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Employment in the UK’s domestic solar industry has contracted by approximately one-third in the last year against a backdrop of subsidy cuts and other policy interventions, and further job losses are strongly expected.

Solar Power Portal runs through this week’s people news from within UK solar including changes at the top of Anesco and Absolute Solar and Wind, as well as the likely new ministerial appointments to the energy brief at the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy.

Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) firm Romag has been bought by glazing company Clayton Glass from social housing provider Gentoo, which is seeking to focus more heavily on its core housing activity.

Solarwatt’s Pol Spronck explains to Solar Power Portal why the company has come to the UK and what installers can expect from the solar storage manufacturer as it prepares to roll out into the residential market.

The sale of three UK solar farms is underway after European Solar Farms, a division of European Energy, signed a conditional deal with the subsidiary of a Danish pension provider.

The UK’s energy policy will now be a decided by a new department headed up by former communities minister Greg Clark, who has been appoint secretary of state for business, energy and industrial strategy.

The scheduled rise in business rates on companies owning solar installations on their properties has been raised in the House of Commons, with shadow energy minister Barry Gardiner accusing the government of “sleeping on the job”.

SOLARWATT is in search of a number of premium installer partners across the UK as it prepare its entry into the market later this year.

Solar asset management provider GreenPowerMonitor has been bought by international certification and advisory firm DNV GL in a deal that will give the Spanish firm access to a new global network of renewable energy projects.

A further three Chinese manufacturers have been pulled from the minimum import price (MIP) after they were found to be selling in the European Union at rates below those stipulated by the price undertaking.