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Tuesday 30 November 2010
SunConcept opens UK subsidiary | Act On Solar Power
Act On Solar Power
Amplify’d from www.solarpowerportal.co.uk
SunConcept opens UK subsidiary
German solar company SunConcept has set up a UK subsidiary at Kings Hill in West Malling, Kent. The company reports that it has been monitoring the UK market since the previous government published the ‘UK Renewable Energy Strategy’ back in July 2009, and has now made the decision to increase its activity in the UK after the introduction of the feed-in tariff scheme in April 2010.
Since SunConcept began its marketing activities in the UK it has earmarked a portfolio in excess of 25MW of land and commercial roof space for the installation of photovoltaic systems over the next 12 months.
Catherine Stevens-Jung, Managing Director of SunConcept UK said, “We are a UK company and will be creating new jobs in this country, but our clients will benefit from German reliability, precision and expertise, as well as our extensive experience in the German and other European markets.”
“Our target groups include owners of agricultural land and commercial roof space, county and district councils, as well as Registered Social Landlords. The market is very exciting and it is interesting to observe the steady, but rapidly growing number of solar installations in the UK.”
“Over the past six months we have also started to build up an excellent network of UK installation companies with whom we will also be cooperating,” continued Stevens-Jung.
SunConcept manufactures its own monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin-film solar panels, and is looking to replicate its 150-strong German operation in the UK over the next three years.
See this Amp at http://bit.ly/gs0vQf
SunConcept opens UK subsidiary | Act On Solar Power
SunConcept has plans to install more than 25MW of solar panels in the UK over the next 12 months
German solar company SunConcept has set up a UK subsidiary at Kings Hill in West Malling, Kent. The company reports that it has been monitoring the UK market since the previous government published the ‘UK Renewable Energy Strategy’ back in July 2009, and has now made the decision to increase its activity in the UK after the introduction of the feed-in tariff scheme in April 2010.
Since SunConcept began its marketing activities in the UK it has earmarked a portfolio in excess of 25MW of land and commercial roof space for the installation of photovoltaic systems over the next 12 months.
Catherine Stevens-Jung, Managing Director of SunConcept UK said, “We are a UK company and will be creating new jobs in this country, but our clients will benefit from German reliability, precision and expertise, as well as our extensive experience in the German and other European markets.”
“Our target groups include owners of agricultural land and commercial roof space, county and district councils, as well as Registered Social Landlords. The market is very exciting and it is interesting to observe the steady, but rapidly growing number of solar installations in the UK.”
“Over the past six months we have also started to build up an excellent network of UK installation companies with whom we will also be cooperating,” continued Stevens-Jung.
SunConcept manufactures its own monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin-film solar panels, and is looking to replicate its 150-strong German operation in the UK over the next three years.
How to Choose a Social Media Agency | Social Media Today
How to Choose a Social Media Agency | Social Media Today
Harish Dabasia UKs most connected person in the PV Solar Power/Energy sectorAdvocate, Ambassador, Introducer, Influencer, Facilitator and Deal maker. Through Act On Solar compiling the UKs First PV Solar installation Map.
Harish Dabasia UKs most connected person in the PV Solar Power/Energy sectorAdvocate, Ambassador, Introducer, Influencer, Facilitator and Deal maker. Through Act On Solar compiling the UKs First PV Solar installation Map.
Government decides to ‘cap’ funding for FiT payments |act on solar panels
act on solar panels
Amplify’d from www.solarpowerportal.co.uk
Government decides to ‘cap’ funding for FiT payments
After a tough few weeks for the UK solar industry, some disappointing news has emerged. The Government has decided to effectively cap the amount of money it will allow to be spent on feed-in tariff (FiT) payments.
The Renewable Energy Association (REA) has reported that the total amount spent on FiTs during the period 2014 - 15 cannot now exceed £360 million, which is a 10% reduction on the previous estimate of £400 million.
According to the REA, this decision has been made in light of the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR), and that the Climate Minister, Greg Barker has made this point very clear. The REA disagrees with the Government position, as it believes that tariffs should not be capped as this “goes against the whole principle of a tariff-based mechanism. The 1.6% contribution assumed from small-scale renewables had always been viewed as the estimated contribution; it was never originally intended to be a cap.”
The REA has also been lobbying this week against the Government’s opposition towards large-scale solar installations, stating that the industry has already begun responding to the feed-in tariffs, made significant investments and started to develop innovative financing approaches.
