by Regan Slaymaker | Mar 7, 2024 | Video
It was a pleasure to interview Ross Grier, Chief Operating Officer at NextEnergy Capital, ahead of their participation at Solar&StorageLive London, April 29-30.
Solar&StorageXtra is the new publishing part of the Solar&Storage Live event series where we will be interviewing our esteemed speakers, exhibitors, sponsors and attendees to get their live reactions to the event and the important discussions within the industry.
Ross joined Solar&StorageXtra to discuss NextEnergy Capital, the creation of the UK’s Solar Taskforce, and the importance of collaboration between industry and government.
Ross explained that solar has developed a lot over his ten years in the industry.
The technology has gone from having incredible scepticism around it to being a key factor of the UK’s renewable energy mix.
What consumers cannot forget, however, is that a solar project is not fully complete once built. A solar asset requires constant monitoring and maintenance to ensure its generational efficiency and profitability.
At Solar&Storage Live London, the UK’s Solar Taskforce will take centre stage on our keynote theatre.
The UK’s Solar Taskforce is a genuinely joint government-industry initiative to help set the scene for how the government and future governments will deliver solar.
Ross explained he was initially sceptical round the creation of The Solar Taskforce, but the group is now influencing significant change.
“I was very sceptical… I was concerned it would be a talking shop and would avoid difficult issues and not deliver meaningful output. I have been really impressed by the civil service, ministers, and the industry in having those deep, rich conversations. It’s (The Solar Taskforce) a real springboard for incremental growth of the future of solar.”
For more interviews from Solar&StorageXtra and to keep up to date with all NEW content, subscribe to the Solar&StorageXtra YouTube channel and Newsletter!
To enquire about interviews, submit news and press releases please contact our Editor, Regan Slaymaker, regan.slaymaker@terrapinn.com. For sponsorship and exhibition enquires please contact Tom Moon, tom.moon@terrapinn.com.
by Regan Slaymaker | Mar 5, 2024 | Video
It was a pleasure to interview Daisy Cross, Head of Retail Energy Markets at Energy UK, ahead of their participation at Solar&StorageLive London, April 29-30.
Solar&StorageXtra is the new publishing part of the Solar and Storage Live event series where we will be interviewing our esteemed speakers, exhibitors, sponsors and attendees to get their live reactions to the event and the important discussions within the industry.
Daisy joined Solar&StorageXtra to discuss the importance of Energy UK, the UK’s retail energy market, and the challenges to mass electrification and changing the populations electricity habits to decrease energy prices.
As the main trade body for the energy sector, Energy UK represents a wide range of energy sector companies from those who modernise and decarbonise the energy system to companies that develop products and services for customers.
Daisy explained that achieving a sustainable, stable, and affordable energy sector which meets Net Zero is Energy UK’s objective.
The retail energy market involves energy companies selling electricity directly to energy users, including homes and businesses. Daisy explained the energy market of the future involves a transparency of data and the use of time-of-use tariffs.
The retail market of the future will mean spreading usage more evenly over the course of the day, driven by allowing users to respond to real time information and incentives to help balance the energy system. When consumers change their energy behaviours, fewer spikes in usage will occur. This will then reduce the need for back-up generation to stabilise the grid.
For more interviews from Solar&StorageXtra and to keep up to date with all NEW content, subscribe to the Solar&StorageXtra YouTube channel and Newsletter!
To enquire about interviews, submit news and press releases please contact our Editor, Regan Slaymaker, regan.slaymaker@terrapinn.com. For sponsorship and exhibition enquires please contact Tom Moon, tom.moon@terrapinn.com.
by Regan Slaymaker | Feb 29, 2024 | Video
It was a pleasure to interview Tina Barnard, Chief Executive at Watford Community Housing, ahead of her participation at Solar&StorageLive London, April 29-30.
Solar&StorageXtra is the new publishing part of the Solar and Storage Live event series where we will be interviewing our esteemed speakers, exhibitors, sponsors and attendees to get their live reactions to the event and the important discussions within the industry.
Tina joined Solar&StorageXtra to discuss the importance of the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) and the potential impacts of the Government’s Net Zero cutbacks.
Tina explained the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund is a fund for housing providers to assist properties to reach Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) standards and ultimately help them reach Net Zero targets.
The key challenge is raising funds. The Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund isn’t a full grant, housing providers must match the funds being given.
Once a certainty on funding is confirmed, more properties will be able to reach EPCC standards.
Tina explained Government’s Net Zero cutbacks could be very detrimental to the community housing sector.
“If we haven’t got that leadership, be it Tory or Labour, in terms of reaching Net Zero… housing providers won’t be able to do anything, neither will consumers.”
Tina highlighted that behavioural change from consumers is less likely to occur if there is no incentive from government, whoever is in charge.
For more interviews from Solar&StorageXtra and to keep up to date with all NEW content, subscribe to the Solar&StorageXtra YouTube channel and Newsletter!
