Opinions

Finlay Colville asks if onshore wind will weigh in to the current CfD auction. And, if so, what impact will it have on PV deployment?

Sharp, ABB, SMA and Bosch are among the big names readying new energy storage products for the UK PV market. Andy Colthorpe caught up with them at the Solar Energy UK show to find out what tech fits best for the UK’s nascent storage sector.

Cleaning solar panels has been the subject of some debate, with some questioning the necessity for maintaining cleanliness by professional means. I freely admit that until recently, I shared the common misconception that panels are ‘self-cleaning’ but there is compelling evidence that the performance of your array, and therefore your income and energy savings will be seriously compromised if this element of maintenance is overlooked.

Here we go again. On Sunday, the department of environment and rural affairs (Defra) released one of the most astonishing press releases I’ve ever seen.

I have just returned from three days at Solar Energy UK (SEUK) and wanted to share some of the debate and feedback that came out of a session I chaired on each of the three days.

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 the day after the Solar Power Portal Awards and, following a slower than usual start to the morning, Solar Energy UK (SEUK) 2014 is back in full swing.

Last night saw the winners of the 2014 Solar Power Portal Awards crowned. The black tie dinner was an enormous success which saw the industry gather together under one roof to celebrate each others’ successes.

Returning for its fifth year, Solar Energy UK 2014 is set to the biggest show yet with pre-registrations up by 58% and upwards of 4,000 unique visitors expected.

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.