Commercial & Residential Solar

The DECC may have won the feed-in tariff battle, but this solar power project has certainly won the war. With the opening phase of the Westcott Solar Park now switched on and connected to the grid, the project confirms its place as one of the first large-scale projects to be completed in the UK. Situated on the runway of a former Battle of Britain airfield, the plant has been developed by property company Rockspring to provide power to the Westcott…

Solarcentury has broken new ground in the UK solar industry by connecting the nation’s largest solar system to the grid. The 748kW system is comprised of over 3,000 panels and will produce enough electricity to power one-quarter of the Oxfordshire business park in which it is located.

The requirement to fit a DC isolator in a solar PV system comes from BS7671 – Part 712.537.2.1.1, which states “To allow maintenance of the PV convertor, means of isolating the PV convertor from the d.c. side and the a.c. side must be provided”…

Championing the shake-up of the UK’s energy infrastructure, a new cross industry body will today outline plans to develop and deliver the much-anticipated smart grid. By combining key players from the energy sector, ICT companies, environmental organisations, Government, regulators and consumer groups, SmartGrid GB will transform the way energy is generated, distributed and consumed in the UK.

According to the latest Ofgem figures photovoltaics has dominated the feed-in tariff installations recorded to date in the UK. The recent ups and downs in the solar industry seem to have had little effect on the figures, with over 96% of the projects registered between January 1 and 31 March belonging to the PV category.

In order to simplify the MCS enrolment process for smaller solar installation companies, the Grant Training Academy is now offering an MCS Made Easy course, which will be delivered by the ECA.

Module manufacturer Phono Solar has received microgeneration certification scheme (MCS) accreditation for its 195W and 200W panels. The certificate is compulsory in order for solar products to be eligible for Government’s feed-in tariff payments, and confirms that the modules comply with or surpass the photovoltaic module standards applicable in the UK.

Photovoltaic module manufacturer BISOL and boat development company Seaway have joined forces to construct the Greenline Hybrid, which utilises solar energy. By installing BISOL premium quality photovoltaic modules on the solar roof of the boat, more than 80 proud owners of the Greenline 33 now sail by the power of the sun.

A new scheme, run by solar energy company Sunny Britain, will help UK residents to benefit from renewable electricity for the half the price. By grouping people from the same area together, the company is able to negotiate saving on equipment, installation and maintenance from local suppliers. In some cases…

Concentrated photovoltaics (CPV) systems provider Circadian Solar has opened its second UK-based premises at the Viscount Centre on the University of Warwick Science Park. The new building will house a prototype manufacturing line for the pilot production of Circadian’s CPV systems.