To enquire about interviews, submit news and press releases please contact our Editor, Regan Slaymaker, regan.slaymaker@terrapinn.com. For sponsorship and exhibition enquires please contact Tom Moon, tom.moon@terrapinn.com.
by Regan Slaymaker | Feb 21, 2024 | Video
It was a pleasure to interview Adam Firth, the Managing Director of HDM Solar, ahead of their participation at Solar and Storage Live London (April 29-30 2024)!
Solar&StorageXtra is the new publishing part of the Solar and Storage Live event series where we will be interviewing our esteemed speakers, exhibitors, sponsors and attendees to get their live reactions to the event and the important discussions within the industry.
Adam joined Solar&StorageXtra to discuss what solar technologies are leading the way, the importance of collaboration in the renewable energy space, and HDM Solar’s new multi-million-pound investment fund from Angel Investment and DF Capital.
HDM Solar securing this multi-million-pound investment fund will allow the company to expand organically across the UK and Europe. Adam explained HDM have a goal to develop 60 new branches across the UK and Europe.
With more offices, HDM can better serve a wider customer base with even quicker delivery and personal, local service. HDM will create new jobs and hire and develop the best talent to drive the company forward.
HDM Solar’s focus on collaboration has been vital to their success. Adam explained HDM Solar currently work with 30 other wholesalers to buy and sell with each other. Only with industry collaboration will the solar industry place Solar PV on every roof top.
“Our philosophy at HDM Solar is that we love working with others. This has been missing for a few years, there are a lot of independent and nationals (companies) that work in isolation. Partnership is the way forward!”
For more interviews from Solar&StorageXtra and to keep up to date with all NEW content, subscribe to the Solar&StorageXtra YouTube channel and Newsletter!
To enquire about interviews, submit news and press releases please contact our Editor, Regan Slaymaker, regan.slaymaker@terrapinn.com. For sponsorship and exhibition enquires please contact Tom Moon, tom.moon@terrapinn.com.
by Regan Slaymaker | Feb 14, 2024 | Commercial & Industrial Solar, Video
It was a pleasure to interview Jason Hunter, UK Sales Manager (Energy Storage Solutions) for Dale Power Solutions ahead of their participation at Solar and Storage Live London (April 29-30) 2024!
Solar&StorageXtra is the new publishing part of the Solar and Storage Live event series where we will be interviewing our esteemed speakers, exhibitors, sponsors and attendees to get their live reactions to the event and the important discussions within the industry.
Jason joined Solar&StorageXtra to discuss the importance of battery energy storage systems (BESS), the debate around ‘behind the meter’ battery energy storage systems (BESS), and Dale Power Solutions’ ‘Wheel of Success’.
Dale Power Solutions’ ‘Wheel of Success’ is a new energy storage project that will be fully unveiled at Solar & Storage Live London. The battery storage projects are powered by a new and exclusive battery storage tariff from UK utility E.ON which provides guaranteed renewable electricity.
So far, companies modelled under the Dale Power Solutions’ ‘Wheel of Success’ have shown between a 40% and 87% reduction in energy bills, with commercial and industrial companies cutting their CO2 output significantly through the acquisition of a BESS under the unique Dale Power Solutions project.
What the project essentially does is allow an organisation to purchase 100% renewable electricity at night to cheaply charge their BESS which discharges to the site load during operational hours when electricity is more expensive.
Dale Power Solutions partners for the ‘Wheel of Success’ include Eft Systems for the BYD MC Cube product, E.on, Capitas Finance, Chubb insurance and the London Fire Brigade for projects inside the M25, to help ensure the safety of the system.
Eft have over 600,000 BESS Systems installed, both residential and small commercial and are integrating the BYD product with inverters, transformers and EMS for Dale Power Solutions.
Jason explained at a current 11.2MWh behind the meter battery storage project, the business currently consumes 11GWh of electricity per year costing them just over £2,000,000. With Dale Power Solutions ‘Wheel of Success’, this consumer has saved £1,200,000 of their electricity bills and reduced their Scope 2 emissions from 3,700 tCO2e per year to 536t, a saving of over 3,200 tons of CO2e per year!
Make sure to visit Dale Power Solutions at Stand G8 at Solar and Storage Live London, April 29-30 2024!
For more interviews from Solar&StorageXtra and to keep up to date with all NEW content, subscribe to the Solar&StorageXtra YouTube channel and Newsletter!
To enquire about interviews, submit news and press releases please contact our Editor, Regan Slaymaker, regan.slaymaker@terrapinn.com. For sponsorship and exhibition enquires please contact Tom Moon, tom.moon@terrapinn.com.
by Regan Slaymaker | Jan 18, 2024 | Everything Installer, Video
It was a pleasure to interview George Rawding, Communications Manager at GivEnergy, ahead of Solar and Storage Live London where GivEnergy are the title sponsor for the event!
