We continue to enjoy huge advances in solar PV panel and renewable energy storage technology. Scientists in China have recently demonstrated that solar cells coated with graphene can harness rain to generate electricity in the absence of sunlight.
Development of these into solar panels that work in the absence of sunlight, may provide an even more effective alternative to fossil fuels for people in the UK, and other rainy parts of the world.
People interested in switching to solar panels have until 14th January 2016 to complete their applications, in order to benefit from the current feed-in tariff scheme.
As 2016 promises to be a pivotal year in the development and sales of batteries for the storage of renewable energy, we take a look at steps that GE and E.ON are taking to integrate batteries into both the large-scale and domestic solar power market.
Permission for a new solar farm in Buckinghamshire has been refused by Wycombe District Council. This blog looks at the future of solar parks together with solar PV rooftop panels in the UK.
Storage of solar energy could provide practical and financial solutions in our move away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy. This article examines hydroelectric pumped storage systems, cryogenic storage and lithium batteries.
In the next decade there could be a catastrophic shortage of power in the UK. This could be overcome with renewable energy with continuing drop in price of solar panels.
Wycombe District council will this month receive a planning proposal for the development of a Solar Farm, with acres of solar panels, on greenbelt land in Little Marlow, Buckinghamshire.
The government are planning to cut the feed-in tariff currently provide to subsidise the solar panel industry in the UK. The cut of 87% - which may be introduced as early as January 2016 - will discourage homeowners from using solar panels and is predicted to result in up to 27000 job losses in the solar panel industry.
The Climate Council have suggested that due to the development of cheaper batteries with higher storage capacity, 50% of homes in Australia could be powered by solar panels by 2020. Many battery companies are focused on marketing their products in Australia with one leader Tesla aiming to have their batteries in Australia homes by the end of 2015.
Currently in the UK owners of homes with solar panels can save money on their electricity and can sell surplus power back to the national grid, using a solar feed-in tariff. Customers can then buy back electricity when needed. Legislation may be changing in 2016 as the government are proposing an 87% decrease in solar power feed-in tariffs.
