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Cornwall's National Solar Centre is launched with a commitment to help SMEs
Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker has officially launched Cornwall's National Solar Centre (NSC) saying its expertise could help the UK lead the world in solar technology.
He said the solar industry had recently endured difficult times, but it had emerged leaner, cheaper, more attractive, larger and here to stay.
The Minister added that the NSC would help drive down costs, improve efficiency, catalyse growth, spur innovation and develop expertise on the ground.
He said: "We have seen dramatic reductions in costs in the technology over the past year and that's why we have made changes to our incentives under Feed-in-Tariffs and the Renewables Obligation, to help put this industry on a more sustainable footing and ensure solar continues to thrive in the future.
"The launch of the Centre really indicates a large milestone, not just here in the UK but globally. It could drive standards, efficiency and innovation around the world. The potential of this new venture is unlimited."
The NSC, which is located in St Austell, will help industry and the Government deliver on the solar PV opportunities set out in DECC's recent Renewables Roadmap update.
The UK's capacity is being steered for growth from its current 1.4GW base up to a potential 20GW by 2020.
With funding from the EU and support from Cornwall Council and DECC, the NSC will drive innovation, cost reduction and increased confidence in the market through knowledge generation.
It will engage with organisations outside the traditional scope of the industry to ensure that PV is better understood as a technology so it's potential is realised.
St Austell was chosen as the location for the NSC because the majority of the UK's solar PV installations are in the South West with a total of 55,577 in the region.
Cornwall offers the most sunshine hours of any UK county and has an infrastructure and business environment specifically designed to help push the industry forward.
And Cornwall Council's proactive policy around planning and renewables was a major factor, said BRE Director Nick Tune.
The Centre, which will open in April, will particularly focus on how solar PV can be integrated in the construction industry with better integration of products with buildings and will also provide direct support to Cornish SMEs.
Its main functions will be:
Analysis, data collection and publications to create an authoritative knowledge base for the industry;
An observatory for best practice, both in the UK and internationally,
Support for the development of future standards to increase quality of PV installations,
Support for UK solar industries in a worldwide market,
Due diligence consultancy and testing for new build installations,
Product development and the encouragement of inward investment.
BRE Director Nick Tune, who developed the idea for the Centre, said: "We have a real opportunity here to drive the uptake of solar PV.
"The sector has seen a dramatic reduction in installed costs by up to 50% from 2010-12. The Centre will help the sector deliver further reductions so solar PV can become competitive with other low carbon energy sources.
"There are significant opportunities to support the development of Building Integrated PV products and the interaction of PV with commercial buildings.
"We will also look at issues around smart grids, storage, power output prediction and more - all critical factors for improving the long term performance of the technology and creating confidence in its future."
Mr Barker added: "The support the NSC will provide for companies who are developing new and innovative solar products, will provide an excellent opportunity for UK manufacturing and job creation.
"Solar also needs to build links with other sectors that are key to the industry's success. The UK has the expertise to influence new and emerging markets and benefit from "solar going global", and we believe the centre will be an important catalyst in making this happen.
"We welcome the commitment which the Building Research Establishment (BRE) has shown in driving this forward, and value the vast experience they will bring.
Making concrete links between the Solar PV industry and the Building and Construction sector will assist the solar sector in taking its place in the mainstream generation market."
Councillor Stephen Rushworth, Cornwall Council's portfolio holder for economy and regeneration said: 'The Centre will be a great asset for St Austell and Cornwall.
"It serves to underline the growing momentum behind the UK's solar industry and highlights Cornwall's role."
Mr Barker added: "Now, as we prepare to pass the 2GW threshold, we can rightly say that solar is coming of age. It is reliable, accessible, increasingly affordable and totally scalable."
The Minister said the last two years have seen the industry go through an extraordinary period of growth but also face the most enormous challenges.
"Thanks to dramatically falling costs, costs that will....and must, fall further, solar PV will play a critical role in helping the UK meet its vital renewable energy targets. And we in the Coalition Government are absolutely committed to working with you to make that happen."
He said the Government wanted to work with the industry and he will be setting up a new formal process by which the sector can feed into the Coalition's energy strategy.
"2013 is an important year for the economy, as we do everything we can to drive responsibly sustainable growth in the economy. I want solar to be part of Britain's growth narrative."
He added: "I want the industry to embrace the changes taking place. There are real opportunities here for you to use the Green Deal to market Solar PV as an energy saving option.
"Use the commercial Green Deal to drive solar's part in the distributed energy revolution. Offering companies from SMEs to FTSE Giants solutions to generating more of their own electricity, building greater resilience and certainty into their business models as they go.
"And take opportunities to capture new markets with the support of Government. For example over the coming month I will be hosting a series of networking events where the sector can sell its pitch to some key potential customer groups - Registered Social Landlords, Local Authorities, the Building Sector.