One of the main arguments the REA is forming against the Government’s decisions to cap the FiT and remove subsidy payments for large-scale renewables is the fact that all of the industry movements so far only highlight the immense success of the FiT system, in that it brings multiple benefits to UK business and has the potential to generate thousands of green jobs.
While investor confidence has taken a knock this week due to Minister Barker’s comments on utility-scale solar, knowledge that the FiT scheme is now firmly capped will dramatically undermine any assurance they had left.
The REA sets out the following four points in a bid to move forward from this point:
1. The industry must agree a level of ambition it would like to see for PV in the UK and build on the evidence base to support it.
2. The installed costs and operating costs should be remodelled to reflect today’s prices and if proven to be significantly different, a proposal is prepared and discussed with Government.
3. Industry needs to have an ongoing dialogue with Government to ensure both parties work together to ensure the future of the UK PV industry. Reviewing actual Ofgem connection figures monthly should form part of the Government / Industry dialogue.
4. A way needs to be found so that industry speaks with one voice; fragmentation will weaken its case and leave its ambition open to attack.
See this Amp at http://bit.ly/erzWRB
Large-scale solar company offers free commercial systems | act on solar panels
Many solar panel installations are expected to crop up across the UK's large-scale rooftops before the FiT is cut
Laughing in the face of large-scale solar intimidation, new business venture Solar Power Direct has launched its free solar panel installation deal aimed specifically at commercial properties throughout England and Wales.
Solar Power Direct’s business model works in the same way as other free solar companies, installing solar panels on ‘host’ roofs so that the customer benefits from cheaper electricity bills, as they are expected to purchase the solar energy produced by the system at a cost which is 30-40% lower than conventional energy. The company then reaps the reward offered by the UK’s feed-in tariff (FiT), which is currently set at 36.1p/kWh for systems of 4-10kW, 31.4p/kWh for 10-100kW and 29.3p/kWh for systems up to 5MW. All tariffs are paid for 25 years.
The difference in the way this free solar model works is that Solar Power Direct promises to install panels on a much greater scale, targeting roofs in excess of 4,000m2 as opposed to the residential rooftop installations currently offered for free in the UK. Installations of this kind can cost up to £1.25 million to develop, which is a significant cost to be recouped by the FiT. This large-scale model is believed to be unique in the UK.
Chris Porter, Director of Solar Power Direct said, “We are a renewables company with a strong track record in wind, but much of the development, construction and funding process in solar runs parallel, so it makes complete sense for us to make the vertical move into this market. The Government’s ongoing spending reviews could have put the brakes on the launch of Solar Power Direct. It has effectively resulted in us accelerating plans and urging industry to get on board with solar power now, before the feed-in tariffs change.”
“Much has already been made about companies supplying free solar panels to residential properties, but we offer a fully-funded approach to placing roof-based PV panels on a much greater scale.”
In line with the recent rumblings from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and meetings with Greg Barker, Solar Power Direct aims to install as many large-scale systems as quickly as possible and has therefore made a strategic decision to target clients’ roofs rather than ground-space, as these systems require a less painful planning process.
“Placing solar panels on the ground essentially involves sterilising the land for the lifetime of the project, so we have opted to target roof-space. This is a huge untapped resource around the country and opens up our targeting to a much wider market,” concluded Porter.
No information was provided on the modules or inverters to be used by the company for these projects as "much of the work that we are doing remains undisclosed and the client name confidential"; however the company does say that it assesses each roof to decide which technology is best before installation commences.
Large-scale solar company offers free commercial systems |act on solar panels
act on solar panels
Amplify’d from www.solarpowerportal.co.uk
Large-scale solar company offers free commercial systems
Laughing in the face of large-scale solar intimidation, new business venture Solar Power Direct has launched its free solar panel installation deal aimed specifically at commercial properties throughout England and Wales.
Solar Power Direct’s business model works in the same way as other free solar companies, installing solar panels on ‘host’ roofs so that the customer benefits from cheaper electricity bills, as they are expected to purchase the solar energy produced by the system at a cost which is 30-40% lower than conventional energy. The company then reaps the reward offered by the UK’s feed-in tariff (FiT), which is currently set at 36.1p/kWh for systems of 4-10kW, 31.4p/kWh for 10-100kW and 29.3p/kWh for systems up to 5MW. All tariffs are paid for 25 years.
