Solar Design Company

August 2, 2018
Serious economic uncertainties by Brexit in UK

In 1978, the UK’s Solar Trade Association (STA) was formed to focus on solar water heating. This year it celebrates its 40^th anniversary with a chance to reflect the progress made and the future ahead. Over 200,000 solar thermal systems have been installed in the UK during its...
June 22, 2018
Three labels in Europe – what are the differences?

Labels and trademarks should give the end-consumer a clear feedback on the quality and performance of the labelled product. Currently there are three labels available for solar products or solar assisted heating systems in Europe, so there is an increasing need to explain the differences to...
November 30, 2017
UK: How Does Solar Thermal Sustain against Photovoltaics and Biomass?

At the end of 2016 the solar thermal industry association STA campaigned successfully for solar thermal to remain in the two Renewable Heat Incentives (RHI). However,...
January 9, 2017
Great Britain: Solar Thermal to Remain in the Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme

After several months of consultation about removing new solar thermal systems from the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) starting in 2017, the British government...
February 10, 2016
Great Britain: Rumours of Closing down Renewable Heat Incentives

Since the win at the general election May 2015, the UK Conservative Party has made significant changes to policies that were related to energy and environment protection. These include the currently in parliament discussed reduction of subsidies for wind and solar PV with the Feed-In...
November 14, 2014
Great Britain: Performance of UK Green Deal Scheme

UK Energy Minister Greg Barker, initiator of The Green Deal, called it a “flagship energy efficiency programme” during the launch of the scheme in the beginning 2013. One and half years later Barker stepped down as minister and the statistics of the Green Deal shows a rather poor...
November 3, 2014
Great Britain: Performance of the two UK Renewable Heat Incentive Schemes

The UK has two Renewable Heat Incentives (RHI) that assist solar thermal. The non-domestic variant (non-dRHI) has operated since November 2011. The variant for households (...
April 23, 2014
Great Britain: Domestic Renewable Heat Incentives with Extensive Rules

The domestic Renewable Heating Incentive (dRHI) for England, Wales and Scotland has been launched on 9 April 2014. For solar thermal, the dRHI will pay the end-user tariff at a rate of 0.192 Pound Sterling (GBP)/kWh for 7 years. The existing non-domestic RHI scheme continues at a new rate...
March 26, 2014
Great Britain: Renewable Heating Incentive for Households is slowly revealed

The UK Renewable Heating Incentive (RHI) for Households, including assistance for solar thermal, has been announced since 2010 despite the non-household version being launched late in 2011. Positive signs indicate this will now be ready before summer 2014, as the UK government recently...
November 4, 2013
Great Britain: Can the UK solar thermal market recover from its terminal decline?

For almost a year now, the UK government has been recording statistics on all the subsidised renewable heating and electricity installations. It is now...
August 5, 2013
UK: Domestic RHI Tariff Applies to Installations After 15 July 2009

In July 2013 the UK’s Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC) confirmed the tariff rates for the long-awaited Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). The Government’s press release at 12 July 2013 promises that the solar thermal tariff will be set at ‘at least 19.2 Pound Stirling pence...
July 2, 2013
UK: More Good than Bad News from the British Islands

In March 2013, the UK Government came under criticism for their updated heat strategy when they announced further delays to the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) being made applicable to householders. As a stop-gap, it was announced in parallel to extend the householder’s Renewable Heat...