Although the prospects for large-scale British solar appear grim, the U.K. trade association for the industry says the compelling economic case offered by PV is ensuring activity continues despite a prolonged policy vacuum. The U.K.’s Solar Trade Association (STA) says the latest figures released by the government’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) bear out its fears over the demise of large-scale PV in the country. But the STA’s Leonie Greene has told pv magazine local councils and commercial customers are forging ahead with solar installations despite a lack of policy support from politicians. “We did see a very interesting new solar farm last year from West Sussex County Council,” said the STA spokeswoman. “Local government is catching onto the reliability of solar as an investment that can help to secure sustainable incomes for frontline services. Indeed one council, Warrington, committed £59 million last year to solar developments, so it’s a serious agenda and local government is in a particularly good position to structure attractive projects.” The potential of solar self-consumption to reduce energy bills is leading councils to consider PV, provided they can raise the upfront capital required.
PV Magazine 5th Feb 2019 read more »
The Department for Transport (DfT) has awarded multi-million-pound funding to trials of solar used in conjunction with railways, roads and footways. Last week the DfT announced a raft of new funding deals, the first of which is a project that has won a share of a £1.75 million pot allocated to carbon-cutting rail schemes. That project will assess the viability of using solar to directly power trains and is one of five low carbon rail projects which will receive £350,000 each.
Solar Power Portal 5th Feb 2019 read more »