Discover Solar

Weekly Solar PV Installations (ending 7th October 2012)

Sara Pernas — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 13:50:07 +0000

One Wednesday more, the Department of Energy and Climate Change reveals the number of solar pv installations done in the UK, that have remained the same for the last weeks since the new Feed-in Tariffs started.

Still awaiting for updates¹, the initial installation numbers for the week ending 7th October 2012 show 1,346 installations in that week compared to 1,406 for the week ending 30 September 2012. The total number of installations on the Microgeneration Certification Scheme database is now 375,223, up from 373,877 from last week. The total capacity installed increased by 4.4 MW, to stand at 1.3 GW right now.

Despite the bad results of the week after the new Feed-in Tariffs started in August 2012, solar pv installations figures have remained the same or even slightly grown during the last four weeks. In less than a month, the new November Feed-in Tariffs will start, and although a new drop in the number of installations is expected, it won’t be as huge as the lastest. Have a look to the chart below to see how the solar pv market has changed since the beginning of this year:

Solar PV Installations done in the UK during 2012

¹The latest registrations have to be reviewed and updated. For any enquiries, don’t hesitate to contact us or directly to DECC Statistics Department.

Weekly Solar PV Installations (ending 30th September 2012)

Sara Pernas — Thu, 04 Oct 2012 13:57:13 +0000

This week Department of Energy and Climate Change solar pv installations figures are even better than last week, despite the fact that the Feed-in Tariffs were reduced last August 2012.

Still awaiting for updates¹, the initial installation numbers for the week ending 30th September 2012 show 1,406 installations in that week compared to 1,250 for the week ending 23rd September 2012. The total number of installations on the Microgeneration Certification Scheme database is now 373,877, up from 372,473 from last week. The total capacity installed increased by almost 4.6 MW, to stand at 1.3 GW right now.

¹~~The latest registrations have to be reviewed and updated. For any enquiries, don’t hesitate to contact us or directly to DECC Statistics Department.~~

Updated 10th October 2012

Solar energy generation in the UK increases by 840% in one year

Sara Pernas — Tue, 02 Oct 2012 15:43:10 +0000

A report published last Friday by the Department of Energy and Climate Change shows that while production of fossil fuels in the UK fell by 10.1% with both oil and natural gas production plummeting by 12.2% and 13.9% respectively, renewables generation increased by 6.5% in the second quarter of 2012, in comparison to the same period of the previous year.

General figures reveal that energy consumption in the UK increased by 5.1%, largely driven by a 32.8% increase in domestic energy consumption from last year, which saw much milder weather. DECC has also revealed that electricity and gas prices kept on increasing, with a 5.5% and a 13% rise respectively.

Regarding renewable energy results, renewables’ share of electricity generation increased from 9% in the second quarter of 2011, to 9.6% in the second quarter of 2012. Generation from solar energy increased from 0.05 TWh to 0.5 TWh – around 840% – and low wind speeds and rainfall led to falls in onshore wind and hydro generation respectively. Renewable electricity capacity increased 42.4%, standing at 14.2 GW at the end of the second quarter of 2012.

In England, the region with the largest renewable capacity is the East, where over half comes from bioenergy and 31% of capacity is from wind. When combined, the South East, North West and East regions account for nearly two-thirds of England’s renewable capacity. On the other hand, London and the West Midlands have the lowest capacities.

For more information, click here to read the full report or visit DECC’s website,

Weekly Solar PV Installations (ending 23rd September 2012)

Sara Pernas — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 09:57:30 +0000

One more week, the weekly report published today by he Department of Energy and Climate Change show some good results for the solar panel installations done this last week ending 23rd September.

Although still provisional¹, the figures show that 1,250 solar pv installations have been done this week, in comparison with week ending 16th September. The total number of installations registered on the MCS is 372,473 now up from 371,125, and the total capacity installed increased by 4.1 MW, to stand at 1.3 GW.

