Opinion
Changes at the BRE
National Solar Centre
Is renewable recovery taking
root? asks Bill Wright, Head
of Energy Solutions, ECA
The National Solar Centre is shifting
its focus in response to the evolving
market. Steve Pester, Principal
Consultant, BRE, explains...
ever a dull
moment in
renewables! The
National Solar
Centre (NSC) is evolving with
the rapidly changing market –
and politics!
With the move into the
manufacturing industry of NSC
director, Jonny Williams, whom
many of you will have come to
know over the past two years,
and who has done a fantastic
job of raising NSC’s profile and
forming collaborations, we
have taken the opportunity
to take stock and change
direction slightly.
Whereas NSC previously
concentrated on a broad range
of services, with consultancy
being the mainstay, we
are now leveraging other
BRE strengths in research,
certification and training,
engaging virtual teams across
the whole organisation.
On the research front, we
are working with universities
and government on topics
such as fire safety and effects
of PV on ecosystems, and we
are actively considering further
collaborative research topics.
We have just launched
a certification scheme for
building-mounted PV systems
above 50kW, which we think
will provide confidence
to building owners, asset
managers and financiers whilst
allowing system developers to
differentiate themselves in the
market. Further schemes are
also planned.
And the third strand –
training – is something that
BRE has provided for many
years, but now leveraging the
success of the BRE Academy,
we will be expanding our
online and classroom training
to meet the ongoing thirst for
renewables know-how for all
audiences, not just the solar
industry. Watch this space!
10 | www.renewableenergyinstaller.co.uk
CURRENT AFFAIRS
N
T
he Energy and Climate Change Committee
recently warned that the UK was set to miss
out on its 2020 renewable energy targets,
and called for substantial policy changes to rectify
the shortcomings.
But it wasn’t all doom and gloom. The
Committee recognised that the UK is likely to
exceed its goal for electricity; positive news after
a year in which changes in policy have led to a
difficult climate for the renewable energy industry.
Despite this, during the summer further
renewables projects were given the green light
– the most notable of these being the Hornsea
Project two. This project, which was announced
in August, and will provide power for 1.6 million
homes and boost employment in Grimsby (my
hometown) and Hull – areas that have been in
need of job opportunities and will, undoubtedly,
welcome the boost it will give their economies.
We need more projects like this one.
Progressing the Swansea Tidal Lagoon would
provide an economic boost to South Wales and
a more forecastable level of renewable power.
Although it has been pipped to the post by a much
smaller scheme in the Shetland Isles, it will be the
first large-scale project of this nature in the UK – and
one whose benefits extend beyond energy efficiency.
Of course, there remains the problem of
ensuring a stable distribution system that can cope
with varying loads but this too seems to be being
addressed, albeit tentatively, with the Government
consulting on ideas for improving energy storage
earlier in the year. The next step is to ensure the
process can be managed in a way that works for
all involved and doesn’t discourage innovation and
evolution – not a small ask by any means.
Despite a stuttering over the last 12 months,
it seems that the age of true renewable power is
right around the corner. Maybe 2017 will be the
year we finally get there...