Solar&StorageXtra is the new publishing part of the Solar and Storage Live event series where we will be interviewing our esteemed speakers, exhibitors, sponsors and attendees to get their live reactions to the event and the important discussions within the industry.
George joined Solar&StorageXtra to discuss GivEnergy’s participation at Solar and Storage Live, the potential barriers to installing battery storage systems and GivEnergy’s investment in the local community.
George explained that cost can be the main barrier to the installation of battery storage technology. The cost of living crisis has led to less consumers having the disposable income to install battery storage.
However, GivEnergy are able to keep costs of their products at a lower rate because they manufacture their own products.
Partnering with E.ON and Octopus EVs have allowed consumers a payback scheme to make the transition to a renewable energy system easier and more accessible.
GivEnergy also work with social housing projects so tenants can feel the benefits of renewable energy as standard with no additional cost to their rent.
For more interviews from Solar&StorageXtra and to keep up to date with all NEW content, subscribe to the Solar&StorageXtra YouTube channel and Newsletter!
Make sure to meet GivEnergy at Solar and Storage Live London, April 29-30 2024!
For more interviews from Solar&StorageXtra and to keep up to date with all NEW content, subscribe to the Solar&StorageXtra YouTube channel and Newsletter!
To enquire about interviews, submit news and press releases please contact our Editor, Regan Slaymaker, regan.slaymaker@terrapinn.com.
For sponsorship and exhibition enquires please contact Tom Moon, tom.moon@terrapinn.com.
by Regan Slaymaker | Dec 19, 2023 | Innovation, Video
MCS certified have confirmed a record number of installations for domestic Solar PV, heat pumps, and battery storage technologies in 2023.
On the 13th of December, MCS released data highlighting the increased renewable energy and heating installations to a total of 220,500.
Solar PV technology topped MCS installations, registering 183,022 across 2023. Which is a 42,022 from 2022.
Chris Hewett, Chief Executive of Solar Energy UK, explained the reason for Solar PVs growth is because the technology is a key investment for both homeowners and businesses. Whilst electricity bills remain high, Solar PVs provide cheap decarbonised power that end up paying for itself a few years after installation.
Heat pumps were the second on the year-on-year increase for MCS installations.
In 2023, the UK has seen 35,000 installations of both air source and ground/water source technologies. Since 2008, the total of heat pumps installed increased to 200,000.
A huge part of this is due to the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant increasing its support from £5000 to £7500 in October. From this, applications from the scheme increased from 331 to 1772.
Battery storage technology experienced the third highest increase in installation.
Of the 4700 MCS certified battery storage technologies installed in 2023, 800 of these were in November alone.
More importantly, the number of MCS certified contractors increased drastically from 50 in 2022 to 850 in 2023, allowing for more battery storage technologies to be installed at a faster rate in years to come.
Ian Rippin, Chief Executive Officer of MCS, reacted to the growth in MCS installations and increase in certified contractors:
“It’s a pleasure to report on another record-breaking year for small-scale renewables, illustrating the sector’s sustained upward growth. We had an incredibly busy 2023 and the data confirms the progress we’ve made. The future of small-scale renewable installations is becoming increasingly important, and we continue to play a crucial role in the decarbonisation of the UK’s homes. The growth we’ve seen in domestic renewable electricity systems over the past year may also give some insight into the growing consumer reliance on home-grown energy in the UK during the cost-of-living and energy crises. As electricity prices skyrocket, more people are turning to renewable solutions to generate their own power at home, secure energy independence, decrease their electricity bills, and reduce their carbon footprint.”
For more interviews from Solar&StorageXtra and to keep up to date with all NEW content, subscribe to the Solar&StorageXtra YouTube channel and Newsletter!
Our next event is Solar and Storage Live London, April 29-30 2024!
To enquire about interviews, submit news and press releases please contact our Editor, Regan Slaymaker, regan.slaymaker@terrapinn.com.
For sponsorship and exhibition enquires please contact Tom Moon, tom.moon@terrapinn.com.
by Regan Slaymaker | Dec 6, 2023 | Commercial & Industrial Solar, Video
As the Solar industry continues its unprecedented growth, a lot of information about Solar’s deployment has become misrepresented.
It is the Solar industries job to disprove any myths and inaccuracies. This article will explore and bust the most common myths in the Solar industry.
Myth 1: Solar Panels depend on good weather to work efficiently.
Solar panels are designed to be operational in all types of weather conditions.
- During the testing period of a Solar PV, panels are subjected to temperatures between 65 and minus 10 degrees and winds of up to 140miles per hour.
- As well as this, it is proved that panels work completely fine when it is cloudy, snowy or hailing.
It is important to know that Solar PVs do not need direct sunlight to work, all they need to get the photons operational and electricity generated is sunlight.
The only weather condition that decreases a Solar PVs efficiency is extreme heat, but panels are only affected in temperatures above 40 degrees.
Myth 2: Installing Solar panels reduce the value of your house.
