PV Legal launches study into European renewables usage

PV LEGAL has conducted a two-and-a-half-year initiative investigating the extent of renewable energy up-take in Europe. The study found France, Greece, Germany, the Netherlands and Portugal have all been successful in encouraging access to renewable energy. However, Italy, Spain, Bulgaria and the UK are yet to make satisfactory progress. Bureaucracy has been credited and blamed for the successes and failures of governments to invest effectively in renewables. PV LEGAL was funded by the European Commission’s Intelligent Energy Europe program.

Dave Sowden, chief executive of the Micropower Council, one of the PV Legal Partners, said, “Although there has been considerable progress in the UK towards the removal of administrative obstacles, there are still several barriers around grid connection for installations larger than 4kW and building control requirements for domestic installations that must be addressed. Removal of unnecessary legal and administrative hurdles will be a key factor in bringing down the installed cost of solar PV, helping the industry to reduce its dependence on subsidy over time and increasing affordability.”
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The project is expected to be completed by the end of February. In May, a new project called PV GRID will begin a deep analysis of PV grid integration. It will continue the work started by PV LEGAL working in cooperation with stakeholders, including distribution system operators.