Solar 44
From L-R: Shaun Beattie (M3 Solar), William Pierce (FG Pierce & Sons), Raffaele Fait (Eltek UK) and Andy O’Leary (Sibert Solar)
In August this year, M3 Solar installed and commissioned a 100kW roof-mounted PV system for FG Pierce & Sons near Sevenoaks, Kent.
Burnley-based PV installers Solarlec has enjoyed its second strongest ever sales month.
Greg Barker vitits Romag in the North East
Climate change minister Greg Barker has visited the North East to see Romag’s PV manufacturing facility.
Working in collaboration with Barnsley College, The Building Research Establishment (BRE) will be offering a series of interactive seminars and workshops aimed at businesses working across the built environment and sustainability sectors looking to develop skills and knowledge.
The series will take advantage of the innovative Think Low Carbon Centre based at Barnsley College’s Honeywell site.
After completing a positive audit of the technical and financial aspects and environmental and labour conditions of the KIOTO Photovoltaics factory, Solar Insurance declares that KIOTO Photovoltaic modules fulfill all expectations and acquires certification.
This means that from now on clients of KIOTO Photovoltaics can insure their projects with the option ‘Inherent defect and warranty’ from Solar Insurance, which backs up the warranty of the modules.
The option ‘Inherent defect and warranty’ is an option with the operational Solar PV Insurance, which covers damage caused by weather conditions, fire and theft and compensates production loss.
2012 has been an action-packed year, especially for PV. We had the ups and downs of Feed-in Tariffs (FiTs), which started in late 2011. Although confidence took several knocks, things now appear to be stabilising and many in the industry think that as well as the inevitable slow-down and squeezed margins, the overall effect also has some positive aspects. For example, some of the companies who entered the market for quick profits, but with little technical knowledge or experience of the sector, have now departed as rapidly as they arrived, leaving space for those who are in it for the long haul to refocus on building an industry committed to quality and customer service.
Mariana Hall, vice-president of Phono Solar Europe, asks what the future looks like for PV and renewable energy
Matthieu Giraudon is European renewables product manager at Fernox
REI: What have you got planned for 2013?
MG: To change a cultural aspect in theUKwith regard to the perception of renewable energy technologies. There is a tendency for them to be seen as unreliable in terms of performance outputs, and not as appropriate to a colder, less sunny country like theUK. We know that this perception is actually inaccurate and that correctly sized and properly installed, solar thermal systems or heat pumps work efficiently and are trouble free. The challenge is to get this message across to householders and installers.
The first is a regular series, Liz MacFarlane, Zenex and Q-Gen offers her perspective on the industry
Renewable Energy Installer has joined a growing list of supporters in a bid to outlaw aggressive sales techniques from doorstop renewable product salesmen.
Two of the renewable industry’s leading trade bodies have unanimously condemned the government’s gas strategy published earlier this week.
Eco2Solar has been named National SME Construction Company of the year at The National Constructing Excellence Awards 2012.
A new training centre has proved such a big hit with Scottish heating installers that its first Green Deal Advisor course sold out within days of opening.
Climate change minister Greg Barker
Households in 38 communities have been awarded a share of £3million to get renewable heating kit into homes across Great Britain.
The consultation period on the domestic sector Renewable Heat Incentive, and expanding the number of eligible technologies for non-domestic customers, is set to come to an end on 7 December.
SolarMax has opened new state-of-the-art, energy efficient headquarters in Biel, Switzerland.
Parent manufacturing company, Sputnik Engineering, has united three existing Swiss locations under one roof in response to increased growth. The new headquarters now has development, production, warehouse, logistics, and office space all under one roof as well as sufficient space to accommodate 500 employees.
The first REI conference, sponsored by Enphase and MCS, has confirmed its title as the place where policy makers, government figures and industry experts gather to inform and share best practice with the installer community. Taking place at the British Museum, London, the event attracted a first class line up of both speakers and attendees which included Luciana Berger, shadow climate change minister and a specially recorded video message from Greg Barker, climate change minister.
A new RIBA certified CPD (continued professional development) entitled Integrated Photovoltaics is now available from UK PV manufacturer Romag.
PV manufacturer China Sunergy has announced the completion of transactions to procure its first two solar park projects in the UK.
Householders who want to install solar panels on their roof, but don’t have the cash up front to pay for them, can now access green energy finance that enables them to not only purchase a system, but also keep all of the energy saving and Feed-in Tariff (FiT) benefits, says providers SunGift Solar.
Firebird has produced a new guide to provide full details of their extended product range. The brochure is Firebird’s first single volume, fully comprehensive guide to its extensive range of oil boilers and now also covers biomass wood burners and Enviropel wood pellet burners. It includes technical drawings, full product details and specifications.
Part of the Wymeswold site which will incorporate a 32MW solar farm
Large scale solar developer Lark Energy has secured planning permission for what it says is the UK’s largest solar farm at the site of a former World War II airfield in Leicestershire.
When the Colchester United’s chairman Robbie Cowling decided to build a new permanent training centre for the first and youth teams, he wanted his £3.5m investment to not only benefit The U’s players but the environment too.
Energy minister Ed Davey has officially unveiled the Energy Bill today in parliament.