News

The latest solar installation figures released by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) show that the UK solar industry is continuing to suffer from a serious slump in installation rates following the introduction of fresh FiT cuts in August.

Triodos Bank has earned its place as one of the greenest lenders in the UK after providing record amounts of loans in 2011 for renewable energy projects. As part of its drive towards low carbon business, the bank has also recently commissioned a rooftop solar system at its UK headquarters.

October this year heralds the start of a possible game-changing Government initiative called the Green Deal. The Green Deal will open up the residential improvements market as never before by removing the need for householders to fund the cost of energy efficiency up front through the use of an innovative type of loan secured against the energy meter of a property, rather than the householders themselves, and is based on a principle known as the ‘Golden Rule’ that ensures the cost of financing the installed measures is less than the energy saved by their installation.

Renewable Advice, a green tech company that specialises in manufacturing wind turbine blades and composites has turned to another technology to help it reduce its carbon footprint – thin film solar photovoltaic panels.

Two thirds of UK households benefitting from solar energy say their bills have been significantly reduced since investing in the technology, with most making an average annual saving of ~£1,000. In fact almost 80 percent of generators installed solar panels with reducing energy bills as the primary reason for doing so.

Forest Heath District Council is currently considering a planning application submitted by Switch2Renewables to turn 15 hectares of agricultural land into a 7.5MW solar power plant.

Cambridge University spin-off Eight19 has today revealed the launch of Azuri Technologies Limited, which will be used to develop the company’s Indigo ‘pay-as-you-go’ solar technology for off-grid markets.

Hoping to strengthen its installer training capacity, Waxman Training Academy has appointed Roy Oxley as Head of the West Yorkshire-based centre. Oxley joins Waxman with more than 30 years’ experience in both training and installation.

Southam-based building envelope contractor, Alumet, has retro-fitted an all new environmentally friendly façade to the face of their Warwickshire headquarters which was recently unveiled by legendary actor Brian Blessed as part of the company’s 20th anniversary celebrations. The external facelift lifts Jubilee House out of the 1970s and drops it firmly in the present by incorporating triple glazed windows and ProSol TF Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) into the fabric of the building.

Prospect Law, working on behalf of Crystal Windows and Doors, has accused the Renewable Energy Assurance Scheme (REAL) of “working closely” with TV production company Ricochet Productions to “expose” its members through the popular television show Cowboy Traders.