January 8, 2024
Solar PV is taking off in the UK, and 2024 is shaping up to be the best year yet for the technology. Let’s look at some of the factors driving the transition.
Generating on-site electricity from sunshine is increasingly popular among householders and businesses looking to cut energy costs and reduce reliance on utility supply.
More rooftop systems were installed in the first nine months of 2023 than the whole of the previous year, according to the renewable energy standards body MCS, setting an annual record. In all, 138,336 PV installations were registered from January to September, topping the 137,926 for the whole of 2022 – itself a record for the post-subsidy industry.
Worldwide, solar PV is the fastest-growing energy source, says the International Renewable Energy Agency. Installed solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity stood at 1,047GW globally in December, including 191GW added in 2022 – that’s up 26-fold since 2010.
Technical advances
Solar’s getting better at producing energy – several advances, some achieved in the UK, have made the technology more efficient. For years panel manufacturers relied on silicon cells as the key component to convert solar radiation into electricity.
Solar PV does not rely on direct sunlight to function and many PV panels, often those manufactured in Europe, work extremely well on cloud-based light and diffuse radiation.
Now new materials are helping create a more diverse materials market, notably perovskite, an affordable, accessible alternative to silicon. Tandem solar cells comprising layers of silicon and perovskite are being adopted to boost efficiency.
Other breakthroughs include tile-sized panels for roofs, transparent modules that work as windows, allowing sunlight to pass through while converting it into electricity, and coloured panels to enhance architectural design. Meanwhile, installers are adopting new technologies to boost their efficiency.
And experts at the University of Leicester and elsewhere are working to improve recycling techniques to recover and reuse valuable materials, reducing waste and environmental impact.
New manufacturing methods, such as solution processing and 3D printing, are being explored to further trim costs and increase production efficiency. These could lead to novel applications such as solar garments and mobile generating devices.
These and other factors look set to push solar above 30 per cent efficiency, long considered the maximum, adding greatly to the technology’s attractiveness.
Official action
While then Prime Minister Johnson’s drive to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 became more controversial with the leap in energy prices caused by war in Ukraine, the objective has popular support, remains UK policy and is unlikely to be watered down by either main party after this year’s general election.
A Solar Taskforce set up by the Government last year and due to run up to next month, is drawing up a roadmap for meeting a solar deployment target of 70 gigawatts by 2035. The departure this month of Energy Minister Chris Skidmore was prompted by Government plans to boost North Sea oil and gas production, not any want of action on solar.
Further, planning restrictions on rooftop solar have been eased for systems of up to 1MWp – around 300 to 350 panels, making it simpler for business and public buildings to generate clean, green electricity.
Since June 2022, new homes and buildings in England have had to produce significantly less CO2, around 30% lower than previous standards, while emissions from other new buildings, including offices and shops, must fall by 27%. Heating and powering buildings currently makes up 40% of the UK’s total energy use.
This is causing traditionally conservative housebuilders to adopt PV, sometimes partnering with installation firms. The trend is likely to accelerate next year, when the Future Homes Standard (FHS) will require new homes to produce 75-80% less in carbon emissions than homes built under existing regulations.
Currently, some 10% of the 180,000 new homes built in England have solar PV installed and this could rise to as much as 80% in the coming years.
Key target groups love solar
Good corporate behaviour is a given for companies seeking financial backing, while banks and institutional investors favour businesses that show positive environmental practice. Much of this is driven by financial firms responding to smaller investors wanting to put their money to work in the green economy.
Consumers too favour brands that take environmental concerns seriously, for example by producing their own renewable energy.
The cost of buying and installing solar equipment has been falling for years in real terms due to factors such as improved production efficiencies, better installation designs and economies of scale – more and more people want solar.
Falling prices – more choice
After the roller coaster years of the Feed-in Tariff and its eventual withdrawal, the industry has proved it can survive in a subsidy-free environment and is getting better at solving people’s energy problems.
The industry-led Smart Export Guarantee, which replaced the Government’s FiT scheme, has prompted a competition among some energy suppliers to buy excess electricity from consumers. We spoke to one businessperson who has covered his extensive roof in panels, as much to generate extra income as to power his home.
Meanwhile, green-minded consumers continue to benefit from a range of available financing options.
Storage and transport revolution
While the switch to EVs remains problematic, the long-term trend away from fossil fuels towards electricity looks set to continue, especially as energy storage technologies develop to address the ‘intermittency gap’ affecting both wind and large-scale solar.
Yet vehicle charging at home is already a reality for a growing minority, and improvements in battery energy and storage (BESS) technologies can only accelerate the trend.
Solar’s getting organised
Guests were in a confident mood as they gathered at the winter reception of Solar Energy UK, and there were words of praise for the industry trade body’s effective lobbying and promotional record.
Representing a diverse group of manufacturers, distributors, installers and others in a changing political and regulatory landscape and amid ongoing economy challenges can’t be easy. However, Chief Executive Chris Hewett could point to a number of milestones achieved last year.
We reckon such efforts, combined with the trends discussed above, point to a great future for solar in the UK.
March 24, 2025
Peter Curtain reflects on life outside the city
March 18, 2025
The modernisation of the electricity grid is progressing rapidly and will continue to advance. M&A will play a key role.
February 19, 2025
The Government faces many challenges, from enhancing European security to advancing AI and manufacturing. A crucial aspect of this is effectively communicating its environmental goals.
