renewables

The Solar Trade Association is looking to light a fire under the UK’s solar thermal industry, claiming now is the time to “shake off preconceptions” surrounding the technology.

Solar and other renewables will generate more than half of all electricity in the UK by the mid-2020s according to a new study by Bloomberg New Energy Finance and Eaton, which expects the cost of the technology to more than halve by 2040.

Liam Stoker draws parallels between the UK’s comparatively meagre solar growth forecasts, Brexit, and “talking Britain down”.

Last week, renewables developer and investor Hazel Capital was acquired by Gresham House. Tony Dalwood, chief executive of the asset management group, explains to Solar Power Portal what the acquisition means for both Gresham House and Hazel Capital; what projects will be brought forward from the existing pipeline; and what uncertainties lay ahead for UK energy storage.

The UK’s solar market is set for a rebound in the coming years but will lose ground to the rest of Europe as a result of government policy decisions, leading consultancy EY has concluded.

Liam Stoker takes a look at the acronym-tastic review of energy costs, led by Dieter Helm, which recommended, among more than 60 other things, the phasing out of CfDs and the introduction of equivalent firm power auctions.

Public support for renewables has climbed to yet another new high in 2017, further indicating the discrepancy between the technologies and other generators in the public’s eye.

German renewables funders Capital Stage is lining up its first battery storage move, but stressed it could be some time before business models are mature enough.

Solarcentury has announced a major partnership with European renewables funder Capital Stage in a move which will provide a substantial boost to its international expansion.

The UK’s large-scale battery storage installations have reached 100MW of capacity, made up of around 50 individual sites larger than 250kW. However, as Solar Media Market Research analyst Lauren Cook explains, data from the UK Battery Storage Project Database report shows that this is just the beginning, with revenue stream patterns emerging to show how projects are proving to be successful.