Solar Media Staff

Meeting today with the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s Head of the Feed-in Tariff Review, Rachel Solomon Williams, I was able to dig out a few exclusives. Speaking out in defence against the review, Rachel faced a lot of difficult questions in response to the industry’s anger at the recent policy u-turn.

While the FiT review is targeted at large scale installations, the reclassification of solar projects over 50kW as ‘large scale’ threatens community schemes too. The question for Government, therefore, is at what scale can community energy projects succeed?

AEE Renewables has put the breaks on plans for two solar power plants in the south of England. The company, which was to build a solar power plant at Fullards Farm, Trull and an 8.2 hectare project at Whistley Farm near Gillingham, has reassessed its proposals after the Government announced a u-turn on large-scale solar…

Infinite Energy has launched the UK’s first modular solar car park canopy. ElectroPort can be installed on any car park, generating solar energy that can be used both onsite as well as forming a charging point for electric cars. The system is designed and built in the UK.

During the month of April, Wagner Solar UK will donate 3% from all new sales of Sanyo modules during the entire month of April to the relief and development organisation World Vision for Japan-related causes.

Engensa has recently completed the UK’s first system of Sanyo’s newest high efficiency solar panels – HIT N235SE10. The community-based solar installation company installed the system days after the modules received MCS accreditation for their clients, the Rodwells.

Siliken, the Spanish PV module manufacturer, has obtained Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) accreditation for its solar product range. The certificate, which has been granted by the British Board of Agreément (BBA), means that Siliken’s modules are now eligible under the UK’s feed-in tariff scheme.

Sussex-based solar service company Sunhive has partnered with Cleaner Air Solutions and the Renewable Energy Academy to launch an online solar training platform. At present, the website provides free access to all of the available courses. In future, some of the courses will involve a charge, which the companies say they are able to keep low as the courses are exclusively online.

In the wake of last week’s fast track review announcement, Cornwall Council has expressed its serious concern over the impact of changes to the feed-in tariff on the economy of Cornwall. The council will now be calling on the Government to reconsider its proposal to introduce a 50kW limit for projects, utilizing the six…

Engensa has now completed the first residential installation in the UK to utilise Sanyo’s high-efficiency HIT solar modules. The owners of the system, the Rodwell’s of South London, were keen to play their part in reducing carbon emissions while also getting the most for their money.