Blogs

Europe’s trade standoff with China has generated countless contradictory rumours. Nilima Choudhury and Peter Bennett look beyond the headlines to ascertain what the EC’s final decision next week will mean for solar

Since the launch of the new Solar PV Guide, questions about the shade assessment procedure are easily the most common. The good news is that MCS will shortly be publishing some guidance on their website to help installers better understand what is required and how to perform the evaluation.

The most common question I am asked by people in the solar heating industry is “when do you think the domestic RHI will launch?” or perhaps more often “do you think a domestic RHI will ever launch?”

You may have heard recently that complaints are rising in the solar industry, and that solar is no longer a financially attractive proposition. This was the subject of a recent article in The Sunday Times.

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

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.

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?

Competing with Cornwall on large-scale solar might be a challenge. Competing with Scotland’s first minister, Alex Salmond on wind energy may also be difficult. But finally, Scotland has entered the large-scale solar PV age.

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.”

There remains an uneasy relationship between ‘paid-for’ and ‘rent-a-roof’ solar developers.