Trina Solar Urges DECC To Continue Direction
Trina Solar has said that the Government's commitment to commercial installations is encouraging, but pointed out the need for it to be matched by a commitment to the latest solar PV technology to maximise efficiencies in often-challenging conditions. The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) had announced a shift in focus away from solar farms to centre efforts on encouraging growth in brownfield, domestic, and commercial rooftop installations.
Speaking about the DECC's renewed focus on commercial and residential solar PV installations, Richard Rushin, UK Sales Manager at Trina Solar and STA Board Member, said, "There is no doubt that too many of these sites remain fallow, and could prove to be valuable sources of energy to supplement the increasingly pressurised electricity grid. That the DECC sees potential in this space is therefore incredibly encouraging. Residential and industrial markets are set to grow rapidly, with the commercial solar market expected to grow by a further 40 per cent this year, marking the next major step in the development of the solar PV industry."
Rushin went on to say that the industry must focus on module output, efficiency, and quality, "The shift that we are seeing in the UK away from ground mounted installations to rooftop systems must be carefully managed to maximise efficiencies in often difficult conditions," Rushin continued. "Commercial and residential solar PV installations come with a set of considerations, be they driven by aesthetics, space limitations, or low levels of light, and the real priority for the DECC now should therefore be to ensure that the market is maximising outputs in these installations through increased module efficiencies and smart technology choices."
Rushin concluded by urging the industry to think long-term about overall balance of system (BOS) costs, over the initial costs of the panels themselves, "Panel costs are of course an important consideration in the development of the market, but a focus on panel price alone is somewhat short-termist. It's only when looking at the costs, efficiencies, quality and performance of the entire system over its lifetime do we arrive at the full picture. With most PV manufacturers still consistently offering 250W "“ 260W modules, the difference in costs that a 270W module could make over a lifetime is astounding."
