MCS has updated its solar PV Standard as it celebrates the “encouraging levels” of new installations. The certification scheme said that installations were up 5% in July and August 2020 compared with the year before, with MCS CEO Ian Rippin saying that the figures “paint a really positive picture” following hurdles such as the closure
Installers are calling for an extension to the Green Homes Grants by at least eighteen months. A survey conducted by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) of over 800 of its members found that 44% of contractors believe it should be extended past its initial six months (September 2020 to March 2021), with 73% planning to
This article will describe the main applications of energy storage systems and the benefits of each application. The continuous growth of renewable energy sources (RES) had drastically changed the paradigm of large, centralized electric energy generators and distributed loads along the entire electrical system. Nowadays, there are many renewable energy resources located much closer
A switch to an electric car and rooftop solar by ex-oil engineer Larry Narraway has zero emissions and zero downside, he says. In an interview with Tasmanian reporter Rose Grant, on behalf of the Australian Electric Vehicle Association (AEVA) and sustainability magazine Renew’s Sustainable House Day, Larry describes how he is re-evaluating his carbon impact,
An important thing to consider when getting solar panels installed on your roof is the possibility of having trouble from birds and other pests. Birds in particular can be keen to roost under and between solar panels because of the shelter they provide - the result can be significant amounts of bird mess around the
An independent trial compared 18 batteries in lab conditions, and not all survived. If you've got solar panels on your home, or you're considering getting them, then you're probably wondering if you should get a storage battery as well – and if so, which one is best? An independent trial of 18 solar power batteries
There is still ‘little evidence’ that the UK government has confronted the enormous scale of reaching net zero, according to a new report by the Institute for Government. It warns that meeting the challenge of decarbonisation is more challenging than responding to the COVID-19 pandemic or getting Brexit done, as it will require transformations of
It is well known that COVID-19 has caused low energy demand and the growth of renewable energy across Europe. Now, Andrew Tang, Vice President for Energy Storage at Wärtsilä, predicts this will result in swift action to build better grid resiliency. The share of renewable power across Europe has skyrocketed over the last six
[I found this article very insightful and I agree with most of his points - it's well worth a read. Trevor] With the US presidential election campaigning in full flow, news and social media has descended into the depressing blue team versus red team idiocy that experience tells us leads nowhere. The supporters of
The impact of fossil fuels on the environment is pushing architects and engineers to make buildings greener — and, when possible, fossil fuel-free. Hundreds of design decisions can impact a building's energy efficiency, making fossil-fuel-free structures more or less workable. Multilayered window designs can trap heat, making climate control systems more efficient. Advanced appliances can