, regulatory updates, and market intelligence.