Opinion
“Seasoned pros can benefit from continual up-skilling to ensure they stay at the top of their
game” Mike Blakeley P31
By guest columnist
Bill Wright,
head of energy
solutions, Electrical
Contractors’
Association
NSC gathers pace
The National Solar Centre continues to
ramp up its activities and outputs, reports
Steve Pester, BRE
n April we held
a well-attended
gathering at Kew
Gardens to launch our
Biodiversity Guide
for solar developments; hot on the
heels of our Planning Guide for
solar farms. These two documents
are free to download
(www.bre.co.uk/nsc).
BRE is also about to release
a new version of the widely-used
guide to simplified wind loading
calculations for solar panels on
roofs (DG489) and a guide to the safe selection and use of DC isolators. A
guide to the performance of PV systems on non-domestic buildings was
published last year. The NSC website upgrade will be completed over the
next few weeks and we will then be able to offer all of these and other key
solar publications from one place.
Aside from publications, the test site for side-by-side comparison of
solar panels and inverters is due to be constructed at the Eden Project
site during the summer and we are currently signing contracts with
manufacturers who are keen to prove the performance and quality of their
products.
These initiatives, as well as our consultancy services, such as
independent inspections and fault diagnoses, are all aimed at supporting
the emerging solar market by providing solid, unbiased information for
installers, developers, financiers, distributors and end users.
I
A
fter an initial burst the
domestic RHI got off to a
slow start with less than
160 accreditations in the first two
weeks, most of these being legacy
applications. It will take time for new
systems to be installed and accredited
but I have heard of an increase of
interest from potential clients. OFGEM
are well prepared for this scheme
using the experience gained from the
non domestic RHI.
The press has been full of news
that the government will be giving
grants to Green Deal applicants for
a range of measures ranging from
insulation to the use of storage
radiators. Figures of up to £7600 have
been claimed to be available per client.
As yet though there are no details of
how to apply and when the finance will be delivered. It is
a shame that the measures did not include any renewable
energy measures such as PV. These installations are not
fully covered by the Green deal as the FiTs payments
cannot be included in the calculation for the ‘Golden Rule’
on payback. This means that the client has to finance
about >60 percent of the cost before they could borrow the
remainder under a Green Deal plan. An additional subsidy,
such as the new measures announced, could galvanise
the industry again. The PV Solar Strategy has helped the
industry but did not identify sources of finance, merely
offering encouragement. An additional shot in the arm is
just what the industry requires to get it back into full gear
and delivering the government’s intentions on PV power
installed.
12 | www.renewableenergyinstaller.co.uk
The Eden Project
biospheres