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.
Liam Stoker reports from Clay Hill Solar Farm, the first solar project to be built in the UK without subsidy support, and discovers how the solar-plus-storage facility was energised.
Following a difficult two years at the hands of policy upheaval, confidence is returning to a community energy sector which has its eyes set very firmly on the future. Amanda Lennon examines just where that future might take community solar as the sector celebrates Community Energy Fortnight.
When The Solar Cloth Company collapsed in June last year, it took with it nearly £1 million of crowd-funded finance. Liam Stoker investigates how this came to pass and potential failures within Crowdcube’s consumer protections.
Following a year in which much progress has been made, Lauren Cook recaps a productive 2016 for the Irish solar market and casts her eyes forward at 2017.
As year on year sales of electric vehicles increase, the technology is forecast to experience a significant boom in the coming years. With charging infrastructure need to support deployment, David Pratt looks at the emerging market for charge points, and how installers can get involved.
Lauren Cook, analyst at Solar Market Research, discusses the nascent Irish solar market and answers some of the industry’s most frequently asked questions regarding opportunities on the Emerald Isle.
As electrical contractors and installers flock to the burgeoning storage market, there are warnings over mis-selling, training and calls for clarity over required filings. Liam Stoker reports.
Will Hitchcock, managing director at Push Energy aerial O&M JV Above Surveying, looks into how drones have become a staple in the monitoring of solar parks in the UK.
Chris Jardine, technical director at Joju Solar, discusses how renewables installers can best diversify in the current climate and notes some particular pitfalls to avoid.
Finlay Colville, head of market research at Solar Media looks into how the government continues to struggle with solar deployment