Large-Scale Solar

Bringing the most recent total to seven, Birmingham-based electrical services contractor JT Hawkes has announced the completion of the 5MW large-scale solar project at Westmill Solar Farm in Swindon. The 30-acre plant, which was completed in just six weeks, will supply renewable energy to 1,500 homes in Oxfordshire over the next 25 years.

Conergy PowerPlus modules exceeded performance expectations in a real-life test by installation partner Freewatt, which recorded a surplus of 15% efficiency when monitoring two separate ~3.9kW Lincolnshire installations over nine months.

In a bid to build on its commercial team and scale up its ‘demonstrator’ product manufacturing, MTI Partners has completed a £650,000 investment round in Oxford Photovoltaics (OPV), an Oxford University spin-out Materials/Cleantech company developing solid-state dye sensitized solar cells for the building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) sector.

Thin-film solar company Solar Frontier has received Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) accreditation for its SF130-150 series CIS modules. Delivered by BRE Global the MCS certification, combined with IEC 61646, IEC 61739 and UL 1703 certification, allows for Solar Frontier’s modules to be carried throughout the UK.

Seaward has developed a new dedicated software program for the solar PV industry, helping system installers to produce all electrical test documentation for client handover packs quickly and easily. The Seaward SolarCert Elements software is designed to aid installers in when generating comprehensive folders of system information including customised test certification and inspection reports, installation layout diagrams, photographs and any other information relevant to PV installation.

Bournemouth Council housing is all set for a solar makeover as a proposal to install photovoltaic panels on 200 homes receives positive feedback. Following the successful roll-out of a number of solar systems in the area over the past two months, Cabinet members are being asked to extend the area’s renewable ambition.

Overcoming the constraints of the fast-track review once more, Lark Energy has this week completed its second large-scale solar park in the UK. Following the successful commissioning of the 4.89MWp Hawton solar farm, the 4.51MWp project at Marston, near Grantham in Lincolnshire, is now generating solar energy for…

British Gas is launching a new initiative that will help customers reduce the upfront cost of installing solar panels and other green technologies. The British Gas Home Energy Plan will protect customers from rising energy prices by enabling them to install efficiency measures with the help of a fixed-term loan.

By installing a large field-based solar array, Cornish holiday company The Olde House in Chapel Amble will significantly reduce its annual energy bills. By connecting to the National Grid, the 242kW field-based array, which is one of the first in the area, pipped Government’s feed-in tariff cuts to the post.

Plans are being put in place for a large roll out of solar panels in Eastbourne. Cabinet Councillors at the Borough Council last night approved the scheme, which will see the installation of solar panels on between 700 to 1,500 council owned houses and non-domestic buildings.