Solar 9

News

Solar PV used on 70 homes in Perth development

The £9.2 million development is the largest development of new council homes since Perth & Kinross Council (PKC) restarted its house building programme in 2012. This makes the creation of 70 brand new council homes for affordable rent the biggest build of new council housing in Perth and Kinross for several decades.

News

Solar PV growth sees producer establish UK subsidiary

The setting up of Solarwatt Technologies Ltd reflects strong ambitions in the UK market and a desire to better serve growing demand for renewable energy. To achieve this, the German PV systems provider is establishing a UK office and warehouse in Surrey, as well as making some key personnel changes, including the appointment of Daniel Adamsbaum to Solarwatt Technologies as sales manager for the North.

News

Partnership delivers solar and storage solutions

The partnership will provide Good Energy’s domestic customers with the opportunity to generate and store their own renewable electricity at home and save money by integrating green technology with a trusted installer.

News

New solar pv grant scheme also encourages heat pump installations

With the solar Feed-in Tariff coming to an end over two years ago, social landlords have struggled to make the financial case for installing solar PV on their housing stock. Despite there being clear carbon reduction benefits from installing PV, the tenant is the beneficiary of the free electricity generated, leaving landlords two possible options to recoup their investment cost; metering and selling the electricity (which brings with it a raft of licensing issues) or adding charges to the rents (which falls foul of the social housing rent cap). Neither option is popular with tenants.

News

New partnership brings new training to installers

The Telford-based company signed a deal earlier this year with Yorkshire-based GTEC to deliver industry-accredited training for its customers and clients in installing renewable electrical energy storage systems.

Product

NIBE new ranges launched

The new range builds on the heat pump manufacturer’s plans to offer customers a smarter and more connected home.

Opinion

The ideal trio for a flexible energy system?

It goes without saying that the transition to a net zero economy is complex. As we shift our reliance on fossil fuels and depend more and more on intermittent renewables, we face the mammoth task of creating an energy system that is both flexible and able to cope with an increase in demand.

News

emerce to support installers in Ireland

Offering a broad portfolio of solar components for residential and small commercial PV plants and EV chargers, the German B2B online marketplace is well-positioned to support Ireland in its energy transition.

Opinion

Significant capacity increase needed for solar

The industry body will make the claim during the launch of its roadmap, titled Lighting the way, outlining the roll oit of solar projects over the next eight years. The report urges Westminster to set out policy and regulatory changes for the solar sector, which would allow the industry to deliver 40GW of operational capacity.

News

Solar skills training launched in London

With the intention of developing a solar PV learner curriculum, the Solar Skills London project aims to create a series of introductory workshop for potential new solar industry trainees.

News

Surprising stats for solar

The PV installations were installed under the Local Authority Delivery of the Green Homes Grant, the only segment of the scheme that is both still running and that PV is eligible for.

News

Vaillant wins ASHP contract

Located on the outskirts of Swindon, the off-gas Oakfield development, a 239-plot development, is being managed by property developers, Igloo Regeneration, and construction partner, Mi-space, and the first homes will be available in 2022.

Case Study

Part 3/3: Scoping a successful retrofitting project

There are a number of additional steps which installers should take when scoping a successful retrofitting project within public buildings like schools. These include:

Case Study

Part 2/3: Opportunities for installers in retrofitting schools

Following on from the case study shared earlier this week, Max Halliwell, communications manager, residential heating, Mitsubishi Electric & vice chairman of the UK’s Heat Pumps Association tells us more about using heat pumps and solar PV to retrofit a school in Gloucestershire, as well as his views on the retrofitting opportunity for installers.

Case Study

Case study: Installing a Grant solar thermal system

This Wiltshire home was extended to transform the property into a five-bedroom house. When the homeowners started this project, they decided to take the opportunity to add a renewable technology into their heating system by utilising the additional roof space being created by the extension. A Grant solar thermal system was chosen and installed, helping the family to not only significantly reduce their carbon footprint but also lower their monthly heating bills.

News

Framework tender opportunity for MCS certified installers

They are now inviting tenders from MCS certified installers of air source heat pumps, ground source heat pumps, Solar PV (photovoltaic) and energy storage systems to install both national and regionally.

News

Viridian Solar Acquired by Marley Ltd.

