REI – the leading magazine for the renewables sector since 2008
Editorial panel members
The edge of glory
S
o spring has fi nally arrived and with it the promised launch of
the domestic RHI.
At the time of writing, no date has been offi cially confi rmed
other than a pledge by Greg Barker on Twitter that news will
arrive no later than Easter Day, on April 20.
Somewhat conveniently to the written press, the introduction of such a
transformative scheme lends itself nicely to a whole host of seasonal clichés including
‘rebirth’, ‘renewal’ and ‘rejuvenation’ – from which I will spare you. Needless to say the
sector has been primed for some time for rapid expansion once we hear the starting gun.
The excitement and anticipation I refer to is not simply blind faith or misplaced
hope either. From speaking to many of you at Ecobuild, which itself defi ed doom-
laden predictions to register a modest increase in visitor numbers on last year, the age
of consolidation is evidently now over as installers prepare for increased demand for
renewable heating systems.
Closer to home, spring has also proven to be a fruitful time for REI now that the
Energy Effi ciency & Renewables Awards have been taken under our wing. Originally
conceived by Dan Caesar, already a well-known face to many readers, we will work
closely with him and his company Energise to bring you the awards this autumn. I
encourage you to put forward your company now that the nomination period has begun.
This is an exciting time for REI and indeed the industry as a whole. Further details
will be announced in due course so please watch this space.
Andy Buchan,
CEEC, Future
Renewable Energy Andy Boroughs,
Organic Energy
Garry Broadbent,
Lifestyle Heating Cathy Debenham,
YouGen
Ryan Gill,
Evoco Energy Liz McFarlane,
Zenex Solar
Steve Andrews,
Ecoskies Phyllis Boardman,
Green Deal
Consortia
Robert Burke,
HETAS Gideon Richards,
MCS
Contents
NEWS KNOWLEDGE
05 News
Nominations open for Energy Effi ciency &
Renewables Awards
07 Analysis
Solar Aid hits the million mark
11 Profi le
How Solway Renewables survived the
PV slump 17 Solar PV
The British revival
21 Biomass
23 Wind
25 Heat pumps
Yorkshire Heat Pumps and Gledhill
28 Commercial
32 Data
34 Case studies
37 Training
38 My working week
Otter South West
OPINION
12 REI’s regular MCS column
15 Q&A Vaillant
ISSN 2049-3525
Editor: Paul Stephen
Sales director: Jonathan Hibbert
Circulation manager: Sandra Curties
Managing director: Nick Smith
Published by: Ashley & Dumville Publishing Ltd,
Caledonian House, Tatton Street,
Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 6AG
Advertising
Tel: 01565 626760
Email: [email protected]
Editorial/press releases
Tel: 01565 653283
Email:[email protected]
www.renewableenergyinstaller.co.uk
Sign up for
our digital
newsletter
TODAY
by visiting
Don’t forget to follow us
@REI_digital
Our partner
organisations
www.renewableenergyinstaller.co.uk | 3