- This is untrue, quite the opposite happens.
The first worry consumers have is that Solar panels damage their homes and reduce their value. However, Solar PVs design frames are designed to fit perfectly on your roof. As well as this, the company you use should send a representative to carry out a visual check and ensure a safe installation.
Once Solar PVs, or another renewable generation, are installed this will only increase the value of your house.
House prices fluctuate due to a variety of factors (location, market, trends, inflation) but government figures have proved that Solar can increase a house’s value. In 2013, Solar was shown to increase house prices by 14%.
In the present day, Rightmove are reporting Solar can increase a house price by 25%.
Myth 3: Solar deployment damages the local environment.
- Again, the opposite is the truth.
Solar Energy UK have released an article explaining there is clear evidence that ‘well designed, well managed Solar can support wildlife habitats and can contribute to contribute to achieving national bio-diversity targets.
Land used for solar power can still be used for all farming and agricultural needs with little to no impact on yields.
Companies have now established AgriPV.
AgriPV are Solar systems that work in synergy with agricultural processes. This technology provides a lot of opportunity for the decarbonisation of agriculture as it integrates the electricity generation with day-to-day business of agriculture.
Once myths like these have been debunked, the Solar industry can continue its growth at a more impressive rate.
If the industry does not address these misconceptions faster, the industry will come across avoidable barriers to deployment.
For more interviews from Solar&StorageXtra and to keep up to date with all NEW content, subscribe to the Solar&StorageXtra YouTube channel and Newsletter!
Our next event is Solar and Storage Live London, April 29-30 2024!
To enquire about interviews, submit news and press releases please contact our Editor, Regan Slaymaker, regan.slaymaker@terrapinn.com.
For sponsorship and exhibition enquires please contact Tom Moon, tom.moon@terrapinn.com
by Regan Slaymaker | Dec 4, 2023 | Commercial & Industrial Solar, Large Scale Utility Solar, Video
It was a pleasure to interview Jason Kirrage, Technical Marketing Manager for SolarEdge Technologies, at Solar and Storage Live in Birmingham this year!
Solar&StorageXtra is the new publishing part of the Solar and Storage Live event series where we will be interviewing our esteemed speakers, exhibitors, sponsors and attendees to get their live reactions to the event and the important discussions within the industry.
SolarEdge are a technology company that were founded in 2006 with the first of their products being available in the UK in 2010. At Solar and Storage Live, SolarEdge were showcasing their innovative new product, the SolarEdge1!
The SolarEdge1 is a new ‘amazing product’ that combines both innovations in software and hardware. Jason explained in the panel discussion before his presentation on the SolarEdge1, the speakers were complaining that ‘no one integrates Solar PV, heat pumps, and electric vehicle (EV) technology together and the technology is difficult to install.’
The SolarEdge1, Jason explained, joins all of these technologies together; any third party or SolarEdge device will now work together. The technology allows for the control and scheduling of electricity generation, the charging and discharging of EVs, all the while taking into account the use of dynamic tariffs.
The SolarEdge1 can adapt to all their customers needs.
SolarEdge also offer a range of residential, commercial, and utility battery energy storage systems. Whether each system includes a battery, back-up, or EV charging system, all of which use the same technology contributing to SolarEdge’s commitment to safety.
“We have no competitors to be honest. SolarEdge are the standard (for safety) everyone should adhere and raise up to.” – Jason Kirrage, Technical Marketing Manager, SolarEdge
SolarEdge offer safety as standard. Optimisers can be lowered to one volt, allowing maintenance to be carried out as easy as possible.
For more interviews from Solar&StorageXtra and to keep up to date with all NEW content, subscribe to the Solar&StorageXtra YouTube channel and Newsletter!
Our next event is Solar and Storage Live London, April 29-30 2024!
To enquire about interviews, submit news and press releases please contact our Editor, Regan Slaymaker, regan.slaymaker@terrapinn.com.
For sponsorship and exhibition enquires please contact Tom Moon, tom.moon@terrapinn.com.
by Regan Slaymaker | Dec 1, 2023 | Innovation, Storage, Video
It was a pleasure to interview Christy Tattershall, Business Development Manager, for SolarPort Systems at Solar and Storage Live in Birmingham this year!
Solar&StorageXtra is the new publishing part of the Solar and Storage Live event series where we will be interviewing our esteemed speakers, exhibitors, sponsors and attendees to get their live reactions to the event and the important discussions within the industry.
Christy Tattershall joined Solar&StorageXtra to discuss SolarPort Systems’ experience at Solar and Storage Live in Birmingham this year and the benefits of SolarPort being a family run business.
The Tattershall family are the masterminds behind the UK’s leading design and manufacturer of Utility-Scale, Modular, Battery Energy Storage and mounting systems. Bringing this family dynamic into the Solar industry is incredibly important to SolarPort, Christy explained that they like to project this dynamic onto their customers and highlight they are dealing with people and not a faceless organisation.
