Opinion
Current affairs
By guest columnist Bill Wright, head of energy solutions, Electrical Contractors’ Association
Battery Storage 8
Opinion
The generation game
Steve Pester, BRE, looks at how energy storage is rapidly growing in importance and how we can harness this fledgling technology
Opinion
Q&A – David Bassie, Mastervolt
Q: What have you got planned for the rest of 2013?
We will complete the field test of our brand new residential storage system and have it certified so that we can put it on sale. The system is based on our tried-and-tested marine combi range, of which more than 10,000 units are already in operation. It contains our own Li-ion battery with an integrated battery management system and is able to be retrofitted to existing solar plants without the need for the inverter to be replaced. We are also completing our SunMaster ES series with a 2.2 kW and 3 kW models.
Product
Antaris launches eKiss4
Antaris Solar has released a new versions of its standalone, off-grid PV system.
Product
Winaico introduces new storage system
PV manufacturer Winaico has added a new storage system to its product portfolio.
News
Trina Solar donates PV to Liberian aid project
Head of Europe at Trina Solar, Ben Hill
Trina Solar is providing solar panels to support a joint aid project in Liberia carried out by the charities Project for Liberia and Engineers Without Borders.
News
Ambulance service opts for solar power
Ambulances from southern England have become the first in the UK to be fitted with solar panels.
News
Ecolution adds GoodWe inverters to its range
Kent-based Ecolution Energy Services has announced that it is to add a range of inverters from GoodWe (Jiangsu) Power Supply Technology Co Ltd to its stock holding.
Product
Next generation
Solar-power generator manufacturer Firefly Solar has announced the launch of its Cygnus Hybrid Power Generator (HPG).
Product
Winning promotion
FLIR Systems says it is adding more value to its i-Series and Ebx-Series entry level troubleshooting cameras with extra additions.
Product
Perfect rain
Xylem Lowara has launched a new solar powered submersible pump specifically designed for domestic applications.
News
University of Glamorgan partners with GB-Sol
GB-Sol’s managing director Bruce Cross
The University of Glamorgan will be partnering with PV manufacturers GB-Sol as part of their latest research project to develop what it calls ‘the next generation of battery pack’.
Product
The TRITEC TRI-CELL
It is now possible to use generated solar energy even when the sun isn’t shining, says TRITEC following with the launch of TRI-CELL, a storage system for solar power.
Product
Maximising efficiency
TRITEC has launched its latest battery storage system for solar power – the TRI-CELL.
Product
Turn up the sun
SolarWorld has announced the launch of the SunCharger . Three devices in one, it constitutes a power supply, replacement battery and solar charger.
Product
Packing a punch
British firm Crosskase has combined backpack and solar technology to develop the Solar 15 backpack – a versatile accessory which the company says is ideal for those who can’t live without their essential gadgets and need them to stay charged and protected away from the home or office.
Key Features of the Crosskase Solar 15 backpack:
* Integrated 3 Watt solar panel on the front of the bag soaks up natural light and stores the energy generated inside the internal battery.
* High capacity battery can charge most handheld devices on-the-go (phones, music players, GPS, pocket consoles)
* Speedy 2 hour charge time for many devices i.e. iPhone 4, iPod nano 6G, Samsung Galaxy, HTC, Nokia N95, Blackberry Curve.
* Stores enough power to charge most devices twice over and can be used again and again, as the battery will recharge from:
* Solar power (8 hours)
* Mains power (3 hours)
* USB power connection (4 hours)
News
Evance and Zephyr collaborate on wind
Loughborough-based small wind turbine manufacturer Evance and Japanese wind manufacturers Zephyr have joined forces to provide complimentary products across Europe and Asia.
News
Azur Solar scoops X award
Azur Solar has been awarded the Plus X Award for “Best Product of the Year 2012” and “Most Innovative Brand of the Year 2012” for its product the Azur Independa.
News
Phono Solar partners with PODPASSIV
PV manufacturers Phono Solar has signed an agreement to exclusively manufacture, sell and distribute POD PV solar lamps around the world.
News
Head appointed to new CCS task force
The task force is currently being set up to explore ways in which CCS can become cost competitive with other low carbon technologies within the next 10 years. It will advise the government on measures needed to lower the costs of developing commercial CCS programmes and outline a vision for the next phase by early 2013.
Feature
Accomodating change
CCTV, security and panic alarms, cat 6 cabling, heat pumps, underfloor heating and local cooling units were all fitted along with Grant solar thermal and PV systems as part of a council supported £3.5m investment scheme designed to reduce the building’s carbon footprint and energy consumption.
Feature
Reasons to be cheerful
Bright future: Ian Draisey of Dulas looks beyond recent uncertainty in FiT
The recent Feed-in Tariff announcement has left many in the industry feeling disheartened and uncertain as to the future of the PV sector over the coming months. Whilst recognising the upset the cuts have created, Ian Draisey, of Dulas MHH, is finding positivity in the situation.
Feature
Made In China
Sixty per cent of the world is now generating electricity using solar products manufactured in China. In latter years, made in China, left UK consumers distinctly unimpressed, but today companies such as the ET Solar Group, are producing a quality product at a lower cost. Now widely used in countries like Germany, where top quality manufacturing is the norm, Renewable Energy Installer (REI) witnessed the company’s operation first hand. Jane Hughes reports
Established in October 2006, the ET Solar Group is a one-stop solar power solution provider which employs 3,000 people across its 10 wholly-owned subsidiaries and three manufacturing plants. With local sales and marketing subsidiaries and offices in Asia, Europe, and North America, ET Solar provides solar modules, solar tracking systems and turnkey solution services to its customers in over 50 countries.
“We’re a young, vibrant company with a passion for renewable energy technology,” explained global marketing director, Santran Duan. “But passion is not enough, to that we have added excellence.”
Feature
Trust me, I’m an installer
Renewable energy installation is a multi-faceted operation and the role of installer has ramped up. Not only is there training to undertake, legislation to adhere to and technology to keep abreast of, but there is the added responsibility of acting as advisor to the customer.
Amid the day-to-day running of a renewables business, it can be easy to overlook the needs of the consumer and assume they come to you fully armed with a battery of energy expertise. However, they may not know which technology best suits their needs, FiTs may be getting them in a flap and they may feel confused cutting through the cowboys to find a company they can trust. This is where the you come in – it’s important to know the answers to your customer’s questions, allaying any queries they may have about investing in renewable technology.