The move provides the foundation for further growth for the roof-integrated solar specialist as it prepares for rapid growth driven by changes to building regulations and its expansion into international markets.

Opinion

How to navigate the journey to smart home energy

Smart metres have the power to coordinate and hold to account the many other smart products that are starting to infiltrate our homes, such as PV, EV charging and smart heating systems. The arrival of so-called ‘agile electricity tariffs’, whose price varies half-hourly in relation to the wholesale price of electricity, are just one manifestation.

Feature

Green technology mindset: Open goal opportunity for electric installers

Electric car charging points haven’t been an element architects, developers and electricians alike, have had to factor into their designs and drawings, until now. Charge points have suddenly become less an optional extra and more a key feature which has to be considered, as much in the 1st and 2nd fix stages than the latter. For a while now, Electric Charge Points ‘AKA EV chargers’ sat in the same domain as ancillary optionals such as Alarm systems, CCTV systems, and security tech. An area an electrical installer might delve into from time to time, though not the main source of their workload. The bulk of such work instead shared and distributed with specialist security technicians with advanced network installation skills.   However, unlike security technicians whereby a basic skill set in electronics and technology might get you by, EV Installers require their 18th Edition and relevant electrical qualifications to proceed. Where there is still is a niche opportunity for electrical companies to focus the bulk of their attention over to ‘EV installations’, general electrical companies right across the board can benefit from this new work stream, with the added confidence that ‘DIY and self-installation’ is off the table for the foreseeable.  The EV industry is swiftly moving past the stages of early adoption, with the mass market consumers waiting in the wings. This was helped by Boris Jonson’s announcement in late 2020 for the ban on the sale of fossil fuel cars from 2030. This gives electrical installers an open goal opportunity to positively shift some of their focus over to these new green technologies and innovations in preparation for the great wave.  Companies such as myenergi, a dynamic powerhouse in green tech solutions, are putting emphasis on consumers achieving energy independence and less reliance upon the national grid system. Their flagship product the zappi electric vehicle charger, the market frontrunner, Eco Friendly EV charger in the world compatible with PV, Solar and renewable systems, inspiring other manufacturers not only focus on ‘the charge itself’ but actually how the electricity is generated in the first place. The zappi works as a stand-alone plug and play charger connected to the grid but teamed up with their solar diverter (the eddi), consumers are able to utilise the zappi’s green ECO modes and charge their vehicles using 100% self-generated green energy.  It’s this mindset and drive towards genuine tangible change away from pollutants amongst businesses and consumers alike, which is pulling together green smart technology, renewable energy and progressing technologies such as electric vehicles. Award winning companies such as myenergi have been key players in pulling these sub technologies together and adopting new tech terms such as Eco-Smart and Green Tech.  Network smart technology was also forced together as a requirement by OLEV and OZEV whereby electric vehicle chargers have to be future-proofed and connected to the internet. A move towards the ‘internet of things’ which is gradually coming to fruition. The zappi charger leads the way in its ability to adapt and update with automatic firmware updates, whereby all myenergi devices are connected over the smart hub device wirelessly. The addition of the wireless harvi sensor makes the zappi one of the easiest devices on the market to install with less need for fishing long CT cables. zappi also offers PEN protection and doesn’t require earth rods which means no digging up driveways, better aesthetics and quicker installations all round. 

Opinion

Solar, a glowing example of green energy

Giles came into the solar business by accident. Working for a social housing developer, paired with a lifelong passion for saving energy and doing things more efficiently, Giles homed in on the idea of people being more sustainable and self-sufficient. ‘I grew up in a rural area, so efficiency has been instilled into me from a young age’, he explained.

News

myenergi expands into Ireland as EV sales soar

The new subsidiary, located in Ballycastle, will be spearheaded by Pearse McHenry, a longstanding business partner of myenergi. The move will bring the brand’s product range to the masses, helping residents benefit from a more sustainable lifestyle, as well supporting the government’s commitment to cleaner living.

News

UK’s solar projects heat up

Two 50MW solar projects have secured planning permissions this week. The first, being EDF Renewables’ Sutton Bridge solar photovoltaic project, granted permission by South Holland District Council and the second being Pegasus Group’s solar and battery storage scheme near Telford.