Since April of this year, Britain’s six Distribution Network Operators (DNOs) have been able to charge fees for all new applications for connections to the distribution networks. The charges come at a particularly sensitive time for the solar industry, with deployment running at low levels and developers under tremendous pressure to make project economics stack up. For the utility sector, the lack of quality, real-time information on grid availability means that developers have to put in multiple connection applications to try to identify potential sites. So what do these charges mean for the UK solar industry, and what is the STA doing about them?
Solar Trade Association 2nd Aug 2018 read more »
Lightsource BP has expanded its footprint in the private-wire solar space with the completion of a new project in Northern Ireland. Lightsource BP financed, developed and now operates a 6.42MWp utility-scale solar farm at Gibson Farm in Mallusk, Newtownabbey, which provides power to plastics specialist Brett Martin’s manufacturing facility via a direct wire. The project is expected to provide around 14% of the facility’s annual power demand which, when combined with an existing onsite wind turbine, will ensure the firm derives around one-quarter of its power from renewable sources.
Solar Portal 2nd Aug 2018 read more »
