News

Oscar-winning actor Colin Firth has been refused planning permission to fit his Grade II listed mansion with a solar thermal module. Hounslow Council initially rejected the appeal, stating that the “inappropriate size and positing [of the solar module] would not preserve the architectural and historic significance of the listed building.”

German solar manufacturer, Azur Solar’s independent electricity system, Azur Independa, has been awarded the prestigious Plus X Award for “Best Product of the Year 2012” and “Most Innovative Brand of Year 2012.”

Sixteen fire stations across Lincolnshire are benefiting from the installation of solar arrays, as part of the services wider push towards reducing its energy consumption by 20 percent before 2013.

Houses in Bloor Homes’ Littecombe housing development are now generating their own clean electricity thanks to the installation of Redland solar PV tiles. The housing development turned to Redland to help the development meet the required level of the Code for Sustainable Homes.

Wrexham Council’s ambitious solar scheme saw 3,000 homes across the county receive solar arrays, in what was one of the largest solar social housing outfits in Europe.

Canadian Solar, one of the world’s largest solar companies, has set a new solar cell efficiency record of 21.1 percent with its ELPS solar cell

South Korean electronics giant Samsung has announced that it has partnered with Cumbrian-based Sundog Energy to spearhead the company’s push into the UK solar market. The distribution arm of Sundog Energy, Sundog Wholesale will be the first to stock Samsung’s black-framed 250W panels in the UK.

The National Trust has been awarded this year’s Gold Award at the annual Ashden Awards. Now in its twelfth year, the Ashden Awards are designed to champion practical, local energy solutions that cut carbon, protect the environment, boost economies and improve people’s lives in the UK and developing world.

Kingspan Insulated Panels has become the first manufacturer of insulated metal cladding systems to be certified by the Carbon Trust Standard.

South Downs Solar has completed a discreet 43.94kWp solar installation at the University of Brighton in Sussex.