Solar Markets & Finance

Cirencester-based developer of solar farms and roofs, Low Carbon Solar, has launched the ‘Power to Society’ campaign, following the Coalition Government’s backtracking over funding for community-scale solar energy schemes.

Bristol-based SunShare has launched a new solar scheme on January 17th which allows UK homeowners to invest in solar panels for their home for only a part of the upfront installation costs. Qualifying UK homes that install solar panels with SunShare will benefit from free electricity while also earning more than £1,000 a year from the Government-backed feed-in tariff.

Worcester Renewables, supplier and installer of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, has launched a major project aimed at revitalising the Vale with more blossoms. For every domestic customer that orders a PV system from the company this spring, Worcester Renewables will absorb and donate the VAT to a trust specifically tasked with “Putting the Bloom Back in the Blossom Trail”.

In the wake of the Government’s decision to review the UK feed-in tariff, Tesco has reportedly put its solar installation plans on hold. The supermarket brand, which had planned to put rows of solar panels on several of its distribution centres, has apparently decided to stop all work on the projects after the Government this week…

In response to the UK Government’s recent decision to launch a fast-track feed-in tariff review, We Support Solar has composed an open letter to send to Energy Secretary Chris Huhne. The letter urges Huhne to act quickly to repair the damage done to the fledgling UK PV sector by his Commons Written Statement and press release sent out on February 7th.

The UK’s first commercial solar photovoltaics centre of excellence is set to open in Nottingham. Established by IPSol Energy, the 8000ft2 facility based at Nottingham’s Easter Park will provide global manufacturers and installers of solar PV modules with independent strategy advice and validation of their products.

Reacting to the early review of the UK’s feed-in tariff, the European Photovoltaics Industry Association (EPIA) has come forward and asked the Government to “take all the necessary caution to let the market deploy [solar] and avoid destabilizing many British communities and companies which are starting to invest.”

Sharp Solar today officially announced the opening of its new Renewable Energy Academy in Wrexham, launched to reach out to building and home maintenance professionals across the UK. The Academy aims to train those interested in entering into the solar panel installation market, which is expected to be worth £500 million a year by 2015.

The backlash to the U.K. Government’s decision to launch a comprehensive review of its feed-in tariff on Monday has begun. Dissenting voices are becoming increasingly audible, with ministers publically bemoaning the coalition’s decision and airing fears about its long-term impact on the solar industry.

jms Solar Handel, the Bavarian PV specialist, has expanded its European network of branch offices by opening of its first branch in Portishead, Bristol. The newly founded subsidiary jms UK Solar Trade Ltd. is initially planning to concentrate on the south-east part of the country and to gradually expand its distribution network.