Despite the recent reductions in the Feed-in Tariffs, and as reported by the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission, everything points out a new era in the European solar market. Customers are now more concerned about their CO2 emissions and energy consumption. Also, with electricity prices rapidly increasing, a realistic alternative is needed. Solar energy costs are considerably dropping down, and the efficiency is being maximised thanks to the development of more and better solar technologies. Solar energy not only guarantees savings, but also self-efficiency and a better planet for the new generations.

¹~~The latest registrations have to be reviewed and updated. For any enquiries, don’t hesitate to contact us or directly to DECC Statistics Department.~~

Updated 4th October 2012

European Solar PV capacity keeps increasing despite the reductions on the Feed-in Tariffs

Sara Pernas — Wed, 26 Sep 2012 12:30:56 +0000

Due to the benefits of solar energy and the drop of the cost of solar panel installations, and despite the recent reductions in the Feed-in Tariffs not only in the UK but also in Germany, Italy and Spain – where the green technology fundings were completely cut -, the figures of the total solar energy installed in Europe keep on growing.

A recent report published by the Joint Research Centre of the European Commission reveals that last year, 46.1GW of new energy capacity was installed in Europe, with 56% coming from photovoltaic technology, and meeting, this way, 2% of all of its electricity demand using solar power - the amount of energy needed to power Austria, as reported by Business Green. The report also highlights that the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Czech Republic, France and Belgium are the leaders in installed solar photovoltaic capacity in all Europe.

Arnulf Jager-Waldau, senior scientist for renewable energy at the Joint Research Centre, said that “From 2008 to second quarter of 2012, residential PV electricity system prices have decreased by almost 60 per cent in the most competitive markets, and in some markets, the cost of PV-generated electricity is already cheaper than residential electricity retail prices,” he wrote. “Due to falling PV system prices and increasing electricity prices, the number of such markets is steadily increasing.“

Via Wired.

First Green Deal boost: £12m to seven cities across the UK

Sara Pernas — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 13:02:10 +0000

Seven cities across England will receive £12m from the £200m Green Deal incentives funding, to support and help them in their ambitious challenge to lower the carbon emissions of their respective regions.

The proposals made by these seven cities – Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield – include retrofitting properties across whole communities – it’s expected that around 2,500 retrofits will be undertaken for households and non-domestic properties -, and it’s been also proposed that the cities will generate match funding and/or provide direct support by themselves.

Energy Secretary Edward Davey said: “These cities have really ambitious plans to lower their emissions, reduce energy use and help people save money on their bills. I’ve been really impressed by their plans to start testing the Green Deal and transforming our homes and buildings.“

The Green Deal, starting next October 2012, is a financial mechanism that eliminates the need to pay upfront for energy efficiency measures, providing reassurances that the cost of the measures should be covered by savings on the electricity bill. Earlier this year, the Government announced that cities would be given greater freedoms, powers and tools to help them go for growth.

Weekly Solar PV Installations (ending 16th September 2012)

Sara Pernas — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 11:51:35 +0000

This last week ending 16th September 2012, solar pv installation figures published by the Department of Energy and Climate Change demonstrate that the solar market is still being successful despite the bad expectations expressed before the latest changes in the Feed-in Tariffs scheme were made.

Still awaiting for the publication of the final results1, there have been 1,303 solar panel installations this week ending 16th September compared to 1,305 from last week. The total number of installations on the MCS database is 371,125 now, up from 369,822, and the total capacity installed increased by 4.0 MW, to stand at 1.3 GW (week ending 16th September 2012).

By the looks of it, UK residents are starting to realise solar energy advantages are not only the income generated by the Feed-in Tariffs. Solar panel systems are much more than that: a solar pv system not only saves money but also energy, contributing at the same to reduce our carbon footprint. Moreover, with prices rapidly dropping down, the up-front cost of a typical solar panel installation is now easily to afford, and homeowners are seeing their initial investments recovered quicker than expected.

