ofgem

Ofgem’s Targeted Charging Review (TCR) proposals could delay the onset of subsidy-free solar in the UK by as much as five years, new research by Aurora Energy Research has found.

UK renewables groups have lobbied together to urge Ofgem to rethink ‘unfair’ network charging reforms which could nudge renewables and flexibility projects towards failure.

The government expects its proposed Smart Export Guarantee to have a positive, albeit notional impact on domestic solar deployment it has said.

An updated technical guide to co-locating renewables and battery storage has clarified previously conflicting guidance on the matter, removing barriers and potentially unlocking the “tremendous potential” of solar homes.

Solar will face the “greatest potential impact” from new proposals by Ofgem to apply fixed residual charges to all final demand users and end the Embedded Benefits for smaller generators under its Targeted Charging Review (TCR).

Ofgem has identified a combined shortfall of over £60 million pounds in two funds underpinning the UK’s solar energy subsidy regimes, taking aim at late payments from energy suppliers.

National Grid has confirmed that the expansion of Balancing Use of System (BSUoS) charges to include embedded generation is being considered by Ofgem, after Engie attempted to fast track the decision via a system operator workgroup.

Solar developers could be offered ‘time-profiled’ grid access during daylight hours to suit the generation profiles of their sites under a planned shake-up of the distribution network access and charging arrangements.

Solo Energy is to launch a ‘free battery’ business model to UK homeowners after carrying out a pilot in Orkney that saw solar and storage systems deployed on 30 properties to boost self-consumption and overcome grid constraints.

​Halfway through 2018 and large-scale battery storage in the UK has reached over 450MW installed capacity, with around 250MW being completed this year alone. Solar Media Market Research analyst Lauren Cook looks back at how we got here, and what we can learn from the rapidly growing large-scale pipeline.