It’s Gala Year in Glasgow as it celebrates 850 years since the city gained Burgh status in 1175. It is 10 years since All-Energy, the UK’s largest renewable and low carbon energy exhibition and conference took up residence in Glasgow at the SEC, which this year celebrates its 40^th anniversary. What’s more, All-Energy’s headline sponsor, Shepherd and Wedderburn, celebrates its 11^th year in that role. All will combine to make this year’s show on 14 and 15 May, in the middle of Glasgow Climate Week, a very special two days.  

Registration has opened today (10 February) at https://www.all-energy.co.uk/25 and is free to all with relevant business, governmental and academic interests. It includes admission to the major exhibition conference and Civic Reception that is an integral part of the Giant Networking Evening 

“Records tumbled last year, and we are looking forward to more of the same this year”, explained Event Manager, Anam Khan of RX who own and organise the annual event. “Our total attendance rose by 21% to 11,736, with people from 80 countries. The exhibition with its 270 exhibitors received plaudits in plenty, as did the main conference and show floor theatre programmes in which around 600 speakers took part.  

“We are delighted Acting Climate Action Minister, Dr Alasdair Allan MSP, will be delivering a keynote address in the session devoted to ‘Scotland’s Heat Transition’.“ Other speakers over the two days include Chris Stark CBE, Head of Mission Control, at the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ); Keith Anderson, CEO of ScottishPower; Tom Glover, UK Country Chair, RWE Dhara Vyas, Chief Executive, Energy UK, Darren Davidson, Vice President, Siemens Energy UK&I and Siemens Gamesa UK; and Jonathan Cole, Chair of the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC). 

This year is proving exceptional for the exhibition, over 80% of the available space is reserved; and SEC’s Hall 3 being used for the first time for additional stand space and so that a large theatre can be built for Grid and Networks conference content . The creation of 57 thought-provoking conference sessions is well underway for the main conference and seven show floor theatres. It is evident that the Clean Power 2030 Action Plan, a government plan to generate at least 95% of Great Britain’s electricity from clean sources by 2030, is acting as an incentive to get things moving.  

Anam Khan adds: “I would particularly like to thank Shepherd and Wedderburn for their continuing support for the show as our Headline Sponsor. Not only do they exhibit, but they take a very active conference role. Each year they sponsor and create four thought-provoking sessions that demonstrate the breadth of All-Energy. This year these cover the scene setting opening offshore wind conference session, , the ports session, the onshore planning session – a new topic reflecting current government action, and cities decarbonisation.”  

When registering visitors see the long list of existing exhibitors with more being added all the time. They will also get a feel for the overall content of the conference thanks to descriptive paragraphs relating to stream and session titles.  

These cover all forms of renewable energy; grid and networks; hydrogen and energy storage; skills and recruitment; finance and investment; energy trading and more; plus the decarbonisation of heat, transport, cities, and industry. And, this year also include sessions on Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (ED&I); mental health; and a young people’s panel.  

There are seven show floor theatres – FutureGrid; Offshore and Onshore wind; Hydrogen and Energy Storage; Marine Renewables and FLOW (floating offshore wind); The ‘Dcarbonise Theatre (focussing on the decarbonisation of heat, the built environment, transport and industry); Future Talent; and the Insight Energy Theatre designed as the home for innovative renewable energy solutions. 

As ever a centrally placed display of Academic Posters will provide food for thought. The call for abstracts for this feature is open at https://www.all-energy.co.uk until 20 April.   

Networking is key 

“Visiting exhibition stands to see the latest innovative solutions; and the conference to learn, figure highly on the aims of our visitors, and so too does networking”

explained Anam Khan. “Our Giant Networking Evening will once again be held at the Glasgow Science Centre where the hundreds of interactive exhibits help to provide an enjoyable and relaxed atmosphere to ensure productive networking. We are grateful to the Rt Hon Lord Provost of Glasgow for the Civic Reception that forms part of the vital networking experience.” 