The difference in the way this free solar model works is that Solar Power Direct promises to install panels on a much greater scale, targeting roofs in excess of 4,000m2 as opposed to the residential rooftop installations currently offered for free in the UK. Installations of this kind can cost up to £1.25 million to develop, which is a significant cost to be recouped by the FiT. This large-scale model is believed to be unique in the UK.
Chris Porter, Director of Solar Power Direct said, “We are a renewables company with a strong track record in wind, but much of the development, construction and funding process in solar runs parallel, so it makes complete sense for us to make the vertical move into this market. The Government’s ongoing spending reviews could have put the brakes on the launch of Solar Power Direct. It has effectively resulted in us accelerating plans and urging industry to get on board with solar power now, before the feed-in tariffs change.”
“Much has already been made about companies supplying free solar panels to residential properties, but we offer a fully-funded approach to placing roof-based PV panels on a much greater scale.”
In line with the recent rumblings from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and meetings with Greg Barker, Solar Power Direct aims to install as many large-scale systems as quickly as possible and has therefore made a strategic decision to target clients’ roofs rather than ground-space, as these systems require a less painful planning process.
“Placing solar panels on the ground essentially involves sterilising the land for the lifetime of the project, so we have opted to target roof-space. This is a huge untapped resource around the country and opens up our targeting to a much wider market,” concluded Porter.
No information was provided on the modules or inverters to be used by the company for these projects as "much of the work that we are doing remains undisclosed and the client name confidential"; however the company does say that it assesses each roof to decide which technology is best before installation commences.
See this Amp at http://bit.ly/eurmrl
Government decides to ‘cap’ funding for FiT payments | Act On Solar Panels
Government decides to ‘cap’ funding for FiT payments
The total amount spent on FiTs during the period 2014 - 15 cannot now exceed £360 million
After a tough few weeks for the UK solar industry, some disappointing news has emerged. The Government has decided to effectively cap the amount of money it will allow to be spent on feed-in tariff (FiT) payments.
The Renewable Energy Association (REA) has reported that the total amount spent on FiTs during the period 2014 - 15 cannot now exceed £360 million, which is a 10% reduction on the previous estimate of £400 million.
According to the REA, this decision has been made in light of the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR), and that the Climate Minister, Greg Barker has made this point very clear. The REA disagrees with the Government position, as it believes that tariffs should not be capped as this “goes against the whole principle of a tariff-based mechanism. The 1.6% contribution assumed from small-scale renewables had always been viewed as the estimated contribution; it was never originally intended to be a cap.”
The REA has also been lobbying this week against the Government’s opposition towards large-scale solar installations, stating that the industry has already begun responding to the feed-in tariffs, made significant investments and started to develop innovative financing approaches.
One of the main arguments the REA is forming against the Government’s decisions to cap the FiT and remove subsidy payments for large-scale renewables is the fact that all of the industry movements so far only highlight the immense success of the FiT system, in that it brings multiple benefits to UK business and has the potential to generate thousands of green jobs.
While investor confidence has taken a knock this week due to Minister Barker’s comments on utility-scale solar, knowledge that the FiT scheme is now firmly capped will dramatically undermine any assurance they had left.
The REA sets out the following four points in a bid to move forward from this point:
1. The industry must agree a level of ambition it would like to see for PV in the UK and build on the evidence base to support it.
2. The installed costs and operating costs should be remodelled to reflect today’s prices and if proven to be significantly different, a proposal is prepared and discussed with Government.
3. Industry needs to have an ongoing dialogue with Government to ensure both parties work together to ensure the future of the UK PV industry. Reviewing actual Ofgem connection figures monthly should form part of the Government / Industry dialogue.
4. A way needs to be found so that industry speaks with one voice; fragmentation will weaken its case and leave its ambition open to attack.
Solar Equipment: Inverters, Solar Panels, and Sunlight. What else do you need? | Act On Solar Power http://bit.ly/dNGmy8
Solar Equipment: Inverters, Solar Panels, and Sunlight. What else do you need? | Act On Solar Power
The solar inverter is the second most important (and second most expensive) component of a solar PV system.
Act On Solar Power
Amplify’d from actonsolar.blogspot.com
Solar Equipment: Inverters, Solar Panels, and Sunlight. What else do you need?
Solar Equipment: Inverters, Solar Panels, and Sunlight. What else do you need?
