The initial schools in England to receive “Great British Energy solar panels,” a government initiative, sourced them from Chinese manufacturers, the BBC has learned.
The first 11 schools participating in the GB Energy program acquired solar panels from Aiko and Longi, both based in China.
The government has presented the scheme as “the first major project for Great British Energy – a company owned by the British people, for the British people”.
Labour MP Sarah Champion has voiced concerns that GB Energy should prioritize purchasing solar panels from UK-based companies instead of Chinese firms, given allegations of forced labor within Chinese supply chains.
“I’m really excited about the principle of GB Energy,” she told BBC News.
“But it’s taxpayers’ money and we should not be supporting slave labour with that money. And wherever possible, we should be supporting good working practices and buy British if we can.”
She added: “That means that yes, unfortunately, in the short term, solar panels are probably going to be slightly more expensive.
“There are solar panels made around the world in Taiwan, Canada, even in the UK.”
Both Longi and Aiko have affirmed to the BBC that they prohibit forced labor in their production and supply chains.
China is the world’s leading producer of solar panels, and suppliers in the Xinjiang region have been implicated in the alleged exploitation of Uyghur Muslims.
Earlier this year, legislation was enacted to prevent GB Energy from investing in renewable energy sources if evidence of modern slavery exists in their production.
China dominates the market, with the International Energy Agency reporting that the nation’s global share in all manufacturing stages of solar panels exceeds 80%.
Champion, who chairs the International Development Select Committee, stated that “abuse in renewable supply chains is insidious and hard to root out”.
However, she urged ministers to exclude known human-rights offenders from securing public contracts.
A GB Energy spokesperson stated that all solar contracts issued under the schools initiative complied with UK modern slavery regulations.
Estimates suggest that up to 50% of the world’s polysilicon supply—a crucial component in solar panels—originates from the Xinjiang region.
Mark Candlish, director of GB-Sol, which identifies itself as the sole manufacturer of conventional solar panels in the UK, commented on polysilicon being “a key social issue facing our industry, with the risk of forced labour in the main mining areas”.
He added: “The global solar market is so dominated by China that it is difficult to avoid buying Chinese if you want the low cost energy and low carbon benefits of solar PV.”
Numerous businesses and governments, including the UK’s, procure Chinese solar panels due to their lower cost compared to those produced elsewhere.
According to HMRC trade data, Chinese solar panels accounted for 68% of the UK’s solar panel imports in 2024, an increase from 61% in 2023.
A 2023 report by Sheffield Hallam University linked various solar companies to suppliers in the Xinjiang region.
One of the report’s authors, Alan Crawford, stated that the overall lack of transparency in the solar supply chain has worsened since the publication of his Over-Exposed report in 2023.
“Companies that were willing to comment are now silent,” he said.
GB Energy, a state-owned company established by the Labour government, aims to invest in renewable energy sources like solar power.
GB Energy’s first major investment involves approximately £200 million for rooftop solar installations at 200 schools and NHS hospitals across the country.
The initial allocation of funding has been used to purchase Chinese solar panels for the 11 schools.
The Department for Education disclosed the manufacturers of the solar panels to the BBC in response to a freedom of information request.
A GB Energy spokesperson affirmed the company’s commitment to “lead the way in ethical supply chains” and emphasized that “there is no place for forced labour or unethical practices in the UK’s energy transition”.
The spokesperson added: “That is why we are introducing a statutory duty on Great British Energy to prevent modern slavery in its supply chains, and reviewing supplier transparency and disclosure standards to ensure confidence in all public-facing renewable programmes.
“All contracts issued under this schools and hospitals solar initiative complied with UK procurement rules, including extensive requirements under the Modern Slavery Act.
“GBE will seek to uphold these requirements in its contracting arrangements and are actively engaging with international partners to raise the bar globally on solar supply chain accountability.”
China faces accusations of committing crimes against humanity against the Uyghur population and other predominantly Muslim ethnic groups in the Xinjiang region.
According to the US Department of Labor, detainees in state-sponsored programs are compelled to produce goods, including polysilicon, a key ingredient in solar panels.
The Chinese government denies all allegations of human rights abuses in Xinjiang.
Both Longi and Aiko are members of the Solar Stewardship Initiative, a scheme designed to foster confidence in the supply chain and the responsible sourcing of solar panels.
An Aiko spokesperson stated that the company is “committed to upholding the highest standards of ethical business conduct and responsible sourcing”.
“We take any concerns related to human rights and labour practices seriously and expect our suppliers to do the same,” the spokesperson said.
“As part of our ongoing efforts, we engage with suppliers to promote transparency and continuous improvement in line with international guidelines. We are also closely monitoring global supply chain developments and remain committed to working with stakeholders to support a fair and sustainable solar industry.”
Longi stated its regret regarding the findings of the Sheffield Hallam University report and “categorically affirms that forced labour has no place within our supply chain”.
A company spokesperson stated that the conclusions in the Over-Exposed report “may not fully reflect the comprehensive measures Longi has implemented to ensure full compliance with international labour standards”.
“Independent third-party audits play a critical role in verifying compliance and identifying potential risks,” the spokesperson said.
“While the complexity of global supply chains presents challenges, Longi remains steadfast in its efforts to eliminate any risks associated with forced labour.”
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