Solar ... In the news

spgsc531

tunnel wrote: »

Actually Mart, On my journey to work in Sheffield there's a new housing estate being built from scratch at Catcliffe. As far as I can see every new build property on there has some sort of solar, Its mostly PV but there is some thermal too.
Makes me wonder about the planning of it though as they've put panels on near north facing 60 degree pitch roofs(what a waste), hope they got a good deal on the panels

Do you think it could become standard to include some sort of solar on new builds in the UK. Makes sense to us PV's but could put some people off, people like my brother who "doesn't like the look of them"

Wouldn't surprise me if it was Council Bureaucracy forcing them placed where they are 'aesthetically pleasing' rather than where they work best :wall:

With upcoming changes in Building Regulations & Code for Sustainable Homes I read somewhere it's expected solar panels on all new homes by 2017ish. By 2018 all new public buildings are to be zero carbon, 2019 for all new buildings.

The Government forecast 20GW of solar by 2020 I believe?

It's a brave new world we're heading into.

Martyn1981

tunnel wrote: »

Actually Mart, On my journey to work in Sheffield there's a new housing estate being built from scratch at Catcliffe. As far as I can see every new build property on there has some sort of solar, Its mostly PV but there is some thermal too.
Makes me wonder about the planning of it though as they've put panels on near north facing 60 degree pitch roofs(what a waste), hope they got a good deal on the panels

I can certainly see the merit of north facing panels, but only within very specific circumstances.

They have to be 'in addition' to a south (or similar install), that way the lower performance is off-set by the low additional cost, eg if adding 2kWp south for £4k, then adding another 2kWp north for £2k extra might work.

But, roof pitch is absolutely critical to north facing panels. Just PVGIS'd Sheffield and got these numbers (per kWp):

Pitch 60d 50d 40d 30d 20d
South 852 883 895 888 863
North 309 373 449 525 602

So looks like anything over 30deg, or maybe 40deg at a pinch is questionable.

[Edit: formatting is a pain]

Mart.

PS Found some info on new build requirements, but on a PV site, so possibly a little biased, not sure:

http://www.south-facing.co.uk/building-professionals/building-codes-regulations/

spgsc531

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-22063924

What a great idea. Not solar but worth mentioning I thought.

spgsc531

Martyn1981 wrote: »

PS Found some info on new build requirements, but on a PV site, so possibly a little biased, not sure:

http://www.south-facing.co.uk/building-professionals/building-codes-regulations/

I've got a UK Legislation roadmap, but it's pdf. Not sure how to post here.

The_Green_Hornet

Western Power Distribution (WPD) is testing the Static VAr Compensator for Distribution Networks (D-SVC), which is described as "a very clever box".

It adjusts the voltage output so the grid is not in danger of being overloaded.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-21768517

If the trials of the grey box prove successful, it will allow new renewable energy plants to connect without the need for expensive grid reinforcement.

Martyn1981

Obama budget would boost clean energy funding by 40%

http://www.pv-tech.org/news/obama_budget_would_boost_clean_energy_funding_by_40

"Rhone Resch, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), welcomed the budget.

“We praise the president for emphasizing that a transition to sustainable energy sources is vital – and that the U.S. must lead it. Solar is the fastest-growing clean energy technology available today. It is not only powering our nation, it is an engine of economic growth."

Mart.

spgsc531

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/381184/smart-meters-threaten-weather-forecasts

EricMears

spgsc531 wrote: »

http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/381184/smart-meters-threaten-weather-forecasts

I guess that somewhere within a hundred miles of me there must be someone with a smart meter who has prevented the Met Office from issuing helpful forecasts

Martyn1981

http://www.pv-tech.org/news/solar_power_is_fastest_growing_industry_in_us_employment_grew_by_13.2

"The US solar energy industry employs 119,016 Americans and grew 13.2% in 2011-2012, making it one of the fastest growing industries in the country, according to a new web-based mapping tool."

Mart.

rogerblack

tunnel wrote: »

Do you think it could become standard to include some sort of solar on new builds in the UK. Makes sense to us PV's but could put some people off, people like my brother who "doesn't like the look of them"

There are a couple of issues here, which really roll into one.

There is the aesthetic argument - which is that current panels can - in some roof styles - be glaringly obvious, and detract from the visual appeal of the building.
Then there is the question of what will be available in 10 years that might be put in their place?

If, for example, 40% efficient panels, with hot water output for another 20% are available, then your 15% efficient ones on the roof are just going to be in the way.
Similarly, it's not hard to imagine rather more aesthetically designed PV systems.
http://www.solarslate-ltd.com/case-studies.aspx - for example. (No experience of the company)

To a large degree, I'd rather that non-residential buildings were concentrated on, with no limit on size.