Further information on all aspects of All-Energy is at https://www.all-energy.co.uk

ENDS 

Issued on behalf of All-Energy by Judith Patten @JPPR  -T: +44 (0)7970 626656  E: judithpatten@jppr.uk.com;  

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Packed full of live demonstrations, the Solar Careers Hub will be London’s most interactive careers fair.

The event will also host a series of talks by industry experts and include Hiring Rooms, where guests will have an opportunity to meet businesses in the solar sector with live job opportunities,

The Solar Careers Hub will be held on Wednesday 5th March at South Thames College, Wandsworth.

☀️Photon Energy

Commercial rooftop solar installer Photon Energy’s Project Engineer Sara and Apprentice Electrician Dean will showcase a variety of equipment to engage and inform guests on their use. Their display will demonstrate how cabling, connectors, mounting rails and clamps are used and will feature panel testing kit.

They will be happy to answer questions and look forward to sharing insights into the industry. The company will also be giving away promotional goodies such as branded mugs, pens and bags.

☀️ NextEnergy Group

NextEnergy operates across three divisions:

• NextEnergy Capital (NEC): Investing in solar and renewable energy projects to create a greener future.
• WiseEnergy: Managing and optimising solar power plants to ensure they run efficiently.
• Starlight: Developing new solar and battery storage projects to expand global renewable energy capacity.

At its stand, you will discover how the group integrates environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into everything it does – from protecting nature and ensuring responsible land use to promoting sustainability in our supply chains. Whether you’re into finance, technology, engineering, or sustainability, there are exciting opportunities in the industry. Come chat with NextEnergy and learn how you can be part of the clean energy revolution!

☀️MCS

Small-scale sustainable energy standards body MCS will be explaining the benefits of its quality mark, the variety of opportunities that this can bring to a business and how individuals can get involved with the industry.

☀️ GSE Intégration

GSE Intégration designs and manufactures mounting systems for solar panels. You will be able to gain first-hand knowledge of how to install its innovative in-roof mounting system, adding value to your offering to potential employers. GSE will also be available for Q&A and technical discussions.

☀️LCL Awards

Training body LCL Awards will provide an overview of the educational pathways and qualifications necessary to pursue a career as a solar engineer. It will explore the qualifications available to aspiring solar engineers and outline the steps required to gain the expertise and skills essential for success in the renewable energy field.

☀️Solar for Schools

Interact with solar installation and monitoring equipment on a miniature live solar PV system with the help of Solar for Schoo’s Chief Operations Officer, Project Development Manager, and Technical Asset Manager. Learn from its Project Leaders, Strategic Partnership Manager and Marketing Manager what it’s like to be part of the sales & marketing team, converting leads and closing deals as well as fundraising to help schools decarbonise with solar.

Play with digital digital resources like the ‘paneliser’ – design tool, the Solar for Schools App and our Solar Explorer STEM Learning Kit to discover the wonders of the education programme it delivers to schools to promote energy literacy and awareness and develop young people’s green skills.

☀️Anesco

Anesco, based in Reading, is a market leader in the renewable energy space, with a growing presence across Europe. The award-winning company is on a mission to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon future. 
Anesco focuses on creating and managing solar farms and battery storage systems, which are supporting the country’s move to greener, cleaner energy. To date, the company has helped bring more than 130 such sites to life across the country. In addition, the company’s ECO team is helping reduce fuel poverty by improving the energy efficiency of homes. 
At the Solar Careers Hub, the Anesco team will be on hand to speak with attendees about the many exciting career opportunities that exist within the renewable energy field. Whether you’re interested in a career in engineering, project management, environmental science, legal, accounting, IT, marketing (the list goes on!), there’s a place for you in this growing industry. They can guide you on the various pathways to start your career, from apprenticeships and on-the-job training. 
So, if you’re passionate about making a positive impact on the environment, stop by and have a chat with the Anesco team. They’d love to help you explore the many routes into a career in renewables.

☀️Solis

Solis manufacture inverters – the brain of any solar system. From there the energy generation and consumption are tracked and monitored. View a real system in live working mode and understand from someone working in the solar industry what the technology can do.