"Key to seizing these opportunities will be getting the message out, mutual supportive action to help the industry grow and develop in a sustainable way."
The Minister added that the NSC would help drive down costs, improve efficiency, catalyse growth, spur innovation and develop expertise on the ground.
He said: "We have seen dramatic reductions in costs in the technology over the past year and that's why we have made changes to our incentives under Feed-in-Tariffs and the Renewables Obligation, to help put this industry on a more sustainable footing and ensure solar continues to thrive in the future.
"The launch of the Centre really indicates a large milestone, not just here in the UK but globally. It could drive standards, efficiency and innovation around the world. The potential of this new venture is unlimited."
The NSC, which is located in St Austell, will help industry and the Government deliver on the solar PV opportunities set out in DECC's recent Renewables Roadmap update.
The UK's capacity is being steered for growth from its current 1.4GW base up to a potential 20GW by 2020.
With funding from the EU and support from Cornwall Council and DECC, the NSC will drive innovation, cost reduction and increased confidence in the market through knowledge generation.
It will engage with organisations outside the traditional scope of the industry to ensure that PV is better understood as a technology so it's potential is realised.
St Austell was chosen as the location for the NSC because the majority of the UK's solar PV installations are in the South West with a total of 55,577 in the region.
Cornwall offers the most sunshine hours of any UK county and has an infrastructure and business environment specifically designed to help push the industry forward.
And Cornwall Council's proactive policy around planning and renewables was a major factor, said BRE Director Nick Tune.
The Centre, which will open in April, will particularly focus on how solar PV can be integrated in the construction industry with better integration of products with buildings and will also provide direct support to Cornish SMEs.
Its main functions will be:
Analysis, data collection and publications to create an authoritative knowledge base for the industry;
An observatory for best practice, both in the UK and internationally,
Support for the development of future standards to increase quality of PV installations,
Support for UK solar industries in a worldwide market,
Due diligence consultancy and testing for new build installations,
Product development and the encouragement of inward investment.
BRE Director Nick Tune, who developed the idea for the Centre, said: "We have a real opportunity here to drive the uptake of solar PV.
"The sector has seen a dramatic reduction in installed costs by up to 50% from 2010-12. The Centre will help the sector deliver further reductions so solar PV can become competitive with other low carbon energy sources.
"There are significant opportunities to support the development of Building Integrated PV products and the interaction of PV with commercial buildings.
"We will also look at issues around smart grids, storage, power output prediction and more - all critical factors for improving the long term performance of the technology and creating confidence in its future."
Mr Barker added: "The support the NSC will provide for companies who are developing new and innovative solar products, will provide an excellent opportunity for UK manufacturing and job creation.
"Solar also needs to build links with other sectors that are key to the industry's success. The UK has the expertise to influence new and emerging markets and benefit from "solar going global", and we believe the centre will be an important catalyst in making this happen.
"We welcome the commitment which the Building Research Establishment (BRE) has shown in driving this forward, and value the vast experience they will bring.
Making concrete links between the Solar PV industry and the Building and Construction sector will assist the solar sector in taking its place in the mainstream generation market."
Councillor Stephen Rushworth, Cornwall Council's portfolio holder for economy and regeneration said: 'The Centre will be a great asset for St Austell and Cornwall.
"It serves to underline the growing momentum behind the UK's solar industry and highlights Cornwall's role."
Mr Barker added: "Now, as we prepare to pass the 2GW threshold, we can rightly say that solar is coming of age. It is reliable, accessible, increasingly affordable and totally scalable."
The Minister said the last two years have seen the industry go through an extraordinary period of growth but also face the most enormous challenges.
"Thanks to dramatically falling costs, costs that will....and must, fall further, solar PV will play a critical role in helping the UK meet its vital renewable energy targets. And we in the Coalition Government are absolutely committed to working with you to make that happen."
He said the Government wanted to work with the industry and he will be setting up a new formal process by which the sector can feed into the Coalition's energy strategy.
"2013 is an important year for the economy, as we do everything we can to drive responsibly sustainable growth in the economy. I want solar to be part of Britain's growth narrative."
He added: "I want the industry to embrace the changes taking place. There are real opportunities here for you to use the Green Deal to market Solar PV as an energy saving option.
"Use the commercial Green Deal to drive solar's part in the distributed energy revolution. Offering companies from SMEs to FTSE Giants solutions to generating more of their own electricity, building greater resilience and certainty into their business models as they go.
"And take opportunities to capture new markets with the support of Government. For example over the coming month I will be hosting a series of networking events where the sector can sell its pitch to some key potential customer groups - Registered Social Landlords, Local Authorities, the Building Sector.
"Key to seizing these opportunities will be getting the message out, mutual supportive action to help the industry grow and develop in a sustainable way."
