Lights out for PPA-funded solar
A detailed new analysis shows that the standard method for financing large scale solar PV schemes in the UK is no longer economically viable....
2017 rateable values include unexpected business rates hike for solar rooftop
Business rates for ‘mainly export’ solar agreed with Valuations Office but concern over 6-8 fold tax hike for business solar rooftops
The draft rateable values...
Community energy retains overwhelming backing of uk public, and increased support among Conservative voters,...
An overwhelming majority of the public would support local renewable energy projects, including wind turbines, if they were owned and controlled by the community,...
Scottish solar experts to gather at Edinburgh conference in September
Scottish Renewables’ first Solar Conference will be held in association with the Scottish Institute for Solar Energy Research (SISER) in Edinburgh on September 6...
Solar survey respondents reveal third of UK solar jobs lost – more losses expected
Comprehensive PWC and Solar Trade Association survey appears to show support for tax breaks to re-boot struggling UK solar sector as global market accelerates
As...
Business rates hike threatens viability of rooftop solar
The Solar Trade Association (STA) has raised the alarm about a possible six- to eightfold rise on business rates for rooftop solar coming into...
UK to adopt 200MW of energy storage assets to stabilise the grid
Due to the increasing share of renewables in Britain’s generation mix, National Grid will contract 200MW of energy storage assets to stabilise the grid...
New efficiency record for large-area PV solar cell technology
Trina Solar, a global supplier of photovoltaic (PV) modules, solutions and services, announced in late April that its State Key Laboratory of PV Science...
New surveying service helps pinpoint faulty solar cells
Push Energy and Buzzflyer have joined forces to form Above Surveying, an aerial thermographic inspection service company specialising in solar PV.
Above Surveying...
A solar Q&A for beginners
What are the types of photovoltaic panels and how do they differ?
There are three basic types of photovoltaic panels: amorphous, polycrystalline and monocrystalline. The...
Navigating the post-subsidy landscape
An event organised by the Solar Trade Association (STA) in March brought together stakeholders in the sector to appraise the opportunities and threats for...
Carbon Connect responds to Government’s consultation to drastically reform the Renewable Heat Incentive
Public policy advisory body Carbon Connect has responded to the Government consultation to drastically reform the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) by calling instead for...
Somerset project demonstrates integration of energy storage with solar PV
On 7 January Renewable Energy Systems announced its first UK contract to build and support a battery energy storage system (BESS). This contract is...
UK marching against the tide on renewables policy, says UN chief scientist
The UN’s chief environmental scientist Professor Jacquie McGlade has criticised the UK government’s decision to cut subsidies for renewable energy while bolstering the oil...
Firm installs bee hives around solar farms
RENEWABLE energy investment firm Low Carbon has launched an initiative to promote greater biodiversity in Cornwall, Dorset and Suffolk. It has partnered with sustainability...
A bright future?
Is it time to get excited about solar? A panel debate in May provided a picture of the challenges and opportunities facing the sector...
Is the UK solar market set for a cool down?
With PV prices falling, efficiencies increasing and global installations doubling in volume every year, the solar market continues to go from strength to strength....
Solar-powered parking meter selected for community forest centre
Thames Chase Forest Centre has selected a solar-powered parking payment terminal to control car park usage and provide revenue to help improve facilities.
The Parkeon...
Clean tech aviators follow the sun
An attempt to fly round the world using solar powered-propulsion began on 9 March. Employing 17,000 solar panels on its wingspan and fuselage, the...
Documents reveal political motivation behind curtailment of solar CAP funding
While in October environment secretary Liz Truss acted to discourage the use of solar panels in the agriculture sector – taking the position that...