☀️Hiring Rooms

Have the opportunity to impress Photon Energy, South London Partnership, Anesco and Solar for Schools, all of whom have live job vacancies, with the aim of securing a formal interview. Fedcap will also be looking to sign up students for its new Apex Clean Energy Training Centre, offering a comprehensive 12-week industry-led course designed to prepare individuals for careers in solar photovoltaics installation and operations, with no prior experience required.

🗓️ Date:
Wednesday 5th March 2025
🕙 Opening Times:
14:00 – 16:00 | Entry for the general public

📍 Location:

South Thames College, Wandsworth High Street, SW18 2PP

🎟️ Registration:

General public access to the event at 14:00 – 16:00 will require registration for a free ticket here.  

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Solar Energy UK 
19 February 2025

Dedicated hiring rooms at the Solar Careers Hub will give candidates the opportunity to meet businesses in the solar sector with live job vacancies. The launch event for the Solar Careers UK programme is approaching soon, on Wednesday 5th of March. Attendees will gain insights into working in the solar sector and meet a wide range of businesses, with the aim of securing a formal interview after the event.

As London’s most interactive jobs fair, the Solar Careers Hub will also feature a series of talks by industry experts, accompanied by live demonstrations. Vacancies currently available range from a Trainee Retrofit Assessor on £500 per week to Authorising Engineer, with an annual salary of £70,000.

Don’t miss out and join us!
🗓️ Wed 5 March | 🕙 2:00 – 4:00 PM |📍South Thames College, SW18 2PP | 🎟️ Register for a FREE ticket here.

VACANCIES AVAILABLE

Solar for Schools will be interviewing for 4 roles:

Solar farm developer and operator NextEnergy Group has eight jobs available. All are 2 days in its London office, 3 days remote:

Commercial-scale rooftop installer Photon Energy will have 6 roles available for interview:

South London Partnership, which delivers programmes on behalf of the London boroughs of Croydon, Kingston upon Thames, Merton, Richmond upon Thames and Sutton, will be interviewing for three jobs:

Solar farm and battery energy storage system developer and operator Anesco has 5 roles available:

Visit recruitment service Net Zero Careers Accelerator‘s stand to find out more about the roles we have available in the solar sector – including both site and office roles and suitable for people new new to the field:

The post Interview for a great range of jobs at the Solar Careers Hub appeared first on Solar Energy UK.

The Solar Careers UK initiative is a response to the 70 GW solar power target by 2035 for the UK, set by the Government as part of its broader renewable energy and net-zero commitments. This goal aligns with the UK’s Net Zero Strategy, which outlines the pathway to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. 

To achieve this, the UK will need to deploy solar infrastructure at an accelerated pace, averaging around 4–5 GW of new capacity annually over the next decade.  

This growth will involve scaling up installations across residential rooftops, commercial and industrial sites, and large-scale solar farms. Policy frameworks, financial incentives, and streamlined planning processes will be essential to drive this expansion and overcome potential barriers like land availability and grid integration. 

A skilled workforce is critical to achieving the 70 GW target and the solar sector will need tens of thousands more trained professionals, including installers, engineers, project managers, and technicians, to succeed. 

Solar Careers UK is an initiative to prepare individuals for careers in the solar industry by providing information and guidance on what skills and competence will be required, and how to attain it.  

Hands-on workshops such as the ‘Installers Training Hub’, a feature at both Solar & Storage Live London and Birmingham will ensure the current and future workforce gain practical, job-ready expertise aligned with the latest industry standards. 

Another key aspect of the programme is its support for recruitment and networking. Through stand-alone events like the Solar Careers Hub at South Thames College, London, and the ‘Recruitment Zone’ features at Solar & Storage Live, attendees can connect directly with employers, gain insights into the industry’s diverse career paths, and discover job opportunities across the solar value chain. 