“If someone has a problem, that is our problem. We want to deal with that. It starts with the family, it is the beating heart of our business!” – Christy Tattershall, Business Development Manager, SolarPort Systems
Each of the Tattershall’s have worked in different areas of the Solar industry allowing for SolarPort to benefit from different perspectives and assist their customers in the best way possible.
Christy explained SolarPort had a very successful three days at Solar and Storage Live. The event allowed SolarPort to meet old, new, and present customers and discuss how each stakeholder can benefit from each other. Year after year, Christy said, the conversations at Solar and Storage Live have become more and more fruitful, giving the industry and ‘injection of buzz’ until the next event.
For more interviews from Solar&StorageXtra and to keep up to date with all NEW content, subscribe to the Solar&StorageXtra YouTube channel and Newsletter!
Our next event is Solar and Storage Live London, April 29-30 2024!
To enquire about interviews, submit news and press releases please contact our Editor, Regan Slaymaker, regan.slaymaker@terrapinn.com.
For sponsorship and exhibition enquires please contact Tom Moon, tom.moon@terrapinn.com.
by Regan Slaymaker | Nov 30, 2023 | Storage, Video
It was a pleasure to interview Jeremy Yapp, Policy and Regulation Director for ev.energy, at Solar and Storage Live in Birmingham this year!
Solar&StorageXtra is the new publishing part of the Solar and Storage Live event series where we will be interviewing our esteemed speakers, exhibitors, sponsors and attendees to get their live reactions to the event and the important discussions within the industry.
Throughout our interview, Jeremy discussed how the UK can unlock domestic flexibility and drive electric vehicle (EV) uptake within the UK.
What Jeremy wanted to make clear regarding unlocking domestic flexibility was that we must move away from the thought that the consumer is the only stakeholder responsible when unlocking domestic flexibility. There are various policies and technical challenges that must be correct and they are not…
Jeremy explained, in order to unlock domestic flexibility the community must move away from the notion that ‘your flexibility provider must be the same as your electricity provider’, this is not the case.
ev.energy involve consumers in a virtual EV power plant that can engage customers in managing fluctuations in the grid and allow for more renewable generation.
Driving EV uptake is essential when reaching net zero. Jeremy explained once a customer has driven an EV, very few go back to an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicle. In order to increase the consumer uptake of EVs, car companies must create more EVs because, Jeremy explained, companies can sell them as fast as they can make them.
With more EVs on the market, uptake of these vehicles will increase; as will the secondary market, creating a more accessible and affordable EV market.
For more interviews from Solar&StorageXtra and to keep up to date with all NEW content, subscribe to the Solar&StorageXtra YouTube channel and Newsletter!
Our next event is Solar and Storage Live London, April 29-30 2024!
To enquire about interviews, submit news and press releases please contact our Editor, Regan Slaymaker, regan.slaymaker@terrapinn.com.
For sponsorship and exhibition enquires please contact Tom Moon, tom.moon@terrapinn.com.
by Regan Slaymaker | Nov 28, 2023 | Storage, Video
It was a pleasure to interview Gavin Harper, Met4Tech Research Fellow for University of Birmingham, at Solar and Storage Live in Birmingham this year!
Solar&StorageXtra is the new publishing part of the Solar and Storage Live event series where we will be interviewing our esteemed speakers, exhibitors, sponsors and attendees to get their live reactions to the event and the important discussions within the industry.
Gavin joined Solar&StorageXtra to discuss the importance of recycling materials in renewable technologies to ensure an efficient transition to Net Zero.
Gavin explained a transition to net zero will only be achieved if we increase the lifespan of the materials used in renewable technologies.
Companies must identify the best practise to disassemble out of use technologies and use the materials in new supply chains. Keeping materials within a circular economy will help increase the efficiency of materials, increase businesses positive impact on the environment and provide a valuable resources for the next generation of batteries and Solar panels.
The same process must be included to unlock mass EV uptake. This is an enormous resource opportunity in keeping materials in end-of-life technologies in the system.
Ensuring this process will keep the renewable energy transition as renewable as possible.
For more interviews from Solar&StorageXtra and to keep up to date with all NEW content, subscribe to the Solar&StorageXtra YouTube channel and Newsletter!
Our next event is Solar and Storage Live London, April 29-30 2024!
To enquire about interviews, submit news and press releases please contact our Editor, Regan Slaymaker, regan.slaymaker@terrapinn.com.
For sponsorship and exhibition enquires please contact Tom Moon, tom.moon@terrapinn.com.
by Regan Slaymaker | Nov 27, 2023 | Commercial & Industrial Solar, Large Scale Utility Solar, Video
It was a pleasure to interview Ross Kent, Head of Sales for UK, Ireland & Scandinavia for Q Cells, at Solar and Storage Live in Birmingham this year!
