Solar Markets & Finance

German solar equipment manufacturer Conergy has entered the UK market, opening a new representative office located in Milton Keynes. The company, which manufactures solar modules, inverters and mounting systems, brings 12 years of experience in the global PV market to the ever-growing customer base in Britain.

Germany-based photovoltaics system provider MAGE solar has entered the UK solar market with the entrance of its own sales representatives in Britain. Effective February 1, MAGE Solar, part of the globally operating MAGE Group, will be offering a portfolio designed specifically for the British market with high-quality MAGE Powertec modules, intelligent MAGE Safetec installation systems and high-performance brand-name inverters on-site.

Following its 100% capacity increase, reported in July last year, Sharp UK has announced the creation of 300 new jobs at its solar manufacturing plant in Wrexham, Wales. This news takes the company’s total number of UK-based employees from 800 to 1,100.

Eversheds has appointed Andrew Fleetwood, a former Freshfields solicitor, as a Senior Associate in its Real Estate Practice. Fleetwood will focus on renewable energy and will work closely with the company’s Clean Energy Team.

Birmingham has been announced as the host city for the annual Solar Power UK Conference and Exhibition in October 2011, which is organised by Solar Media Ltd. Over 3,000 solar industry participants, 30% of which will be overseas visitors, are due to descend on the city during the conference following sell-out events in Munich and London in 2010.

Greenbang Research has released the report, ‘the UK’s feed-in tariff: impact, response and market trends for the decade ahead,’ which offers detailed analysis on current figures and expected future trends of the UK renewable energy market, while also looking into how each of the supported technologies have reacted to the policy.

Devon-based construction company, Kier, has completed the acquisition of renewable energy specialist Totnes-based Beco Limited.

Long an industry stalwart in terms of its support of all things photovoltaic, the European Photovoltaic Industry Association (EPIA) has launched a new initiative entitled ‘Your Sun Your Energy’. This new campaign aims to promote the uptake of PV among the general public by providing information on the myriad advantages of solar energy and generally filling the knowledge gap regarding this most bountiful electricity source.

Sputnik Engineering, which recently began distributing solar inverters throughout the UK, opened a new branch office in London on January 1. This move brings the company closer to its customers, enabling it to respond more flexibly to the growing photovoltaic market in the UK.

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…