Currently under construction, the programmes Solar Careers UK website will when launched, showcase educational courses that cover technical competencies such as solar panel installation, system maintenance, and design, alongside essential skills like project management and understanding renewable energy regulations. Links to job vacancies, industry insights, and physical events will also be promoted on the website. 

The Solar Careers UK team will communicate to the public the benefits of the UK’s solar energy market growth, explaining its increased contributions to the national grid, it’s economic and environmental impact, and how it is generating thousands of jobs across various stages of the supply chain, including installation, maintenance, research, and development. 

Any organisation looking to getting involved in any of the Solar Careers UK events as an exhibitor showcasing products and solutions, installer demo exhibitor, or hiring manager with job vacancies, please contact Sturge at smazzocchi@solarenergyuk.org. 

The post Supporting growth through education, training, and recruitment  appeared first on Solar Energy UK.

Solar Careers UK, an initiative of Solar Energy UK focused on developing industry skills and career pathways through training, curriculum, and resources is hosting its first Solar Careers Hub event on Wednesday 5th March 2025, in partnership with South Thames College.

More than just a careers fair, the Solar Careers Hub features an engaging layout with interactive workshops, inspiring speakers, and direct access to hiring managers – creating meaningful connections for your future in solar energy.

Watch the short event promo video —-> here.

What To Expect 

• Informative speaker sessions on industry trends and skills in demand 

• Hands-on workshops and demonstrations of cutting-edge solar technology 

• Networking opportunities with recruiters and industry leaders 

• Guidance on solar certifications and training programs 

Connect with industry experts, training providers, and leading employers, all committed to helping you chart a successful path in this thriving sector. 

Whether you’re an experienced professional, a recent graduate, or simply curious about a career in solar, this event is your gateway to a brighter future.  

🗓️ Date:
Wednesday 5th March 2025

🕙 Opening Times:

10:00 – 13:00 | Students (invite only)
14:00 – 16:00 | General Public

📍 Location:
South Thames College, Wandsworth High Street, SW18 2PP

🎟️ Registration:

Access to the event at 10:00 – 13:00 is only for Students invited by South Thames College – NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED. 

General public access to the event at 14:00 – 16:00 will require registration for a free ticket here.  

Get Involved:

To participate for free as an exhibitor, installer demo exhibitor, or hiring manager with job vacancies, please contact Sturge at smazzocchi@solarenergyuk.org

The post Solar Careers Hub is London’s most interactive careers fair!   appeared first on Solar Energy UK.

16 December 2024

Our latest Utility-Scale and Rooftop Forums marked a historic moment for Solar Energy UK, with the most well-attended events we’ve ever hosted – and our Winter Reception enjoyed a capacity crowd.

The day kicked off at The Conduit, Covent Garden, where Alex Minhinick, Partner at Burges Salmon, provided a detailed update on changes to development planning across England, Scotland, and Wales. The session was followed by a preview of our ‘Solar Farmers’ video, filmed this summer on three solar farms developed by our members. The video aims to amplify the voices of farmers who host ground-mounted solar projects, highlighting how these projects support food production by providing secure incomes and placing farmers back into the media, political, and social narratives on the industry.

Jake Setterfield from communications agency Meeting Place elaborated on the second arm of this initiative with a preview of our forthcoming Farming Sustainably report. This report explores farmers’ perspectives on their latest harvest, renewable energy, and other diversification options. Keep an eye on Solar Energy UK for updates.

After lunch, Paul Wakely of the National Energy System Operator took the stage to present on the scenarios for Clean Power 2030, allowing attendees to engage in a dialogue about the evidence and assumptions behind the report – a critical discussion point for SEUK. This was followed by a presentation on the RePower Ukraine initiative, which Solar Energy UK and our members are supporting. This initiative involves installing backup solar and battery power supplies for Ukrainian hospitals and other critical infrastructure. We are actively calling for donations to this life-saving cause.

The afternoon’s Rooftop Forum was hosted by Ian Rippin and Lucy McKenzie from MCS, discussing updates to consumer codes, reforms to the MCS scheme, and the latest developments in PAS 63100 standard for home battery fire safety. Jonathan Bates from Photon Energy provided an update on fire safety at commercial scale, with insights from the Standards and Certification Steering Group led by Jason Kirrage of SolarEdge.

