REI – the leading magazine for the renewables sector since 2008
Editorial panel members
The great beyond
T
he start of a new year typically heralds talk of renewed
optimism, not least from B2B magazine editors, but does 2015
represent a new dawn for the renewables sector? – sadly not,
judging by the evidence.
Perhaps I’m still shaking off a bad case of January blues, but the uncertainty brought on
the sector by tumbling oil prices and political manoeuvring from our beloved MPs is difficult
to ignore.
Of course the big story for the next few months is the General Election and what its
outcome will mean for installers. Can there be a ‘greenest government ever’ more than once
if Mr Cameron retains power, or would Mr Miliband and his coterie put the environment any
higher up the political agenda?
The good news is that financial support for renewables looks certain to be maintained
for at least the first half of the next parliamentary term, and investment will be forthcoming
just as much through economic necessity as via cynical attempts to gain political capital.
Growth in the sector has been one of the few success stories for the coalition in a time
of ruthless recession and slow economic turnaround. FiT is working, dRHI is finding its feet
and Green Deal has not least demonstrated a strong marketplace for energy efficiency, even
if it is the favoured candidate for wholesale change, regardless of the makeup of the next
government.
Moving firmly into the present, ISH and Ecobuild are almost upon us – exciting events
offering an array of new products and business opportunities ahead. As official media
partners, you can visit the REI team on stand N6133 at London’s ExCel.
Last but not least, I’d like to welcome four new faces to REI’s editorial panel. Messrs
Pollard, Sowden, Joyner and Kellett require very little in the way of introductions and I look
forward to working with all the panel on a range of interesting projects throughout 2015.
Andy Buchan,
CEEC, Future
Renewable Energy Dave Sowden, SEA
Garry Broadbent,
Lifestyle Heating John Kellett,
Mitsubishi Electric
Paul Joyner,
SBS Liz McFarlane,
Zenex Solar
Tim Pollard,
Plumb Center Phyllis Boardman,
Green Deal
Consortia
Robert Burke,
HETAS Gideon Richards,
MCS
Contents
NEWS KNOWLEDGE
05 News
A look ahead at ISH 2015
06 Analysis
Jeremy Hawksley on OFTEC’s move into
renewables
10 Profile
4eco lifts the lid on the lack of standards for
power diverters 25 Ecobuild
Behind the scenes
29 Heat pumps
31 Biomass
35 Solar PV
Panasonic, Enphase and Evo Energy
43 Wind
RWE Innogy UK
45 Commercial
50 Case studies
54 My working week
Go Green System
OPINION
15 REI’s regular MCS column
18 Two minutes with the STA
ISSN 2049-3525
Editor: Paul Stephen
Sales director: Jonathan Hibbert
Circulation manager: Sandra Curties
Managing director: Scott Masheder
Published by: Ashley & Dumville Publishing Ltd,
Caledonian House, Tatton Street,
Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 6AG
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Tel: 01565 626760
Email: [email protected]
Editorial/press releases
Tel: 01565 653283
Email:[email protected]
www.renewableenergyinstaller.co.uk
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