Cranfield University nearing completion of 1MW subsidy-free solar farm
A 1MW subsidy-free solar farm being built by Cranfield University is nearing completion after construction, led by RenEnergy, began last month.
Articles tagged with: Subsidies
Exclusive: Government shelved its own solar deployment plans after subsidy cuts
The government quietly abandoned plans to install 1GW of solar on its estate following cuts to subsidies it enacted in 2015, Solar Power Portal can reveal.
Solar school economics returning as latest RepowerBalcolme install completed
RepowerBalcolme has completed its latest community funded install at a primary school in West Sussex in a sign that the economics of such projects are now “coming back” following feed-in tariff cuts.
Shadow chancellor rebukes government for ‘destruction’ of UK solar industry
Shadow chancellor John McDonnell has strongly rebuked the government for its treatment of the domestic solar industry.
Solarcentury buoyed by international growth as UK revenues tumble
Solarcentury’s UK revenues more than halved in 2017 amidst a backdrop of subsidy uncertainty, a loss which was somewhat mitigated by the firm’s international growth.
Brexit offers ‘binary choice’ on low carbon growth says think tank
Regulatory divergence from the standards of the European Union will threaten the growth of the UK’s low carbon sector post-Brexit, a leading green think tank has warned.
Public should be told the cost of locking out solar says CCC chair
The public should be made aware of the cost associated with locking out the cheapest forms of electricity generation from government support according to the chairman of the UK's independent Committee on Climate Change (CCC).
Feature
Editor's blog
A Better FiT - Two years on from UK Solar’s ground zero
Two years ago the government’s new feed-in tariff regime came into force, starting an immensely difficult period for the solar industry. Deployment has fallen by nearly 80%, and thousands of jobs have been lost. This is the inside track of how it happened.
Power Capital ‘bullish’ about Irish solar after £124 million investment
Power Capital is investigating both subsidy-backed developments and corporate off taker arrangements after securing €140 million (~£124 million) to develop a portfolio of around 145MW in Ireland.
Ireland to pilot microgeneration support for solar homes
Ireland is to pilot a domestic microgeneration scheme for solar PV this summer according to climate minister Denis Naughten, opening the potential for funding outside of the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS).
Just 300MW of solar to be built from current Irish pipeline, says Amarenco CEO
Just 300MW of the near 6GW pipeline of large scale solar projects in Ireland are likely to get built, according to John Mullins, chief executive officer of Amarenco.
Solar to benefit from diminishing policy reliance over 2018 suggests industry round table
2018 will be the year in which solar will have to prove it can operate outside of a subsidy framework, but could benefit from the diminishing reliance on government policy and the growing use of additional technologies like battery storage.
Bold new future in the works as new directors take reins of MCS
Three new directors have taken the reins of the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) and have immediately set to work on establishing a “new vision” for the scheme’s future.
Solar stories of the year 2017: July – September
With 2017 drawing to a close, Solar Power Portal recaps some of the most popular and important stories of the year. In the third of a series of articles in the lead up to Christmas, today we look at July, August and September.
Solar stories of the year 2017: April – June
With 2017 drawing to a close, Solar Power Portal recaps some of the most popular and important stories of the year. In the second of a series of articles in the lead up to Christmas, today we look at April, May and June.
Ofgem reveals how to retain accreditation when adding storage to RO and FiT sites
Ofgem has published guidance outlining how developers and asset owners can add storage to their subsidised solar installations without losing accreditation to the Renewables Obligation (RO) and Feed-in Tariff (FiT).
Wirsol to develop two PPA-backed, subsidy-free solar parks in Q1 2018
Solar EPC Wirsol Energy has acquired development rights for two UK-based, subsidy-free solar farms that it intends to develop in Q1 2018.
BEIS admits subsidy-free solar evidence base consists of just one solar farm
Energy minister Richard Harrington has admitted that the government’s evidence base for arguing solar can be deployed without subsidy consists of just one solar farm.
Public still unaware of falling prices for solar as cost concerns continue
Members of the public continue to downplay the benefits of installing a solar system on their homes due to the perceived costs of doing so, despite the rapid fall in prices experienced in recent years.
STA leadership changes continue with new Scotland team
Changes at the top of the Solar Trade Association have continued with the appointment of two new chairs at its Scotland office.
STA names Chris Hewett as new CEO
The Solar Trade Association has announced that Chris Hewett will take the reins as the trade body’s new chief executive.
Budget 2017: What UK solar needs to know
Yesterday afternoon chancellor Philip Hammond took to the despatch box to deliver the Autumn Budget. Amidst headline promises of stamp duty relief and fresh funding for driverless, electric vehicles, there were no major pledges relating to the energy market.
Government warned of ‘catastrophic shutdown’ as it ends new low carbon levies until 2025
The government has confirmed that there will be no new low carbon power levies until 2025, dealing a blow to new renewable energy generation in the UK.
Ofgem reassures solar developers over subsidy accreditation when adding storage
Ofgem has sought to reassure solar farm owners that it will not withdraw accreditation to subsidy schemes without having a good reason to do so as it continues to work on guidance for co-locating energy storage assets with solar.
Feature
Editor's blog
The parallels between solar growth and Brexit’s ‘Remoaner’ complex
Liam Stoker draws parallels between the UK's comparatively meagre solar growth forecasts, Brexit, and "talking Britain down".
Hive Energy, Wirsol announce plans for huge, ‘pioneering’ 350MW solar farm in Kent
Hive Energy has confirmed it is the developer behind ambitious plans for a huge solar farm on the north Kent coast which could have a final generation capacity in excess of 350MW.
Q&A: Tony Dalwood, chief executive of Gresham House, on the purchase of Hazel Capital
Last week, renewables developer and investor Hazel Capital was acquired by Gresham House. Tony Dalwood, chief executive of the asset management group, explains to Solar Power Portal what the acquisition means for both Gresham House and Hazel Capital; what projects will be brought forward from the existing pipeline; and what uncertainties lay ahead for UK energy storage.
Renewables sets new UK record despite stagnating solar deployment
Renewable generation set a new record in the UK throughout Q2 2017, however there have been repeated warnings for government as solar deployment continued to falter.
‘No factual evidence’ that solar devalues homes after estate agent claims emerge
“Absurd” claims that solar panels devalue a property when it is on the market have been refuted by the Solar Trade Association (STA), with chief executive Paul Barwell telling Solar Power Portal “there is no factual evidence” for it.
Feature
Q&A: Frans van den Heuvel on five years at Solarcentury
Earlier this month Solarcentury chief Frans van den Heuvel became the fifth recipient of the Solar Power Portal Awards’ outstanding achievement accolade. We caught up with Frans to discuss his five years at the helm of one of the UK solar industry’s stalwarts and what the future might hold for the firm.