UK Bans Forced Labour Solar Panels After U-Turn

The UK government has executed a major policy reversal, committing to a legal ban on solar panels, wind turbines, and batteries linked to forced labour—especially from China's Xinjiang region—in its new state-owned energy company, Great British Energy. The move, led by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, follows significant political and public pressure after Labour MPs previously voted against a similar amendment. Research and government sources have underscored the widespread use of forced Uyghur labour in Xinjiang, which supplies much of the world's polysilicon for solar panels. While the policy aims to position GB Energy as a leader in ethical supply chains, it raises concerns about possible delays to the UK's net-zero targets due to China's dominance in renewables manufacturing. The government is working to develop resilient, home-grown alternatives to reduce reliance on Chinese suppliers. Campaigners and some Labour MPs have welcomed the legal ban as a necessary step despite the risk of impacting the pace of green energy deployment.