Key Highlights
- Solar power capacity in the UK is anticipated to reach 15 GW by 2023. The prediction forecasts 43 GW by 2028, a three-quarters growth, or 23.53% CAGR.
- Metris Energy, an AI-powered solar energy platform, has received £2 million to revolutionise how property owners communicate with, install, and profit from solar energy solutions.
- British Solar Renewables (BSR), an integrated solar developer, filed revised designs for the 20 MW Akeman Solar Park in West Oxfordshire and the 19 MW Dengie Solar Park in Essex.
- Oxford PV and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems broke the solar panel conversion efficiency record at 25%, significantly higher than the normal 24% in commercial modules.
As the world shifts towards sustainable practices, solar initiatives stand as one of the foundations of innovation. With that, the United Kingdom’s solar energy market has expanded at an astounding pace. As of 2023, the installed capacity of solar power in the UK is estimated to be 15 gigawatts (GW). This forecast is expected to increase by approximately three-quarters, or 23.53% compound annual rate (CAGR), to reach 43 GW by 2028.
Every project, ranging from rooftop installations to expansive solar farms, exemplifies the capacity of solar energy to promote energy independence and conservation of the environment.
Here are three solar initiatives that will make a substantial impact on the current energy landscape in the UK:
1. Metris Energy lands £2M funding for AI-backed solar platform
With the aim of revolutionising the way property owners interact with, implement, and profit from solar energy solutions, Metris Energy, an AI-powered solar energy platform, has effectively obtained £2 million in funding. To support the company's development of its AI-powered photovoltaic platform and capitalise on a projected £22 billion revenue opportunity in the commercial property sector, Octopus Ventures and Aenu VC led the pre-seed funding round.
Metris facilitates the solar investment process for proprietors by providing comprehensive support, encompassing initial evaluation, installation, and continuous energy administration. The platform efficiently computes financial gains from solar energy adoption and generates portfolio assessments using AI technology. By digitising and automating contracts, it substantially mitigates the administrative burdens that are typically associated with selling solar energy to tenants.
As per Metris co-founder Natasha Jones, “With Metris’ AI-powered platform, commercial property owners can easily leverage unused roof space to generate extra revenue and play a crucial part in securing a greener, more prosperous future for the planet.”
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2. British Solar Renewables (BSR) submits revised plans for dual solar farms development
Revised proposals for the 20 MW Akeman Solar Park in West Oxfordshire and the 19 MW Dengie Solar Park in Essex have been submitted by British Solar Renewables (BSR), an integrated solar developer.
The development section of BSR Energy has changed its Akeman Solar Park project plans based on 2021 public consultation results. Despite the fact that the redesigned design reduces solar panels by 2,900, a 10% decrease, the solar park ensures that it can export 20 MW to the National Grid per technology and panel production criteria. The project will create 20,000 MWh of renewable power annually, promoting sustainable energy.
On the other hand, due to Maldon Council comments, BSR's plans for the 33-hectare Dengie Solar Park in Maldon District have also been modified. These improvements include the Flood Risk Assessment, Outline Drainage Strategy, Sequential Test, Farmland Bird Mitigation Strategy, Landscape and Visual Assessment, General Arrangement Plan, and Softworks Plan.
3. Oxford PV and Fraunhofer Institute break the solar efficiency record
With a conversion efficiency of 25%—far higher than the typical 24% seen in commercial modules—Oxford PV and the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems have accomplished a remarkable feat by smashing the previous record for solar panels. Renowned for its achievements in next-generation solar technology, namely in perovskite-on-silicon tandem solar cells, Oxford PV is a spin-out of the University of Oxford. Compared to conventional silicon solar cells, whose highest efficiency is less than 30%, these cells are theoretically capable of achieving efficiencies of over 43%.
The CEO of Oxford PV, David Ward, highlighted the importance of this accomplishment, saying that it might completely transform solar technology in the year 2024. To get their groundbreaking technology into people's homes, he detailed plans to ship panels that are ready for sale from their German facility and to increase production worldwide.
UK's solar projects in the renewable revolution
The solar projects in the UK are leading the charge to become a renewable energy leader, and they are sparking a revolutionary transformation. These programmes support the country's commitments to sustainability through their community-based and innovative designs.
The integration of solar panels into power grids and the subsequent output of renewable energy signifies the onset of a paradigm shift—one propelled by the boundless luminosity of the sun. The UK advances towards its renewable energy objectives with every kilowatt-hour produced, thereby emphasising the vision and resolve of its solar initiatives that will contribute to a more sustainable future.