We’ve already discussed the basics of solar panels. Now, let’s go over all of the other important components of a solar PV system.The Inverter
The solar inverter is the second most important (and second most expensive) component of a solar PV system. It’s important because it converts the raw Direct Current (“DC”) solar power that is produced by your solar panels into the “plug-the-toaster-in” Alternating Current (AC) power that comes out of your wall sockets. Inverters also have technology that maximizes the power output of that DC energy. There are two basic types of inverters.
Central Inverters
Central inverters are well-tested and reliable systems that have been around for decades. These are the most common types of inverters. With central inverters, every solar panel is wired in a “string” to the inverter box. The conversion from DC to AC occurs at one central location, such as your garage. Because the solar panels are wired in “series,” each panel’s power output depends on all of the panels working. Think of a string of Christmas tree lights. If one bulb goes out, the whole string of lights go out until the bad bulb is replaced. So, if shade from a tree hits one panel, it can seriously diminish the power produced by the whole solar system until the shade clears. This is why an accurate shade analysis is so important.
Micro Inverters
Micro inverters are relatively new to solar. Instead of converting the DC to AC power at a central location, micro inverters are installed right under each solar panel. The main advantage to micro inverters is the ability for each solar panel to transmit power into your home. In other words, each panel is its own solar powered island and keeps churning out solar watts regardless of what happening to the panel beside it. The down side of micro inverters is that they can be more expensive and take more labor cost to replace each inverter. Also, because they’re so new, micro inverter reliability is unproven outside of lab testing.
Inverter Warranties
Central inverters typically carry a 10 year warranty and often go for 12 to 15 years or longer. The leading micro inverter company has a 15 year warranty, but the inverter(s) could last years longer too. In either case, if you stay in the same house for 20+ years with your same solar panels, (which last 20 to 25 years or longer) expect to pay to replace your inverter(s) at some point. How much? Due to manufacturing advances in 15 years, probably less than the current cost of about $1200-$2000. But who knows? Could be about the same price. Time will tell.The BOS (Balance of System)
There are many other less well known and less expensive parts to a solar system. Installers typically wrap these up into “The BOS” or “Balance of System.”
- The balance of system includes components such as wiring, emergency DC disconnects, system monitoring hardware, the frames or “racking” that holds your panels to the roof and at the right angle, nuts, bolts, roof “flashing” to prevent leaks, and more.
The balance of system components required to attach solar panels to your roof is covered in the next section, the Nitty-Gritty on Solar Roofing.Harish Dabasia UKs most connected person in the PV Solar Power/Energy sector Advocate, Ambassador, Introducer, Influencer, Facilitator and Deal maker. Through Act On Solar compiling the UKs First PV Solar installation Map.
See this Amp at http://bit.ly/dNGmy8
The Nitty-Gritty Solar Roofing | Act On Solar Power
Who solar is fited on your roof
Act On Solar Power
Amplify’d from actonsolar.blogspot.com
Act On Solar Power
See this Amp at http://bit.ly/ijokDi
Monday 29 November 2010
The Nitty-Gritty Solar Roofing
Who solar is fited on your roof
Amplify’d from actonsolar.blogspot.com
The Nitty-Gritty Solar Roofing
The Nitty-Gritty Solar Roofing
Not all roofs are created equal for solar, so it’s important to understand a few basic things about roofing when evaluating your home. Here’s the real deal on solar roofing concerns.Different Types of Roofs.
Provided there’s enough space and sun, solar can be installed on any roof. It does, however, cost more to install on tile roofs, shake shingle roofs, and very steep roofs.Tile and shake roofs cost more for solar because there’s no way to walk on them without causing some minor damage, such as breaking a clay tile here and there. Installers will make it right, but it may raise your costs somewhat. Similarly, very steep roofs may take more time to install and require special cranes or equipment. On flat roofs, you may need a few more racks to position the panels at the correct angle. We can account for the different types of roofs with our solar estimate tool.The Condition and Age of Your Roof.
Solar panels covering your roof will certainly reduce some of the weatherization wear on the portion being covered by your roof. However, solar panels are not a replacement for a new roof, unless they’re solar powered roofing tiles (photovoltaic shingles), known as “BIPV” or Building Integrated Photo Voltaic tiles.It’s therefore important to know the warranty on your roof and how many years are left on the life of your roof. If you’re close to the end of your warranty and have had a lot of leaks in the past few years, you should probably replace your roof before going solar. Yes, this will cost you more money, but it will cost you even more in labor costs to remove the solar panels in order to replace or make repairs on your roof after the solar is installed.If you think you’re about five or more years away from a roof replacement, it usually makes sense to go solar first.How are Solar Panels attached to my Roof?
