UK
Dow Corning Begins Research Activities in Solar Research Center
18 June 2012POSTED IN Applications News
Dow Corning announced today it has started research activities in the newly completed state-of-the-art Solar Energy Exploration and Development (SEED) research center, which focuses on the development and discovery of new materials and technologies that will help advance renewable energy and energy efficiency.
UK, Norway Sign Long-term Energy Partnership
11 June 2012POSTED IN Business News
A landmark energy partnership was announced between the UK and Norway, intended to facilitate the development and transmission of affordable and sustainable long-term energy supplies.
Lotus F1 Team Headquarters Goes Solar
01 June 2012POSTED IN Applications News
Trina Solar Limited, a leading integrated manufacturer of solar photovoltaic (PV) products from the production of ingots, wafers and cells to the assembly of PV modules, today announced the completed installation of a new photovoltaic system at the headquarters of the Lotus F1 Team in Enstone, Oxfordshire, England.
UK Engineers Call for More Govt Support for Electricity Storage Technologies
31 May 2012POSTED IN Applications News
The UK government is failing to provide sufficient support for electricity storage technologies, which are becoming increasingly important to secure electricity supplies, the Institution of Mechanical Engineers said in a new policy statement launched today.
Dunsfold Park, Home of Top Gear, Goes Solar
29 May 2012POSTED IN Applications News
Dunsfold Park in Surrey, UK is the latest solar project to be completed by Lightsource Renewable Energy Limited working with its partner Octopus Investments. A business park, which is also home to the racetrack made famous by the popular TV show Top Gear, Dunsfold will switch to using solar-generated electricity during working hours. Excess green energy generated at other times will be fed back into the UK's National Grid.
Update to UK Feed-in Tariffs
25 May 2012POSTED IN Politics and Policy News
The UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) introduced regulations to put the Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) scheme on a more predictable, certain and sustainable footing for householders, businesses and the solar industry.
Seaward Solar Releases Solarlink PV150 Test Kit
24 May 2012POSTED IN New Products
The latest solar photovoltaic (PV) test kit from UK-based Seaward Solar, the Solarlink PV150, enables contractors to meet international electrical and system safety requirements. It includes all the test equipment and datalogging capabilities needed to perform pre-installation site surveys and measure the electrical safety and performance of PV systems in line with BS EN 62446:2009 Grid-connected photovoltaic systems; minimum requirements for system documentation, commissioning tests and inspection.
UK FiT Changes: How they affect the industry
23 May 2012POSTED IN Guest Blogs
Recently, there has been quite a lot of disruption to the UK solar industry with the government debating changes to the feed-in tariff. The whole mess has now been resolved with those who had their solar panels installed before the 3rd of March receiving the higher FiT of 43p for every kW/h and those after receiving this higher rate until the 1st of April, when it will be lowered to the new rate of 21p for every kW/h.
Case Study: Solar power cooperative
23 May 2012POSTED IN Case Studies and Solar Solutions
UK community group Repowering South London has successfully completed the initial stage of the capital's first cooperatively owned solar power project on social housing.
As part of the scheme, known as Brixton Energy Solar 1, the group installed several hundred square metres of solar panels on the roof of Elmore House in the inner-city Loughborough Estate in Brixton. The 37.24 kWp system, which was installed by Southern Solar in March, is made up of a total of 152 x 245w ET P660 solar panels, fitted alongside two Wagner & Co inverters and a TRIC racking system, also from Wagner & Co.
UK Solar Industry Associations Maintain Solar PV Is Still Viable
15 May 2012POSTED IN Business News
All four major trade associations representing UK solar PV—the British Photovoltaic Association (BPVA), the Micropower Council (MPC), the Renewable Energy Association (REA) and the Solar Trade Association (STA)—have joined together to clarify the current status of solar power and the Feed-in Tariff (FiT). The industry is concerned that the public may be confused about solar power and the FiT.
Simple Thermodynamic Calculations Help Researchers Find Better Solar Cell Materials
13 May 2012POSTED IN Research
A group of European researchers have developed a thermodynamic method to better understand and even predict the reactivity and stability of substances in the manufacturing of thin-film photovoltaics, which involves high temperatures.
REC Honored by EuPD Research, IMS Research
10 May 2012POSTED IN Business News
Renewable Energy Corporation (REC) was awarded the Top Brand PV seal by EuPD Research and has been named the #1 European supplier of solar modules by IMS Research.
tenKsolar Announces Strategic Partnership with Hanwha
25 April 2012POSTED IN Business News
tenKsolar, a photovoltaics (PV) solutions provider in Minnesota (US), announced today the completion of its $15.5 million (USD) financing round led by Hanwha of South Korea together with ESB Novusmodus of the UK, creating a global footprint for tenKsolar as a next-generation solar company.
Scottish PV Installer Launches US Operations
13 April 2012POSTED IN Business News
Renewable Resources (Energy Solutions) today announced it has established presence in North America to provide roof-mounted solar technology for residential and commercial customers across New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and Connecticut. The company, based in Scotland, timed its launch to coincide with Tartan Week 2012, a series of events in New York City celebrating Scottish culture and innovation in the United States.
Report Says Government Incentives Drive PV Semiconductor Market
12 April 2012POSTED IN Business News
Government incentives that encourage investment in renewable energies will continue to drive technological advances in the global semiconductor market, according to a new report by GBI Research.
UK FiT Changes: How they affect you
11 April 2012POSTED IN Guest Blogs
This week, 30,000 homes won a significant victory when the UK government’s plan to suddenly reduce the feed-in tariff (FiT) for solar panels from 43p per kW/h to 21p per kW/h was officially quashed.
The government was denied the right to appeal by the Supreme Court, the UK’s highest court, who backed an earlier decision that found the government’s proposals to be “legally flawed” when it introduced the deadline 11 days before the end of a consultation period. The government has conceded that this officially draws a line under the issue.
DECC Reminder of Changes to FiT
02 April 2012POSTED IN Politics and Policy News
Case Study: Tank museum making tracks for solar power
02 April 2012POSTED IN Case Studies and Solar Solutions
Work has recently been completed on a solar installation at The Tank Museum in Dorset, making it the UK's first independently-financed renewable energy project on a Ministry of Defence (MOD) building.
Cambridge Develops More Efficient Solar Cell
30 March 2012POSTED IN Applications News
New research by Cambridge University scientists has led to the development of a more efficient solar cell, the university today announced.
Currently, solar cells capture part of the sun’s light. Much of the energy of the absorbed light is lost as heat, meaning a maximum of 34% of the sunlight is converted to electrical power. However, Cambridge scientists have made a breakthrough that could allow 44% of solar energy to be converted.
More work needs to be done to realize the full benefits of the scientists’ findings.
Thanks to New FiT, Chinese PV Inverter Market Up 400% in 2011
27 March 2012POSTED IN Business News
The Chinese PV inverter market, driven by the introduction of a national Feed-in Tariff (FiT), grew by more than 400% in 2011 to reach more than 2.5 gigawatts (GW) in shipments according to a new report from IMS Research, recently acquired by IHS Inc.
