News
PV returns hold up despite dip in sales
Returns are better than they were when the feed-in tariff started – but people need to act now to benefit before it is reduced further on 1 July 2012, says YouGen founder Cathy Debenham.
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News
Renewable heat market report – discount for REI readers
In light of recent delays to the government’s flagship support policy, the Renewable Heat Incentive, Sustainable Venture Intelligence’s Renewable Heat report segments and appraises consumer needs, technology groups, updated tariff rates and current market dynamics to identify the leading opportunities for renewable heat development throughout the UK.
Product
Hot property
Nu-Heat has launched its largest hot water cylinder to date to be used with heat pumps – the EnergyMaster HP540.
News
NICEIC Live only weeks away
NICEIC Live is now only weeks away with the exhibition getting underway at Epsom Downs Racecourse on Thursday 17 May.
News
Segen and Yingli form product partnership
Renewable technology distributors Segen has agreed a partnership with Chinese manufacturers Yingli Green Energy to supply its products in the UK under the brand ‘Yingli Solar’.
News
Solar Electricity Systems and Vokera sign strategic deal
Scottish installers Solar Electricity Systems has teamed up with home heating firm Vokera to enhance its solar thermal provision.
News
Solar insurance scheme launched
GGFi, the insurance division of the Glass & Glazing Federation, has launched its Solar Insure Insurance Backed Guarantee scheme for MCS accredited installers of solar PV and solar thermal systems. The scheme gives installers the opportunity to provide their domestic customers with Insurance Backed Guarantee (IBG) protection, protecting parts and workmanship for up to 10 years should the installer cease to trade.
News
House of Solar introduces online quote calculator
House of Solar has launched a new online PV quote calculator which it says fully integrates with Google Maps.
News
Trina unveils partner programme
Trina Solar has launched its partner programme for installers in the UK.
News
Council cuts carbon footprint
Kier has completed a £520k contract with Mid Devon Council to install around 300Kw of PV panels at four properties.
News
LDK shares tumble as prices fall
Chinese solar supplier LDK Solar has forecast lower than expected revenue for the current quarter after being forced cut its prices.
Product
No holes barred
Power Nation has officially launched a system its says is ‘leak free’.
Product
Improved perfection
Kingspan Renewables says it has followed up on the success of its Varisol modular solar thermal collector by launching Varisol HP.
News
A Shade Greener hits back at ‘rent-a-roof’ criticisms
Free-solar installers A Shade Greener has defended the ‘rent-a-roof’ scheme following concerns it breaches mortgage arrangements.
News
No surprise at Green Deal delay, says industry
Industry leaders have greeted news that the non-domestic Green Deal will launch sometime next year with cautious acceptance.
News
Q-Cells files for insolvency
German PV manufacturer Q-Cells has filed for insolvency following disappointing sales and operating results.
News
Burnley College gets energy efficient with solar wall
A partnership with two green energy companies will lead to a significant study bursary for one student at Burnley College Sixth Form Centre.
News
Solar energy community co-operative scheme launched
A solar energy scheme in Bristol is hoping to switch on investors by launching a community share issue.
News
Kier picks up five contracts
Kier has won five new contracts valued at almost £4m to design and install solar panels for local authorities and housing associations across the UK.
News
Power Nation focuses on solar thermal
Solar thermal wholesaler, Power Nation (Solar Shop Europe) is creating a new focus for its products in 2012. With the turbulence of the PV market, Power Nation is dedicating its efforts exclusively to solar thermal and actively finding collectors that keep the installer needs at heart. The newest edition to its thermal range is the flexible SunnPro-PLUS Vacuum Tube Series in 10, 15, 20 and 30 tube options.
News
Derbyshire Dales MP backs green energy company
Derbyshire Dales MP and government chief whip Patrick McLoughlin, was special guest at a reception held at green solutions company The Renewable Shop, based in Matlock.
News
Jeremy Leggett comments on drop in PV installations
Jeremy Leggett, Solarcentury has commented on the latest PV installation figures from the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) which show a sharp drop in the total amount of PV installed since the latest cuts to the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) on 1 April.
News
Ploughcroft celebrates CITB accreditation with a 20 per cent off event
Ploughcroft is celebrating its achievement of CSkills accreditation from the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) for its solar PV course for roofers with an installer open day on Friday 18 May.
Product
Megger’s mega irradiance meter
Megger says its new PVM210 solar irradiance meter is unique by having the solar detector on top of the instrument.
According to Megger, this arrangement, combined with the useful measurement hold function, makes the PVM210 easy and convenient to use – even with just one hand – when working on a sloping roof or at the top of a ladder.
It adds that the pocket-sized PVM210 offers fast accurate readings of solar power and shows the result on a large easy-to-read 3¾-digit liquid crystal display. This makes the instrument ideally suited as an aid to selecting the optimum position for PV panels during installation. In addition, it can also be used in conjunction with an ammeter to verify that the short-circuit current of a PV installation matches the specification provided by the manufacturer of the PV panels.
The PVM210 is designed to measure incident solar irradiance up to 1999 W/m2 (634 BTU/ft2.hour) with a typical accuracy of ± 10 W/m2 (± 3 BTU/ft2.hour).
With a sampling time of just 0.25 seconds, power for the instrument is provided by two AAA/LR03 batteries, with a fresh set of batteries offering around 50 hours of operation.