December 17, 2024
I braved the Christmas shopping and party crowds to join a group of people looking to make energy supply as reliable and efficient as possible.
November 28, 2024
Amid the hullaballoo about #netzero and its effects on the UK economy, I visited a group of low-carbon innovators to see how they’re making energy more sustainable and efficient for future generations.
April 14, 2024
Efforts are being made to tempt pension fund managers back to London equities. That includes a Government push to make pension funds publicly disclose how much they invest in UK businesses compared to those overseas.
March 19, 2024
Last week a Government scheme to promote heat pumps for homes was delayed by 12 months. Days later, the National Audit Office urged ministers to support the rollout ‘in a way that minimises the long-term costs to both taxpayers and consumers’.
A great privilege for our take on the UK ground-mounted solar market to appear in PV Europe magazine
March 6, 2024
Attending day 1 of Futurebuild 2024 yesterday I was struck by the large numbers and the buzzy vibe. And the crowd was bigger than it looked – the two or three events happening as I arrived were pretty packed. More here: https://bit.ly/49ZTAIv
January 8, 2024
Solar PV is taking off in the UK, and 2024 is shaping up to be the best year yet for the technology. Let’s look at some of the factors driving the transition.
September 18, 2023
As PR advisers working in the green economy, we’re as likely to be asked how to communicate an organisation’s sustainability as what it actually means.
What a brilliant night at Re-Tech Drinks – ‘Bringing together good people in Renewables and Technology the Southwest ‘re-tech’ community’. The event did what it said on the tin.
November 8, 2022
Allerton Communications is growing. We’re seeking a resourceful Digital Communications Executive to serve our low-carbon economy etc clients.
September 6, 2022
A renewable-energy consultant told me of two engineers working in UK industry some years ago who discussed a tricky technical issue that could be addressed in one of two ways.
March 8, 2021
Life and work are changing, and amid the shifting landscape, effective engagement with stakeholders is vital. The past year shows how much we can achieve away from the office. Now, as the economy starts to open up, customers, investors, staff and partners will be moving about as never before, and ultra-reliant on mobile communication.
February 17, 2021
For any company looking to make a difference in the green economy, it’s vital to think about communication. We would say this – we’ve been helping innovators in energy and sustainability to tell their story for more than 12 years.
December 31, 2020
Miracle on 34th Street is considered a must-see film at this time of year. (‘Christmas’ was omitted from the title for the May 1947 release.) The triple-Oscar winner is a seasonal box of delights that once opened, reveals profound truths about public relations – and they apply today. These address leadership, brand authenticity, mental health, […]
Which type of PR should come first in the life of a business – B2B or B2C? Peter Curtain* reports. Attention growth companies – want to get better known? First, start building a network – then, and only then, start addressing consumers.
April 21, 2020
Earth Day, a calendar date observed worldwide on 22 April to show support for environmental protection, is a great reminder of some of the campaigners who’ve alerted us to the urgent need to care for our planet.
April 16, 2020
The past four weeks look set to alter society for years, with huge impact on the economy. Peter Curtain reflects on these changes and offers some thoughts on communication in the post-coronavirus world 1. We’re all global now. A virus that emerged from live-animal markets in the regional Chinese city of Wuhan became big when […]
January 23, 2020
In this Financial Director article, Peter Curtain of Allerton Communications highlights the huge impact concerns about the environment are starting to have both on investment and the wider business world, and suggests how firms can act.
Regulatory news is a vital tool in investor relations. Also important is generating media interest and coverage. It’s great to excel at these channels – but they’re only part of the picture.
July 9, 2019
Allerton Communications, a boutique corporate and financial PR firm specialising in energy, sustainability and growth companies, is expanding.
Allerton's Peter Curtain shares his views on what press regulation proposals mean for PR
March 23, 2016
We’ve been catching up with some advisers on a visit to the Northwest of England and one thing is clear – investors are fighting hard for the best deals. As one professional told us: “There’s massive demand for quality assets among private equity investors. They have full-time teams scouting around the country, talking to potential […]
February 3, 2016
Peter Curtain of Allerton is proud to have joined the People & Communities Technical Committee of Watef, the Water Efficiency Network, and looks forward to making a contribution to this great initiative.
February 1, 2016
Energy Matters - read issue 11 of highly informative magazine on renewables, utilities and more from our client CKD Galbraith here.
January 29, 2016
Allerton Communications has been shortlisted along with our client CKD Galbraith in the industry-leading PR Moment Awards for our work producing Energy Matters. This is a great accolade and we're very proud.
November 30, 2015
Allerton Communications is praised in a key case study by the Chartered Institute of Marketing, the prestigious professional and training body, for producing the Energy Matters magazine and e-zine for our client CKD Galbraith.
June 26, 2014
They used to say about banks that the best time to start one was 20 years ago – the point being, lenders make so much money, think what you’ve missed in the meantime. In rather the same way, I often advise companies to start effective communications as soon as they can – think what you can achieve when people understand your business.
May 19, 2014
There’s no shortage of advice on communications but here are 10 rules to help you get your message across to both investors and other important targets.
April 7, 2014
People get excited about stock market flotations because they are (or should be) an opportunity to make money – this applies primarily to new investors of course, but management and the original investors may also be out to cash in some of their holdings.