~~¹The latest registrations have to be reviewed and updated. For any enquiries, don’t hesitate to contact us or directly to DECC Statistics Department.~~

Updated 27th September 2012

Brighton will benefit from first community-funded solar panels project

Sara Pernas — Mon, 17 Sep 2012 11:18:56 +0000

Brighton is set to be the first community-funded domestic solar under Abundance Generation and Padero South Downs innovative project, that allows anyone to invest directly in renewable energy projects in the UK with a minimum £5.

The idea of the project is providing investors with an expected return of 6-7.8% over the next 20 years through the Feed-in Tariff scheme. The website provides a direct connection with the projects customers invest in, and contains live information about the energy generated, the weather at the site and the expected return the investors are earning.

Abundance – How it works from Abundance on Vimeo.

Abundance and Padero South Downs have raised enough funds from its community debenture to carry out its first round of solar panel installations in Brighton, that is committed to spending a minimum of £500,000 on installing solar arrays across many homes in the city and the surrounding area.

Weekly Solar PV Installations (ending 9th September 2012)

Sara Pernas — Thu, 13 Sep 2012 11:58:32 +0000

Still awaiting for the final figures¹, the Department of Energy and Climate Change published yesterday a new Weekly Solar PV report, showing some good figures. The initial results reveal 1,305 solar pv installations have been done this week ending 9th September, in comparison to 961 done during the week before. The total number of installations on the MCS database 369,936, up from 368,631 (week ending 2nd September 2012), and the total capacity installed increased by 4.2MW, to stand at 1.3GW.

Despite the fact that Feed-in Tariffs keep on dropping down, it seems solar energy doesn’t only mean money for the British population. There have been around 4,000 solar pv installations all along the country since 1st of August, when last changes in the FITs scheme were done, and everything points out to a possible balance in these installations figures. Solar panels are not only a good investment for your home in terms of money, but also a good way to reduce your carbon footprint.

If you are thinking in making your home more self-efficient in order to meet the energy levels of The Green Deal – starting October 2012 -, feel free to contact us calling at 01621 85 66 28 or by email to sales@discoversolar.co.uk, and get a free quotation for your solar panels installation.

~~¹The latest registrations have to be reviewed and updated. For any enquiries, don’t hesitate to contact us or directly to DECC Statistics Department.~~

Updated 21st September 2012

European Commission starts investigation against Chinese manufacturers

Sara Pernas — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 12:46:51 +0000

Almost two months after Eu ProSun, a new sustainable solar energy initiative to maintain a sustainable and vibrant solar manufacturing base in Europe, complained of unfair Chinese practices in the solar market, the European Commission has decided last 6th of September to start an investigation and to come to a decision on anti-dumping duties.

Milan Nitzschke, President of EU ProSun, the Sustainable Solar Energy Initiative for Europe said: “The European Commission took a big step today to save Europe’s green tech sector and broader manufacturing base. Chinese companies are selling solar products in Europe far below their cost of production, with a dumping margin of 60 % to 80%. This means that Chinese solar companies are making enormous losses, but are not bankrupt because they are bankrolled by the state. Such practices have led to over 20 major European solar manufacturers going out of business already in 2012 alone. If China destroys the EU solar industry where labour accounts for less than 10% of production costs, then virtually all European manufacturing sectors and jobs are under threat.”

Although solar panels manufacturing costs are dropping down thanks to technological advances, nowadays China is still capturing around 80% of the European market due to the dumping of subsidised Chinese production. If anti-dumping measures are imposed, not only Chinese monopoly would be stopped, but European solar market would also maintain, creating more jobs and helping to the growth of the European solar industry.

Nitzschke concluded: “EU ProSun calls on the EU to impose anti-dumping duties to restore fair competition and create a level playing field with China as soon as possible. If the EU acts quickly, we have a chance to maintain a sustainable solar manufacturing base in Europe.”

For further information please visit www.prosun.org or contact info@prosun.org

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Weekly Solar PV Installations (ending 7th October 2012)

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