United Kingdom

At the recent World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, Octopus Energy’s founder and CEO Greg Jackson urged market participants in the renewable energy sector to tap low-cost renewables to drive both clean energy adoption and acceptance. His speech was part of IRENA’s Innovation Day at WFES on January 14, 2025 and set the scene for a subsequent panel discussion on the topic “Digitalization to support the 3x Renewables Goal.”

Sunswap brings manufacturing in-house at headquarters in Leatherhead, near London, following a successful fundraising round. Offering solar and battery-powered refrigeration for transport, the UK business has international ambitions.

New research from the UK finds institutional actors have greatest influence over planning consent, however, public support also has a statistically significant impact. Improved public engagement from developers could bolster solar planning applications in England.

The researchers built the cell with a hole transport layer (HTL) based on PEDOT:PSS and were reportedly able to reduce the losses caused by this compound with the utilization of a thiocyanate additive. The champion lab-sized device achieved an open circuit voltage of 0.875 V, a short circuit current density of 31.84 mA cm−2, and a fill factor of 83.23%.

In an update to the two companies’ strategic partnership, Octopus customers with Enphase solar and battery systems can now benefit from a smart import and export tariff designed to save money on electricity bills.

West Burton and Heckington Fen solar and storage projects secure development consent orders from UK government. The two plants are latest in a line of major solar projects approved since the Labour government took office in July 2024.

UK startup Wondrwall has developed a hybrid battery-inverter system for homes, offering up to 25.6 kWh of energy storage capacity.

Scientists have measured the performance of PV modules under strong soiling conditions in Saudi Arabia and have identified the most suitable tilt angles for improving power generation. They have also found that a key role is played by rain intensity, dust, sandstorms, and cloud cover.

Big results needed in next two contracts for difference (CfD) allocation rounds to hit UK renewables targets, according to Aurora Energy Research. Solar likely to benefit from greater CfD budgets as government targets faster deployment, Marc Hedin, head of research for UK and Ireland, tells pv magazine.

Scientists have developed a multi-physics thermal model for panels with a natural convection cooling loop and tested it against experimental data. They have also experimented with varying the coolant channel thickness and different coolants. The highest measured electrical efficiency reached 15.45%.