Solar&StorageXtra is the new publishing part of the Solar and Storage Live event series where we will be interviewing our esteemed speakers, exhibitors, sponsors and attendees to get their live reactions to the event and the important discussions within the industry.
Ross joined Solar&StorageXtra to discuss how QCells maintain a close relationship with their customers with growing competition in the Solar market.
Ross explained the main challenge that QCells are facing in the Solar market is the increase in competition with new manufacturers entering the market. With increasing competition, Ross made it clear that QCells must maintain a close relationship with their customers to remaining successful.
QCells are focusing on providing customers with added value outside of reduced price and availability. Ross explained these factors are contributing to all businesses in the Solar industry’s success, QCells must offer more than these two benefits. The additional services QCells offer include:
- Offering in house design and resourcing services for a customer’s projects.
- Providing local level availability.
- On demand service.
Offering additional services like these could allow QCells to stay ahead of new competition entering the Solar market.
“QCells wants… to have a close relationship with its customers. We’ve always had a local presence in the market, we want to be close the installer network and have conversations with them on a daily basis. That is what we are all about!” – Ross Kent, Head of Sales for UK, Ireland & Scandinavia for Q Cells
For more interviews from Solar&StorageXtra and to keep up to date with all NEW content, subscribe to the Solar&StorageXtra YouTube channel and Newsletter!
Our next event is Solar and Storage Live London, April 29-30 2024!
For more interviews from Solar&StorageXtra and to keep up to date with all NEW content, subscribe to the Solar&StorageXtra YouTube channel and Newsletter!
Our next event is Solar and Storage Live London, April 29-30 2024!
To enquire about interviews, submit news and press releases please contact our Editor, Regan Slaymaker, regan.slaymaker@terrapinn.com.
For sponsorship and exhibition enquires please contact Tom Moon, tom.moon@terrapinn.com.
by Regan Slaymaker | Nov 23, 2023 | Innovation, Storage, Video
It was a pleasure to interview Claire Miller, Independent Energy Advisor and Consultant and Former Director of Technology and Innovation at Octopus Electric Vehicles, ahead of Solar and Storage Live in Birmingham this year!
Solar&StorageXtra is the new publishing part of the Solar and Storage Live event series where we will be interviewing our esteemed speakers, exhibitors, sponsors and attendees to get their live reactions to the event and the important discussions within the industry!
Claire joined Solar&StorageXtra to discuss the role of Vehicle-to-Grid in managing electricity demand, unlocking mass EV uptake and making sure the transition to net zero vehicles is accessible for everyone.
Two things Claire wanted to make clear was the delay in implementing new technologies and the accessibility of the transition to net zero vehicles.
Claire explained there are a lot of great technologies that can assist companies transition their fleets to net zero, however the piloting stage of these projects are taking too long. Companies must move away from slow project lifecycles and get the technologies implemented faster. Claire highlighted Volvo, DAF and Scania as companies who have already added net zero vehicles to their fleers.
Ensuring everyone can be a part of the transition to net zero vehicles is essential when reaching net zero. Claire explained there is an inequality at most companies around EV purchasing schemes, where certain employees can miss out on this. As well as this, current infrastructure doesn’t included accessibility at its core. Where disabled individuals are unable to use infrastructure as easily as able bodied individuals.
This must be amended to ensure a collective transition to net zero. There is a design standard, PAZ1899, that aims to ensure all infrastructure is built for everyone. Unfortunately, this is not law.
For more interviews from Solar&StorageXtra and to keep up to date with all NEW content, subscribe to the Solar&StorageXtra YouTube channel and Newsletter!
Our next event is Solar and Storage Live London, April 29-30 2024!
To enquire about interviews, submit news and press releases please contact our Editor, Regan Slaymaker, regan.slaymaker@terrapinn.com.
For sponsorship and exhibition enquires please contact Tom Moon, tom.moon@terrapinn.com.
by Regan Slaymaker | Nov 16, 2023 | Commercial & Industrial Solar, Video
It was a pleasure to interview Sturge Mazzocchi, Head of Partnerships & Business Development for Solar Energy UK, at Solar and Storage Live in Birmingham this year!
Solar&StorageXtra is the new publishing part of the Solar and Storage Live event series where we will be interviewing our esteemed speakers, exhibitors, sponsors and attendees to get their live reactions to the event and the important discussions within the industry.
In association with SSE Renewables, Solar Energy UK launched the recruitment zone; a purpose-built stage attracting new job candidates into the Solar and Storage industry. Sturge Mazzocchi was at the forefront of the Recruitment Zone at Solar and Storage Live this year where 100 job vacancies were available to candidates wanting to enter the industry or wanting a change of role within the renewable energy space.
Sturge explained the importance of initiatives like the Recruitment Zone are to keep up with the rising demand for Solar in the UK. With the demand for Solar generation increasing, the industry will also grow, leading to the need of a larger Solar and Storage workforce. The recruitment zone helped highlight the challenge of filling the new roles in Solar and offered these new roles directly to aspiring candidates.
