PV

Solar Energy UK has drawn to a close and, as the stands get taken down around me, Solar Media is reflecting on what has been the most successful show we’ve ever held.

It’s one of the peculiarities of the UK solar market that whilst domestic installations and large ground-mount solar sectors are strong, the commercial rooftop market is significantly under performing. Joju Solar’s Dr Chris Jardine explores what can be done to boost commercial deployment.

Five years after its inception, Solar Energy UK (SEUK) has established itself as the number one UK event for all professionals within the solar industry – attracting over 170 exhibitors and 2,424 unique visitors from 42 countries last year alone.

The problem with making decisions based on predictions of the future, is the closer the future gets, the more the quality of those forecasts is laid bare. Gareth Miller, principal consultant for Cornwall Energy explains what DECC’s revised forecasts mean for the country’s energy policy reforms.

Finlay Colville finds that mid-year softness, due in part to market uncertainty following the proposed ROC adjustments back in May 2014, has created a partial lull on ground-mount PV activity in the UK.

In anticipation of DECC going through with its proposal to scrap RO support, it’s not surprising that many in the ground mount community are seriously considering how they might bid for a Contract for Difference (CfD) in the first allocation round opening on 16 October this year.

The solar array at the National Ice Centre in Nottingham has saved the facility £40,000 on its energy bills since its install one year ago.

Google Trends can be a valuable tool for solar companies looking to gather intelligence on consumers’ behaviour. Dan Castro outlines exactly how useful this tool can be for solar installers.

Solar has the potential to make a big contribution to the UK’s energy security. Toddington Harper, CEO, Big60Million explains how bonds can help everyone claim a portion of the additional social, economic and financial benefits.

Storage has long been billed as the Holy Grail for solar but is the industry is in danger of talking itself into a problem that doesn’t exist? Peter Bennett explores whether solar needs storage to become a mainstream player in the UK.