We extend our sincere thanks to all the contributing speakers, particularly Tim Warham from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, who provided an update on the Solar Taskforce. Sturge Mazzocchi, Head of Solar Careers Programme at SEUK, concluded the Forum by introducing our Solar Careers UK programme and plans for a careers fair next year.

The real highlight of the day began with the Winter Reception, where members, sponsors, and stakeholders connected over drinks and networking opportunities. It’s always a joy to talk to members, share ideas, and forge new connections. For example, one member mentioned having a surplus of decommissioned solar panels, and we were able to link them with Big Solar Co-op to support the creation of the UK’s first solar farm using re-used panels. If you have panels you wish to donate, please email info@bigsolar.coop.

The opening speech at the reception was delivered by Chris Hewett, SEUK Chief Executive, followed by contributions from our valued sponsors: Shire Leasing, Segen, UKSOL, and Solarport.

Liz Cammack, VP Sales and Advisor to the Global Board of leading renewables distributor Segen, commented, “Thank you to SEUK for bringing together all corners of the industry at this year’s Winter Reception. It was a brilliant opportunity to connect with both familiar and new faces, and to share insights from our opening of a new training academy, which aligns well with SEUK’s efforts to bring skilled labor into the workforce.”

Julie Henehan, Director of Corporate Development at Shire Leasing, added, “Congratulations to the SEUK team for hosting another outstanding event. The Winter Reception provided a beautiful setting for connecting with members and discussing ways to enhance our offerings. We are committed to supporting members’ access to solar solutions more affordably, driving economic and environmental benefits.”

Christy Tattershall, Marketing Director of Solarport, noted, “This gathering underscored the pivotal moment for the UK solar industry. By prioritizing collaboration, championing UK-based innovation, and collectively tackling challenges, we can drive the change needed for a cleaner, more secure energy future.”

Andrew Moore, Chief Executive of UKSOL, echoed this sentiment, “The Winter Reception was an excellent platform to showcase UKSOL’s achievements over the past year and to emphasise the critical importance of a robust UK supply chain for solar hardware. Thank you to Solar Energy UK for organising such a successful event.”

SEUK’s Commercial Director, Stephen Wilding, reflected on the day the following morning, saying, “Thank you to all involved for making these forums very well received. The day’s discussions highlighted important topics, and the content delivered by influential companies and organisations within our industry was outstanding. It’s clear that this is the most we’ve had attend both the day and evening events, reflecting our commitment to working smarter, better, and more collaboratively. We’ve set a high bar for next year, but with our talented team and a focus on evolution and learning, we’re confident in continuing to produce great results.”

You can view more photos of the day at flickr.com/photos/solarenergyuk/

The post Connecting the Solar Community: Highlights from Solar Energy UK’s Winter Reception appeared first on Solar Energy UK.

29 November 2024

The World Energy Outlook 2024 presents a transformation landscape as the world grapples with unprecedented energy challenges. Global energy markets continue to navigate turbulent waters, shaped by geopolitical tensions in Ukraine and the Middle East, while the clean energy transition gains momentum. Electric vehicle sales have reached a remarkable milestone, now representing 20% of global new car sales, and worldwide electricity demand is surging, driven by digitalisation and electrification trends.

Yet amid these global dynamics, the United Kingdom is a compelling case study in clean energy transformation. The latest World Energy Outlook highlights the UK’s progress, depicting a nation transforming its commitment to clean energy from ambitious targets into tangible action.

Britain’s Solar Revolution

The United Kingdom’s commitment to solar energy stands out as particularly noteworthy in this year’s outlook. Despite its reputation for cloudy skies, the UK has established itself as one of the leaders in installed solar photovoltaic capacity per land area among advanced economies. This achievement reflects governmental ambition and a practical demonstration of how determined policy support can accelerate the transition to renewable energy.