“The reason why we have done it is because the Solar and battery industries are two that are booming, they are also stretching. They are reaching or exceeding the capacity of their workforce that is needed to meet the high growth demands of Solar. If we don’t put something like the recruitment zone on, what is there to accommodate the need for higher employment?” – Sturge Mazzocchi, Head of Partnerships & Business Development for Solar Energy UK
For more interviews from Solar&StorageXtra and to keep up to date with all NEW content, subscribe to the Solar&StorageXtra YouTube channel and Newsletter!
Our next event is Solar and Storage Live London, April 29-30 2024!
To enquire about interviews, submit news and press releases please contact our Editor, Regan Slaymaker, regan.slaymaker@terrapinn.com.
For sponsorship and exhibition enquires please contact Tom Moon, tom.moon@terrapinn.com.
by Regan Slaymaker | Nov 10, 2023 | Commercial & Industrial Solar, Video
Sun.Store: Amazon for the Solar PV industry
It was a pleasure to interview Agata Krawiec-Rokita, CEO for Sun.Store, at Solar and Storage Live in Birmingham this year!
Solar&StorageXtra is the new publishing part of the Solar and Storage Live event series where we will be interviewing our esteemed speakers, exhibitors, sponsors and attendees to get their live reactions to the event and the important discussions within the industry.
Agata joined Solar&StorageXtra to discuss Sun.Store’s partners, their experience at Solar and Storage Live, and their innovative platform that connects both buyside and sellside companies within the Solar industry.
What the Sun.Store CEO wanted to highlight was the platforms focus to connect both buyside and sellside companies in the PV industry. Sun.Store have unlocked an easy access site for all solar based companies to buy and sell products. Innovative platforms like Sun.Store’s can speed up the process of Solar’s deployment.
“We are a place where people can buy and sell solar equipment. Everyone who has a need to buy modules, inverters and batteries can type Sun.Store and go through all of the offers. At the same time, installers, distributors and wholesalers who want to get rid of their products they can sell it on the platform. It is like Amazon for the PV industry!” – Agata Krawiec-Rokita, CEO for Sun.Store
For more interviews from Solar&StorageXtra and to keep up to date with all NEW content, subscribe to the Solar&StorageXtra YouTube channel and Newsletter!
Our next event is Solar and Storage Live London, April 29-30 2024!
To enquire about interviews, submit news and press releases please contact our Editor, Regan Slaymaker, regan.slaymaker@terrapinn.com.
For sponsorship and exhibition enquires please contact Tom Moon, tom.moon@terrapinn.com.
by Regan Slaymaker | Nov 6, 2023 | Large Scale Utility Solar, Video
It was a pleasure to interview Imogen Fawcett, Senior Account Manager for Copper Consultancy/RSK Group, at Solar and Storage Live in Birmingham this year!
Solar&StorageXtra is the new publishing part of the Solar and Storage Live event series where we will be interviewing our esteemed speakers, exhibitors, sponsors and attendees to get their live reactions to the event and the important discussions within the industry.
Imogen joined Solar&StorageXtra to highlight and debunk some of the most common myths within the Solar industry.
Firstly, Imogen highlighted the agricultural land debate around Solar PV farms. Some believe that the creation of Solar farms will hinder and negatively affect the agriculture industry as well as destroy the habitats of the wild creatures around the farm. This is simply not the case. When a Solar farm is in its development phase, a process is carried out to ensure agricultural practices and the wildlife around these sites are not affected.
Solar Energy UK published a report specifically addressing the agricultural land debate. The study found that 27.5% of people perceive the most important impact of Solar farms is on local wildlife, despite the fact there is clear evidence that ‘well designed, well managed solar can support wildlife habitats and can contribute to achieving national bio-diversity targets.’
The second myth Imogen wanted to debunk was about the location of Solar PV, addressing the location of ground mounted Solar PV farms more specifically. Solar PV farms cannot be built randomly, there are specific explanations why Solar PV projects go where they do.
Imogen explained that only 7% of the public can correctly identify the need of a grid connection when a Solar farm is being built. Education on the placement of Solar PV is one of the first steps in bringing the public on board with Solar PV generation.
“I am speaking on myth busting, the common myths we are facing in the Solar industry and how we can really address that through community engagement. Through community engagement we can bring the public along the ride and get Solar projects consented!” – Imogen Fawcett, Senior Account Manager for Copper Consultancy/RSK Group
For more interviews from Solar&StorageXtra and to keep up to date with all NEW content, subscribe to the Solar&StorageXtra YouTube channel and Newsletter!
To enquire about interviews, submit news and press releases please contact our Editor, Regan Slaymaker, regan.slaymaker@terrapinn.com.For sponsorship and exhibition enquires please contact Tom Moon, tom.moon@terrapinn.com.
by Regan Slaymaker | Nov 3, 2023 | Commercial & Industrial Solar, Innovation, Video
It was a pleasure to interview Georgina Worrall, Head of POWERful Women, at Solar and Storage Live in Birmingham this year!
