Renewable Energy Installer February 2014 | Page 22

News: Analysis
Knowledge:
PV
Rule Britannia
Sven Armbrecht, sales manager at LG Solar, explains why the future looks bright
for solar in the UK
ncreasing consolidation in the
solar market, anti-dumping
disputes between Europe
and China, and European
governments cutting support
for the solar industry left many wondering if
the market in the UK had fl atlined. However,
recent facts and fi gures tell a very different
story.
I
Grid parity
Even though the market may still need some
support in the short term, it is already very
close to grid parity.
The growth of the market has been
extraordinary and solar power has been the
biggest source of new electricty generation for
two consecutive years now.
And, according to the most recent fi gures
from the Department of Energy and Climate
Change, almost half a million homes in the UK
already have solar panels installed.
Falling costs
Numbers continue to increase with
households facing sky-rocketing energy prices
as the cold season draws in and decreasing
installation costs make it more affordable.
Today, it costs around £7,000 for your average
household to install panels – much less than
in recent years.
And further growth is on the horizon.
The Solar Trade Association aims to double
Now more than ever the
time is right for LG Solar
to expand activities in the
British market and increase
resources
22 | www.renewableenergyinstaller.co.uk
the number of UK households installing solar
panels to 1m – this could be achieved by as
early as 2015.
Now more than ever the time is right for
LG Solar to expand activities in the British
market and increase resources. People
understand the necessity to switch from fossil
fuels to renewable energy – they are the future
of power supply. More PV modules have been
installed than even the most optimistic people
expected. It is a win-win situation after all
as solar power benefi ts the wallet and the
environment.
Product development
The residential market will remain stable
over the next few months, with potential
buyers seeking higher effi ciency modules.
In response to this market demand, we have
increased the effi ciency of our modules by 20
per cent over the last three years, with Mono
X NeoN having the highest output per m 2 of
any LG Solar product.
With the healthy state of the residential
market, we want to support distributors and
installers and help them take advantage of
the growth opportunities. We plan to increase
our visibility, organise further training and
events for installers and distributors, and offer
more products that are tailor-made to fi t the
market’s needs. At this stage, our stakeholders
are looking for a reliable partner and with our
new programme we are aiming to be just that.
Looking ahead
So, what does the future hold for the solar
industry? We will see investments in
technology development that will improve the
effi ciency of modules and increase demand
for smart home electronic systems which
integrate modules into more home products –
participating in the future of the ‘smart’ home.
So, even though there is more
Growing season: Sven Armbrecht, sales manager
at LG Solar, supports the STA’s vision to double
the number of UK households with solar PV over
the next two years
The residential market will
remain stable over the next
few months, with potential
buyers seeking higher
effi ciency modules
consolidation to be expected, we expect solar
to remain at the heart of the renewable energy
market debate and continue to grow over the
next decade.