The success of the UK’s solar sector stems from a carefully crafted combination of policy incentives and strategic infrastructure development. The government has moved beyond simple installation targets to embrace a comprehensive strategy considering the entire energy ecosystem. This includes modernising the national grid to accommodate the variable nature of solar power and investing in energy storage solutions to ensure reliability.

Infrastructure and Integration

What makes the UK’s approach particularly instructive is its focus on system integration. Rather than treating solar deployment as an isolated objective, British policymakers have recognised that the success of renewable energy depends on building a flexible and resilient grid infrastructure. This has led to significant investments in grid modernisation, including sophisticated demand response mechanisms and energy storage systems.

These infrastructure improvements are proving crucial as the UK works to maintain energy security while increasing its reliance on renewable sources. Integrating solar power into the national grid has become a model for other nations, demonstrating how variable renewable energy sources can be effectively managed at scale.

Economic and Environmental Impact

The expansion of solar energy in the UK is delivering both environmental and economic benefits. The growing solar sector has created thousands of jobs across the supply chain, from installation and maintenance to research and development. Moreover, as solar technology costs continue to decline, the economic case for solar energy becomes increasingly compelling for residential and commercial applications.

From an environmental perspective, the UK’s solar deployment plays a crucial role in reducing emissions from the power sector. By displacing coal and gas generation, solar power is helping the nation progress toward its ambitious net-zero targets while improving air quality and reducing dependence on fossil fuel imports.

Looking Ahead

The World Energy Outlook suggests that the UK’s solar journey must still be completed. The experience offers valuable lessons for other nations seeking to accelerate their clean energy transitions. Perhaps most importantly, it demonstrates that success requires more than just setting ambitious targets – it demands a comprehensive approach that simultaneously addresses infrastructure, policy, and market dynamics.

As the UK continues to expand its solar capacity, the focus is shifting to next-generation challenges. These include developing more sophisticated grid management systems, exploring innovative storage solutions, and ensuring that the benefits of solar energy are distributed equitably across society.

Conclusion

The UK’s prominence in the World Energy Outlook 2024 is a testament to what can be achieved with a clear vision and sustained commitment to clean energy development. While the global energy transition faces numerous challenges, the UK’s experience with solar energy provides a valuable blueprint for success. It shows that with the right combination of policy support, infrastructure investment, and market incentives, significant progress toward a clean energy future is not just possible but practically achievable.

As the world continues to navigate the complexities of the energy transition, the UK’s journey demonstrates that the path to a sustainable energy future, while challenging, is both necessary and attainable. The lessons learned from Britain’s solar revolution will undoubtedly influence clean energy development worldwide in the future.

The post The UK’s Clean Energy Leadership: Insights from the World Energy Outlook 2024 appeared first on Solar Energy UK.

This blog was written by John Mushriqui, CEO & Founder of InRange.

7 November 2024

Commercial and industrial (C&I) rooftops represent a significant opportunity for the UK to reach its 2030 renewable energy goals. With 350 million square metres of warehouse space alone, turning these rooftops into distributed solar power plants presents an enormous opportunity. 

By being physically closer to the point of demand, they reduce grid congestion and minimise transmission losses and do not require complex permitting, as the roofs are largely flat and readily available. They can also be rolled out quickly. 

So, why are less than 5% of the UK’s C&I rooftops equipped with solar?  

The solar challenges of today’s warehouses 

To date, it’s been challenging to unlock this segment’s potential due to a complex mix of financial, structural, and regulatory factors: 

Uncertain and unattractive returns: The cost of solar is impacted by the building tenant’s energy demand, which is often only a small portion of the total potential of the roof—sometimes as low as 5%. Due to poor exported energy tariffs, solar developers recommend “right-sizing” installations, limiting export to under 20%. But with fixed costs, small solar installations without export can become financially unviable. When coupled with low tariffs on exports & short lease lengths, solar developers can typically only offer property owners returns below 10% IRR. Better IRRs require higher on-site tariffs, which turn off tenants. 

