Europe

The UK solar industry has united to build a new installer ratings website to help consumers avoid the cowboys.

Norwegian manufacturer REC’s division into REC Solar and REC Silicon has made it possible for the company to “invest heavily in research and development again”, according to REC Solar’s senior vice president for sales and marketing, Luc Graré.

Wind and solar produced as much as 60% of Germany’s electricity during the 3 October, according to an energy consultant.

TUV Rheinland has awarded six energy storage certificates to Phono Solar, for the Phonocube all-in-one PV inverter and storage system.

Peter Fath has been appointed as the new managing director of the solar division of German equipment supplier RENA.

The cost of grid connections should not be an obstacle to large-scale expansion of solar energy in Europe, according to a new report developed by Imperial College London.

German Federal Network Agency figures show the 10,109 installations fell below the 300MW mark for the first time in four months.

Self-consumption and other new business models for PV “can reduce and ultimately suppress the reliance on dedicated financial support”, according to Marie Latour, senior national policy advisor at the European Photovoltaic Industry Association.

Tracking system engineering firm Exosun has signed a contract to supply a 12MW solar plant that once completed will be the largest tracker-equipped plant in France.

IKEA has confirmed that all UK IKEA stores will stock, sell and install solar PV modules.