The way panels are attached to your roof depends on the type of roof you have. In general, composite shingle roofs are attached through bolting mounts into your strongest roof rafters and then attaching rails to those mounts.But it’s not just drilling a hole and crossing your fingers. Installers also add sealants into and around the mounts that fill in any gaps. Often the mounts are surrounded by metal “flashing” –coverings that serve as an extra rain proof barrier. Parallel rails are then attached to the mounts and the solar panels are attached to the rails.Live in a townhouse or have some other flat roof? These roofs can be attached with racking and some type of ballast, such as concrete blocks, to keep panels stable and without drilling holes the roof’s structure.Concerned about Solar Panel Theft?
First of all, this is rare. Yes, you might have heard about it in the news, but that’s why it’s news: It doesn’t happen often. The reason is that it’s not something that can be done while you’re sleeping or without someone noticing. Even if a crew were pretending to be solar un-installers, your neighbors are going to notice since you made such a big deal about getting them in the first place.Even if you live in a high crime area, there are locking systems you can buy, as well as special cements that would require a blow torch and a lot of time to remove. A little sticker next to the rack that says that these solar panels are protected from theft by X product should deter thieves from trying.Finally, your solar panels should be covered by your home insurance. This should cost you very little extra or nothing extra, though that may differ by state and if data shows thefts increasing. So far it hasn’t which is why insurance companies charge little to nothing extra to cover solar panel theft or accidents. Check with your insurance agent about your policy.Pole mounts, the non-roof Solar Alternative.
There are cases when a person’s roof and/or garage are facing the wrong way or there’s too much shade. An alternative is a pole mounted solar system. This requires some back yard space and extra cost to dig a trench for running wires from the poles to your home’s electric panel.Next up: The Truth about Solar Batteries and Battery Back-up Systems.
See this Amp at http://bit.ly/fywOm8
Trends in UK PV industry by Harish Dabasia at Solar UK Conference 2011
A prestigious speaking engagement in Solar UK Conference 2011
Amplify’d from www.solar-uk-conference.co.uk
Biography
Topic: Bringing Solar to the UK
James Beal
Renewable Energy Specialist,
UK Trade & Investment
BiographyTopic: TBC
Stuart Brannigan
Managing Director,
Yingli Green Energy Europe GmbH
Biography
Topic: Integrating solar PV into the built environment
Dr Daniel Davies
Chief Technology Officer,
Solarcentury
BiographyTopic: Practical Applications of PV in the UK
Kerry Burns
General Manager, Solarsense
BiographyTopic: Photovoltaic materials and devices: current status and applications Dr Michael Walls, BSc PhD MIMM C.Phys C.Eng FInstP
Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology (CREST), Loughborough University
Topic: Concentrating Photovoltaic Systems
Dr Roger Bentley,
Whitfield Solar
Topic: Building with PV
Hamish Watson
CEO, Polysolar Ltd
Topic: Light Tuning For Solar Cells
Dr Daniel R. Johnson FRSC, C.Chem, MInstP. C.Phys, FRMS, MIMMM, MBA.
Technology Manager,
Intrinsiq Materials Ltd.
BiographyTopic: Energy Management Control
Marc Stanton
Director, Clean Power Solutions
BiographyTopic: Trends in UK PV industry
Harish Dabasia
CEO, Act On Solar Power
Topic: Reducing the risk in photovoltaic systems by means of type testing
Peter Khoury
CEO, IPSOL Energy Ltd
Biography
Dr Ralph Gottschalg Dipl.-Phys, MSc, PhD, CPhys, FHEA, MInsP
Loughborough University
Biography
Topic: Financing trends and models in solar PV
David Kipling FCA
Founder
Clean Earth Capital
Topic: PV Standards
Martin Zennig,
Co-chair
SEMI Europe PV Automation Standards Technical Committee
Biography
Topic: TBA
Power-One Renewable Energy Solutions
Topic: TBA
Finlay Colville
Senior Analyst,
Solarbuzz
See this Amp at http://bit.ly/gxAR1e
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