Grid connection challenges: Even if a solar offer does manage to include energy export, connecting excess generation to the grid can be complicated and costly. Lengthy processes and additional expenses can end in rejected or restricted applications, further impacting owner returns. These restrictions and rejections often come late in the process, after a large time and money investment, discouraging owners to move forward on another building. 

Regulatory and policy uncertainty: As the UK’s renewable energy policy landscape has been shifting, some solar investments have become less financially attractive. This leads to uncertainty and hesitation for property owners who expect predictable returns year over year to make an investment, requiring reliable payback time and returns.  

Despite these challenges, unlocking warehouse energy potential is possible when the right factors are in place.  

Cracking warehouse solar with a paradigm shift 

A paradigm shift is required to turn the UK’s warehouses into distributed power plants. In this shift, warehouse roofs are fully utilised with solar and participate in a distributed energy network. Their excess energy is aggregated and sold at guaranteed export tariffs to large energy buyers on that network.  

Let’s dig into the key elements of this shift: 

Full roof utilisation: By utilising the entire roof of a warehouse, the cost of installation per kW drops significantly, and improves the unit economics. Warehouses can export on average 70% of their energy generation, increasing the returns for the owners while keeping the on-site tariff low.  

Guaranteed long-term export tariff: For so much export to make sense, owners need a guaranteed offtaker for the excess. That’s where large buyers like data centres come in. They want cost-effective, renewable energy at scale, and are willing to enter long term PPAs that pay significantly more than dumping energy on the grid alone. This long term guaranteed export tariff locks in solid IRRs for owners. 

Participation in an energy network: Since data centres want large amounts of energy, the excess from multiple warehouses must be aggregated and delivered as a single block. For such aggregation to work, all buildings must be part of a managed, distributed energy network which automates and optimises the energy distribution to the downstream offtakers.  

Automated operational efficiency: Scale is the name of the game in making this paradigm work. De-risking and accelerating rollout through AI-based automation is instrumental. That includes remote feasibility studies at portfolio scale, advanced generation and financial models, automated grid & procurement processes, and optimised energy distribution to streamline this process for cost reduction and predictability. 

Regulatory improvements: Today’s energy network and grid connection processes can create significant hurdles for these projects. While smaller projects require shorter grid connection queue times, energy networks still have little visibility into local generation and demand behind a given supply point and are restrictive in their approvals. Acceleration and data visibility improvements will be key to unlocking warehouse potential at scale. 

The UK’s warehouses can turn into solar power plants. They must be part of a managed, distributed energy network. They must fully utilise their roofs and leverage guaranteed export tariffs from that network. Owners must have access to automation platforms for faster rollouts across portfolios for economies of scale. These elements will provide owners and tenants cost savings and meaningful returns, and warehouses will help drive the UK’s energy goals. 

The post What will it take to turn the UK’s warehouses into solar power plants?   appeared first on Solar Energy UK.

23 October 2024

The Recruitment Zone is a feature within Solar & Storage Live, a conference and exhibition with 10,000+ attendees, taking place from 2-3 April 2025 at Excel, London.

The zone provides a platform for hiring businesses and their current solar & storage job vacancies to be showcased to a wide range of sourced candidates.

Sponsored by SSE Renewables, businesses hiring in the Recruitment Zone at Solar & Storage Live 2024 included Aura Power, British Solar Renewables, CS e-Storage, EDF, Elgin Energy, Ethical Power, Greenworks Power, Mitie, RWE and SSE Renewables.

In London, 200+ candidates with experience ranging from graduate through to director level will meet hiring managers to discuss job national vacancies in Engineering, Sales & Account Management, Installation, Operations & Maintenance, Project, Product Management & Coordination, Business Development and much more.

Why consider taking a hiring booth at Solar & Storage Live, Excel, London?

If you are an organisation experiencing growth and have job vacancies, sourcing candidates via the Recruitment Zone can be a cost-effective way to bolster your recruitment strategy and needs.

Solar Energy UK employs its platform and networks to feed talent into the Recruitment Zone, working with the Department for Work and Pensions, government-backed organisations for military service leavers and various cross-sector partners of working professionals.

