Editor's Blog
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(Solar-powered) Friday Night Lights
A growing number of sporting stadia in the US are now sourcing their power from solar installations. Peter Bennett looks at some of the most high profile examples
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Hanergy’s UK thin-film aspirations: realistic, optimistic or inevitable?
The UK has been one of the least attractive PV markets for thin-film solar panels. The market share of thin film in the UK solar industry barely nudges over 1% compared to a global figure that is an order of magnitude higher.
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Feed-in tariff down, module prices up
The most popular feed-in tariff bands (0-4kW, 4-10kW & 10-50kW) will be cut by 3.5% across the board come 1 July. What impact will this have on the industry?
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Solar industry must fight back after Julian Brazil’s deplorable concentration camp analogy
During a Devon Council meeting about a proposed solar farm, Liberal Democrat councillor, Julian Brazil, reportedly said the following: “They [solar farms] look horrible, not dissimilar to concentration camps. But we are told by the planning minister to press ahead with these.”
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Is free solar distorting the market?
There remains an uneasy relationship between ‘paid-for’ and ‘rent-a-roof’ solar developers.
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Treasury, DECC & EU vs. Solar industry
Working in the renewables industry, particularly solar, feels like a constant battle against an ever-shifting enemy.
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‘Restarting the Market’ roadshows show smooth road ahead for solar in the UK
After setting off five weeks ago, the Solar Power UK series of roadshows drew to a close this week up in Scotland, the final of the seven roadshow locations.
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DECC’s surprise FiT shortening threatens repairing relationship
Ofgem published the feed-in tariff rates starting from 1 May. Nothing surprising there except that, on closer inspection, the stated period was marked down as 1 May-1 July not 1 May-1 August.After a bit of digging by Solar Power Portal, DECC confirmed that the Ofgem figures where indeed correct: the next FiT period will be a month shorter than previously expected.
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Solar in the UK is more compelling than ever
The domestic solar market is continuing to flatline and consumer confusion is rife. Now is the time for clear messages: solar in the UK is more compelling than ever
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False dawn: EU intervention threatens UK solar’s stability
Many in the industry have denounced this period of stability as a false dawn, pointing to the potential of module price rises in 2013 to derail the government’s solar plans. However, the UK solar market’s stability faces a much greater risk than global module price rises: the European Commission.
