United Kingdom

With a group purchasing program securing hefty discounts for British households – and attracting thousands of potential customers as a result – solar has a viable business case no matter what further cuts the government throws at the industry.

Offgem has granted Limejump access to the balancing market via its VPP, meaning renewables can, for the first time, participate. Meanwhile, under its latest consultation on the capacity market, the government is considering granting access to renewables.

U.K. investor the Foresight Solar Fund today announced the acquisition of a portfolio of operational PV projects, following a placement of new shares in June which raised around £48.1 million.

The Italian wind energy specialist has joined forces with UK-based investment firm Quercus Investment Partners LLP to acquire another 150 MW of PV plants in Italy.

Circular Energy Storage, a London-based research and consulting group, reports a strong business case for reconstituted electric vehicle batteries for energy storage applications. As the EV and static storage system markets grow rapidly, synergies could be a useful tool for continued cost optimization.

The solar plant was commissioned last week in Ourique, southern Portugal. The project was developed by UK-based renewable energy company Welink and Chinese engineering services provider China Triumph International Engineering (CTIEC).

A team of researchers from the University of Exeter has demonstrated a technique which creates ‘charge funnels’ within certain semiconductor materials. The researchers state that the technique could eventually lead to the development of PV cells with better than 60% efficiency.

While they remain the dominant source of energy supply, there was a shift away from fossil fuels to renewable energy in the U.K. last year. The country is “comfortably” on track to exceed its 30% renewables target, says the government.

Decision comes just days after business and energy department prepares to end export payments for solar households, and with parliament in its summer recess. The permit has outraged green groups, the opposition Labour Party and nearby residents.

Having entered the solar space four years ago with residential rooftop kits, Ikea added storage to its product mix in 2017. pv magazine caught up with Signe Antvorskov Krag, Global Development Leader IKEA Home Solar Business to discuss business models, its role in the industry, and how it intends to execute the next stage of its plan: energy communities.