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Ticking all the Boxes

09 July 2015 | Updated 01 January 1970
 

The Solar Trade Association (STA) has published what it claims to be a ‘simple and clear’ checklist to provide managers in commerce and industry the confidence to put solar equipment on their roofs. 

Commercial and industrial roofs dominate the solar market in Europe but in the UK this particular sector accounts for only 5% of all solar deployment to date. However as part of DECC’s 2014 Solar PV Strategy the emphasis is now changing ‘significantly’ towards boosting rooftop installations. The STA states that it and its members are working closely with government to help capitalise the ‘huge potential’ across the UK.

The small commercial roofs sub-market (50kW-250kW) is growing steadily but slowly with 170mW installed in total across 1,200 installations. One of the limiting factors to the market is commercial awareness and confidence from rooftop owners who need reliable guidance.

The government focus on this sector and the STA work to support, identify and break down barriers, is now showing signs of ‘significant’ growth in this market; the first quarter of 2015 saw deployment double compared with the first quarter of 2014.

Despite this, the latest DECC data shows there are only 70 larger-scale (250kW plus) solar roofs installed across the UK and this is where more focus and support is required to tackle the limited deployment. The STA argues that more high profile schemes, e.g. the Jaguar Land Rover and BMW car factory roofs are needed.

The STA has previously identified administrative barriers to the incorporation of solar power on commercial premises. The Cameron government is acting to remove several of these, including permitted development rights for solar up to 1mW (meaning it will not need planning permission) and the ability to shift rooftop schemes if companies move premises.

“From Apple and Amazon to Marks & Spencer and Wal-Mart, many well known companies are going solar to reduce their carbon footprint and because they want the reliable and clean power supply solar provides during work hours,” explained Paul Barwell, CEO, STA. “Many companies want to follow suit and if we can help them to identify competent contractors then we will have more UK success stories. We hope our Confidence Checklist will encourage more commercial sector managers to install solar on the roofs of their company premises.”


 

Range of applications

The checklist can be downloaded from the STA website and is applicable to all size of commercial rooftop installation, from schools and small businesses to large supermarkets and factories.

Solar equipment has been installed on a ‘huge’ range of structures across the UK, including bridges, airports, city skyscrapers, railway station roofs, car parks and even motorway sound barriers. It can also be integrated in to buildings, embedded in glass as windows and also included as a vertical building facade.


 

Government approval

The government has welcomed the STA initiative with Energy Minister Andrea Leadsom MP stating that: “Solar is an integral part of the UK’s energy mix. It’s great to see industry initiatives like this boosting confidence and take-up, so hardworking families and businesses can benefit from low-carbon energy and lower bills.”

The Solar Trade Association’s Technical Specialist Chris Roberts, who developed the checklist in partnership with STA members said:

“Speaking to our members and interested commercial companies, it is clear that many commercial managers will benefit from guidance to help them navigate the installation of a solar scheme, which can be complex. Much of the currently guidance is simply too technical. Managers want to know how to identify a quality contractor to work with. Our checklist helps them to do this, and to monitor the project effectively as it proceeds.”

Picture: Commercial and industrial roofs in the UK account for only 5% of all solar deployment to date

Article written by Mike Gannon | Published 09 July 2015

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