Feedback from last year’s hiring businesses

RWE Solar and Storage UK was delighted to have a presence at the recruitment zone of the London event in April and will again be represented at the Birmingham event in September. We were very impressed with the organisation and overall attendance at the event, and we had a steady flow of very good candidates who were interested in a fresh start in the industry. We saw a number of candidates who were instantly suitable for our business and have been in touch with them regarding ongoing opportunities. From an economic sense it is almost a no-brainer to us as just one hire from the day more than makes up for the outlay of having a presence in the recruitment zone. Would highly recommend.

Lee Harbin, Talent Acquisition Manager (UK and Ireland), RWE

Recruitment Zone at Solar & Storage Live is a fantastic concept and one that I’m delighted to support. For us to reach our ambitious renewable targets as a nation, it’s imperative that we attract talent into our industry. SSE Renewables sponsored the inaugural zone at the flagship Birmingham event in 2023 and it’s great to see the team build on that success and come back even bigger and better.

Chris Stewart, Brand and Marketing, SSE Renewables

We have exhibited twice at Recruitment Zone at Solar & Storage Live, both times were a great success. Attending these events has been highly beneficial, due to them being well-organised which attracts a diverse range of candidates. These events have provided us with opportunities to meet a wide array of individuals interested in entering the solar industry. Exhibiting at the Recruitment Zone has allowed us to network effectively, broaden our talent pool and work towards introducing more people to the solar industry.

Sarah Cooper, HR Manager, British Solar Renewables

Contact us today to find out more

Sturge Mazzocchi | Head of Solar Careers Programme | smazzocchi@solarenergyuk.org

The post Source Candidates at the Solar & Storage Live ‘Recruitment Zone’, Excel, London appeared first on Solar Energy UK.

This blog was written by George Baxter, Vice-chair of Solar Energy Scotland.

Scotland secured an unprecedented proportion of support in the Sixth Allocation Round of Contracts for Difference last week. No less than ten of the 131 auction-winning projects are to be built in Scotland:

The ten projects come to 316 megawatts, or about a tenth of the 3,288MW of won in the auction, which also included wind and tidal power.

Only a single Scottish solar project secured support in last year’s auction, coming to only 49.9MW of 1,927MW. The first such success came in 2022’s fourth allocation round, when only three of the 66 winning solar projects were Scottish.

Solar Energy Scotland’s congratulations go all to all of the winning developers.

The 63MW Benthead project is the largest to have secured planning permission in Scotland so far – and will also be accompanied by a 30MW battery energy storage system. It is just bigger than the 60MW Frodo development near Fraserburgh, the first solar farm to be determined by the Scottish Government’s Energy Consents Unit rather than a local authority.

Two others, both of 60MW, have been under consideration since the spring, while a further two of 75MW were submitted late last year.

But none of these are the largest in the Scottish pipeline. That honour belongs to the second phase of the Tealing Solar Energy Park in Angus, at 110MW.

The CfD system lowers financial risks faced by developers by providing a secure and regular income, thus encouraging investment in cheap renewable energy. It is not a subsidy: when the wholesale cost of electricity is higher than the agreed strike price, as has been the case in recent years, the Exchequer receives the difference between the agreed strike price and the wholesale cost of electricity.

137MW of solar farms in Scotland are thought to be currently operational. A further 1.5GW having obtained planning permission and plenty more in the development pipeline – the future appears bright for solar in Scotland. The industry is confident that it can deliver the 3.5GW proportion of the 6GW deployment ambition shared between the industry and the Scottish Government for 2030. There are challenges ahead, not least for Scottish developments to be able to compete with projects in the south where grid costs are much less, but on these results, the future is looking positive indeed.

The brilliant thing about solar farms is that they almost automatically boost wildlife and biodiversity, and they add a strong foundation for the rural economy and food security through diversification and tackling climate change. Hitting these levels of deployment will result in land take of only 0.05% of Scotland’s land – what is not to like?

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