Solar Media Staff

AZUR SOLAR has installed the largest, self-funded roof-mounted solar photovoltaic system in the UK for Ethical retailer The Body Shop – just days before the effects of the fast-track feed-in tariff review set in. At 883kW the 6,355 square meter installation consists of 3,840 AZUR SOLAR 2P panels and is situated at the Company's head office site in Watersmead, Sussex.

Cornish sustainable energy charity Community Energy Plus has launched a new scheme that will see community buildings, schools, churches, charities and farm buildings generate their own renewable energy – for free. After securing an investment package of £20 million from local photovoltaics installers, the Solar Communities 2011 programme will encourage those who cannot afford the upfront cost of solar to take the plunge.

Octopus Investments has successfully funded the installation of 11 large-scale solar projects throughout the UK ahead of the August 1 fast-track feed-in tariff deadline. The investment company has now completed 30MW of projects in partnership with Lightsource Renewable Energy, which was responsible for developing each of the sites. Many other companies are now working against the clock to complete their projects before the fast-approaching deadline.

Bedford-based arable farmer Charles Paytner is now benefitting from a 26.125kWp solar system on Yelden Farm’s barn roof, installed by Solar Partner.

MPrime, Martifer Solar’s photovoltaic distribution branch, has received accreditation under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme for its crystalline photovoltaic (PV) module. Awarded by the British Standards Institution (BSI) the Kitemark license means the company’s product is now eligible under the UK’s feed-in tariff scheme.

Adding to the ever-increasing number of large-scale solar parks in the UK, Gehrlicher Solar has completed the Langage Solar Park 5MW, located near Plymouth. Built on an area of 14 hectares the project is expected to produce 4.95 million kilowatt hours of renewable energy each year, providing solar power to approximately 1,400 households.

SIEL Energy Systems has now completed one of the UK’s largest solar rooftop installations at the new NYSE data center in Basildon. The 600kWp project, which was completed within budget, was formally switched on by the Member of Parliament for Basildon and Billericay, Mr. John Baron and NYSE Euronext’s Group Executive Vice President and Head of Global Derivatives, Garry Jones.

Bringing the most recent total to seven, Birmingham-based electrical services contractor JT Hawkes has announced the completion of the 5MW large-scale solar project at Westmill Solar Farm in Swindon. The 30-acre plant, which was completed in just six weeks, will supply renewable energy to 1,500 homes in Oxfordshire over the next 25 years.

After solar installation firm Eco Environments’ claimed that a number of UK councils were going against Government’s guidance by wrongly telling people they require planning permission or Building Regulations approval, one of the listed offenders has admitted that it was wrong.

The policy loophole exposed by the Solar Power Portal last week will in fact remain open for two months after the effects of the fast-track feed-in tariff review go through. In a shocking turn of events, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has today revealed…