Blog by Solar Energy UK member Josh King, Gensource In this informative article, Gensource delves into the intricacies of Permitted Development Rights (PDR) in Scotland. Explore the opportunities and challenges that PDR presents for new construction projects in the region. Join Gensource as they navigate the landscape of PDR and analyse its impact on the future of development in Scotland. What Has Happened with Permitted Development Rights (PDR) The Scottish Government has recently announced positive news for homes and businesses looking to install solar. On March 28th a statutory instrum ..read more

Blog by Solar Energy UK member GivEnergy. The UK government has enshrined in law a commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Part of this goal involves the full decarbonisation of power by 2035 – shifting from fossil fuels towards renewable energy, e.g. wind, solar, hydropower, etc. On this front, significant progress has already been made, despite the recent announcement on allowing new gas plants to be built in the 2030s. From 2010-2022, UK electricity generation from renewables grew from 26TWh to 135TWh. While this progress is commendable, it will count for little if the ..read more

Blog by Solar Energy UK member Solar2 The forthcoming Berryhill Solar Farm project in Fowlis, Invergowrie, Scotland, scheduled for connection to the grid in 2026, marks a pivotal step in the region’s journey towards sustainable energy independence. Developed by Solar2 Ltd, this 45-megawatt solar project is poised to become a cornerstone of innovation and resilience in the renewable energy landscape. Project Overview Positioned just 4 km from Dundee, the Berryhill Solar Farm represents a significant advancement in harnessing solar energy through photovoltaic arrays. With an export capacity of 4 ..read more

In the dynamic landscape of Scotland’s solar journey, let’s explore the positive shifts that have unfolded over the past few years. Three years ago, Scotland made headlines by installing about a third of all new solar panels on UK rooftops, impacting the country’s renewable energy scene. While Scotland’s share of new solar installations compared to the rest of the UK has halved since then, there’s more to the story than meets the eye. According to MCS data up to September this year, Scotland boasts an impressive 20,678 PV installations, each with a capacity of 50kW or less. This is just a hair ..read more

Blog by Solar Energy UK member AES Solar AES Solar’s remarkable Linlith-Go-Solar journey showcases an impressive commitment to community-driven sustainable change. AES Solar installed around 70kWp of solar PV across five different sites for the community-led energy enterprise. The community energy enterprise project sought to make solar work for the whole town. It emerged as a Linlithgow Community Development Trust (LCDT) initiative in 2018. The project has delivered two successful phases to date. To fund the installation of solar panels on local sports clubs, LCDT turned to the heart of Linli ..read more

Scotland is a climate leader in many respects, with among the most demanding net zero ambitions in the world. In 2011, Scottish Government set a target of generating the equivalent of 100% of energy demand by 2020; final figures showed that 98.6% of electricity used in Scotland was from renewable sources.[1] Done and dusted right? A 100% renewable electricity system that paves the way for the electrification of heat and transport – just plug in and go.  Unfortunately, that’s not the whole story. Figures from 2021 (the most recent year figures are available) show that about 19% of Scottish ..read more

As the world faces the urgent challenge of combating climate change, countries worldwide seek innovative ways to transition to sustainable energy sources. To accelerate the adoption of solar technologies and pave the way for an affordable and sustainable transition to low-carbon heating, Solar Energy Scotland has proposed a set of comprehensive policy recommendations to the Scottish Government. In this blog, we will delve into each recommendation and explore their potential impact on Scotland’s journey towards a greener future. Empowering Consumers with Affordable Solar-PV and Heat Pumps ..read more

This post is by Gareth Simkins, senior communications adviser at Solar Energy UK. Solar panels shut down in the heat. Birds and bats think they are water and fly into them. The industry needs new subsidies. People hate solar farms and they destroy habitats. As senior communications adviser for the trade association Solar Energy UK, those are just a few of the well-worn myths that I have heard in the press, on social media and even in parliament lately. Last month, the Telegraph blamed solar panels wilting in a heatwave for a coal-fired power station being reactivated. The story was published e ..read more

Blog by Solar Energy UK member GivEnergy. By now, you’ve likely heard about the Future Homes Standard becoming mandatory in 2025. The initiative sets out minimum energy efficiency requirements for all new homes built in England – with a view to improving both the economy and sustainability of home energy usage. Unfortunately, the Future Homes Standard has a glaring omission. While factors such as insulation, air tightness, and low-carbon heating systems are (quite rightly) addressed – the directive fails to consider the pivotal role of energy storage. This oversight comes to the detriment of b ..read more

Our planet is grappling with two intertwined ecological crises: climate change and biodiversity loss. In recent decades, the decline of insect populations has been shockingly rapid, followed by dwindling numbers of birds and mammals at an unprecedented rate.  These alarming trends can be attributed to habitat loss and the detrimental impact of pesticides and fertilisers. However, amidst these storm clouds of environmental decline, two rays of hope shine brightly: the rapid acceleration of clean energy sources, led by solar and wind, and the growing momentum behind the nature recovery ..read more