Commercial & Residential Solar

Solar Guide, the free online resource for homeowners and engineers, has launched a new version of its solar photovoltaic (PV) feed-in tariff calculator, which can now be embedded on other solar websites.

Redland’s newly introduced PV tile system is proving its effectiveness by generating more power than anticipated in computer modelling, reaching 3.4kW of electricity at peak output at one of its first UK installations for roofing contractors Steadfast Roofing.

St Michael's Catholic High School, in High Elms Lane, Watford has fended off 1,000 other schools in the UK to win the nationwide solar power competition sponsored by British Gas.

Social housing body, the Peabody Trust, has allocated £23 million to spend on installing solar panels on its London-based housing. The move, which is one of the most generous schemes to be carried out by a social housing provider, is aimed at making Peabody a carbon neutral business by 2020.

Wirsol has completed its first UK solar project, installing a 29.6 kilowatt system at Sharnbrook School in Bedfordshire. The leading German solar provider, which has recently opened a UK-based office, completed the installation in just five working days.

Just before offices closed for the festive period, Cornwall Council gave the go-ahead to what will be one of Britain’s first large-scale solar farms. The 25-acre solar array, located on part of the Lanhydrock National Trust estate near Bodmin, is expected to power the nearby Restormel water treatment station…

To date, green services provider Eaga has installed free solar power for more than 1,000 social housing households through its Clean Energy Programme in the UK. Utilising the feed-in-tariff (FIT) Eaga has been able to install solar photovoltaics systems for social housing residents at no cost to them or the landlord.

CIS solar panel producer Avancis has successfully completed certification assessments for its PowerMax module line to ensure entry into the UK market. The modules have been awarded MCS accreditation, after having also recently passed salt water and salt spray certification tests, making them suitable for use in systems along coastal areas.

German module manufacturer, Centrosolar, has now received Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) accreditation for its thin-film solar modules. This qualification follows the company’s receipt of MCS recognition for its entire crystalline solar module range in October this year.

China-based solar photovoltaic cell and modules manufacturer, Solarfun Power Holdings, is the latest global industry leader to receive Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) accreditation. The certification, which is necessary in order to gain eligibility for UK feed-in tariff (FiT) payments, has been awarded for the company’s SF160 monocrystalline and SF190 and SF220 polycrystalline modules.