UK solar

Overall, the United Kingdom reached a cumulative installed PV power capacity of 12.93 GW as of the end of August. Around 45% of this is represented by solar parks exceeding 5 MW in size, while another 20% come from residential installations up to 4 kW. Newly installed PV capacity for the first eight months of this year was just 155 MW.

With the U.K. government apparently preparing to deal another blow to solar by abolishing export payments for small-scale generators, the contribution of the country’s agricultural sector to the industry could be more important than ever.

Despite many still believing green energy tariffs are more expensive, U.K.-based uSwitch finds that half of the 10 cheapest tariffs on the market are termed eco-friendly, thus challenging the big six energy suppliers.

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.

The U.K. Government is proposing closing both generation and export tariffs for renewables on March 31, 2019. The country’s solar trade association calls for clarity on the policy framework going forward, for both industry and potential investors.

U.K.-based water company, Northumbrian Water has entered into a partnership with Lightsource BP for the development of 10 new solar farms at its sites, which are expected to generate 10 GWh of clean electricity each year to help power its operations.

The new product, available to U.K. online customers, will retail from £3,000 for a standalone battery, or for as little as £6,925 for the solar panel-plus-battery package.

Second large-scale solar investment in 2017 sees the London-headquartered investment firm snap up the Sandridge solar farm in Wiltshire, southern England.

The British solar developer has purchased 1.32 MW of residential solar PV installations from Ecos Solar Nine as it continues its pivot towards O&M and PV monitoring in the U.K.

Renewable energy investment platform, managed by Egypt’s EFG Hermes, to purchase TerraForm Power’s U.K. solar portfolio for £470 million.