Solar&StorageXtra is the new publishing part of the Solar and Storage Live event series where we will be interviewing our esteemed speakers, exhibitors, sponsors and attendees to get their live reactions to the event and the important discussions within the industry.
Georgina joined Solar&StorageXtra to discuss the importance of diversity and inclusion practices when achieving Net Zero targets.
Georgina explained that in a report titled the ‘Race to Net Zero’, co-created by POWERful Women and National Grid, by 2050 the industry must need to create 400,000 more jobs to meet the capacity of the energy transition. Of these 400,000 jobs, 260,000 of these do not currently exist and the remaining 160,000 will be those leaving the industry.
When hiring, a new, inclusive and diverse workforce is of paramount importance to reaching Net Zero. The industry cannot be stuck in its ways, hiring the same people for the same roles. What the industry must do is increase the level of diversity and create a more inclusive workforce in the renewable energy space, only then will the capacity for the workforce be reached.
For more interviews from Solar&StorageXtra and to keep up to date with all NEW content, subscribe to the Solar&StorageXtra YouTube channel and Newsletter!
Our next event is Solar and Storage Live London, April 29-30 2024!
To enquire about interviews, submit news and press releases please contact our Editor, Regan Slaymaker, regan.slaymaker@terrapinn.com.
For sponsorship and exhibition enquires please contact Tom Moon, tom.moon@terrapinn.com.
by Regan Slaymaker | Nov 3, 2023 | Everything Installer, Video
It was a pleasure to interview David Hunt, CEO for Hyperion Clean Tech, at Solar and Storage Live in Birmingham this year!
Solar&StorageXtra is the new publishing part of the Solar and Storage Live event series where we will be interviewing our esteemed speakers, exhibitors, sponsors and attendees to get their live reactions to the event and the important discussions within the industry.
David Hunt joined Solar&StorageXtra to discuss Hyperion Clean Technologies’ presence at Solar and Storage Live, diversity and inclusion in the renewable energy space and hiring with best practice in c-level positions.
Hyperion Clean Tech place and emphasis on the importance of diversity and inclusion and assisting the industry in hiring under represented groups into the renewable energy space. David highlighted the achievement of Hyperion where 42% of their hires in 2022 were women. Which, David explained, in a male dominated industry shows the cooperation of their clients and hard work of their partners (Women in Science and Engineering and POWERful Women) providing the right opportunities in front of the right people.
Educating and preparing clients for the importance of diversity and inclusion processes are key for achievements, like Hyperion’s, to be continued.
David Hunt is also moderating a panel at the POWERful Women summit on the 15th of November and hosts a podcast surrounding diversity and inclusion called ‘The Leaders in Clean Tech’ podcast. Here is the link, https://leadersincleantech.com.
For more interviews from Solar&StorageXtra and to keep up to date with all NEW content, subscribe to the Solar&StorageXtra YouTube channel and Newsletter!
Our next event is Solar and Storage Live London, April 29-30 2024!
To enquire about interviews, submit news and press releases please contact our Editor, Regan Slaymaker, regan.slaymaker@terrapinn.com.
For sponsorship and exhibition enquires please contact Tom Moon, tom.moon@terrapinn.com.
by Regan Slaymaker | Nov 3, 2023 | Innovation, Video
It was a pleasure to interview Ian Rippin, Chief Executive Officer of MCS, at Solar and Storage Live in Birmingham this year!
Solar&StorageXtra is the new publishing part of the Solar and Storage Live event series where we will be interviewing our esteemed speakers, exhibitors, sponsors and attendees to get their live reactions to the event and the important discussions within the industry.
Ian Rippin joined Solar&StorageXtra to discuss MCS’ quality assurance services, the creation of the Solar Taskforce and providing a platform to the future leaders in the Solar industry!
Ian highlighted the fact that many of the industry leaders in the renewable energy industry may not be in their position when the UK reaches net zero in 2050. ‘The Future Leaders’ programme will aim to fill these positions and encourage ‘highly skilled individuals’ to take up new leadership roles.
“The Future Leaders Programme is about establishing skills… leadership skills in high potential individuals who we know will be leading the organisations I’ve mentioned (MCS and Solar Energy UK). You can learn how to be a leader and create that capacity for leadership; that is what the programme is about, giving back to the industry… and allowing them to make the best contribution they can.” Ian Rippin, CEO, MCS
For more interviews from Solar&StorageXtra and to keep up to date with all NEW content, subscribe to the Solar&StorageXtra YouTube channel and Newsletter!
Our next event is Solar and Storage Live London, April 29-30 2024!
To enquire about interviews, submit news and press releases please contact our Editor, Regan Slaymaker, regan.slaymaker@terrapinn.com.
For sponsorship and exhibition enquires please contact Tom Moon, tom.moon@terrapinn.com.
