Solar Panels news from 2023
31 stories, newest first
- December 2023
New permitted development rights for solar panels take effect in England
Amended permitted development rights for solar panels in England took effect on 21 December 2023, widening what can be installed without full planning permission.
- November 2023
Contact Solar Black Friday solar panel sale ends
Contact Solar's Black Friday solar panel promotion, offering up to £1,000 off solar PV systems and other discounts, closed on 30 November 2023 after running through the month.
Government announces amendments to permitted development rights for solar panels
Amendments to permitted development rights announced on 30 November 2023 widen where solar panels can be installed in England without full planning permission, including domestic flat roofs and larger commercial arrays.
New permitted development rights announced for rooftop solar
The government has announced changes to permitted development rights so that more homes and businesses can install rooftop solar panels without planning permission, including flat roofs and industrial sites.
Changes to solar permitted development rights introduced
The government changed solar permitted development rights in November 2023, following a February 2023 consultation, as part of a wider package on adapting historic homes for energy efficiency.
- October 2023
Good Energy launches Solar Savings smart export tariff
Good Energy has launched Solar Savings, a smart export tariff paying 15p per kWh and 20p per kWh for Wessex ECOEnergy solar customers, up from a 10p pilot rate.
- September 2023
ECO4 innovation measure 022 approved
Ofgem approved UKSOL monocrystalline solar panels with built-in Tigo optimisers as ECO4 innovation measure 022 on 26 September 2023, with a 45% uplift and EDF Energy as awarded supplier.
Sunsynk announces Hybrid Fusion Inverter range
Sunsynk has announced its Hybrid Fusion Inverter range, an all in one unit combining a hybrid inverter with an integrated LiFePO4 battery, in sizes from 2.5 kW to 30 kW.
MCS responds to SEG confusion and sets out its future role
MCS has clarified that regulated Smart Export Guarantee tariffs require an MCS certified installation, while non-regulated export tariffs remain at energy companies' discretion, and has set out planned scheme changes.
European standard change affected solar PV fire classifications
A European standard change that took effect in September 2023 left fire test laboratories unable to issue fire classifications for roof integrated solar systems, prompting MCS to seek a fix.
- August 2023
Sunsynk publishes Fusion style inverter feature list
Sunsynk has published a feature list for its Hybrid Fusion Inverter range, an all in one unit pairing a hybrid inverter with a lithium iron phosphate battery in three sizes.
TÜV Rheinland (China) achieved MCS accreditation for solar PV products
TÜV Rheinland (China) Ltd became the first MCS product certification body based outside Europe in August 2023, initially certifying solar panel products for the UK market.
- July 2023
Warranty conditions issued for Rayleigh 3-Phase Modular Energy Storage System
Rayleigh Instruments has published warranty conditions for its 3-Phase Modular Energy Storage System, setting a five year term, a three year term without internet connection and an 80% capacity guarantee over 120 months.
Energy Saving Trust publishes its Guide to solar panels
Energy Saving Trust has published a guide to solar panels covering how the technology works, typical costs and savings, and how to find an MCS certified installer.
- June 2023
Sunsynk announces 3.07 kWh Mini Battery with 7kW MPPT Bi-Directional Inverter
Sunsynk has published details of a 3.07 kWh lithium iron phosphate Mini Battery paired with a 7kW MPPT bi-directional inverter, describing plug and play installation with cables and protection built in.
British Assessment Bureau becomes UKAS accredited
MCS has appointed the British Assessment Bureau as a certification body for small-scale renewables, after the bureau gained UKAS accreditation in June 2023 to assess contractors against MCS standards.
Susan Walker's JA Solar system installed in Scotland
A 4.4kWp JA Solar system with battery storage was installed at a home in Scotland in June 2023 at a total cost of £12,837, according to the owner's account of the installation.
Warranty periods apply to products installed on or after 1 June 2023
Sigenergy has published a factory limited warranty for its SigenStor home battery and inverter range, with ten-year product cover for most units installed on or after 1 June 2023.
- May 2023
MCS expanded the scope of the Solar Mounting Product Standard
MCS widened its Solar Mounting Product Standard in May 2023 to cover flat roof mounting systems, and has since extended the interim compliance route installers use while certification catches up.
Solis launches S6 Advanced Power Hybrid Inverter
Solis has announced the launch of the S6 Advanced Power Hybrid Inverter, a unit with generator connectivity, automatic UPS switching and support for both lead-acid and lithium batteries.
- April 2023
Sunsynk introduces 3.6kW hybrid inverter "Mini Beast"
Sunsynk has announced a 3.6kW hybrid inverter, marketed as the Mini Beast, with dual MPPT input and a stated solar handling capacity of up to 7000W.
Sunsynk announces UK Mini Beast inverter
Sunsynk has published details of the UK Mini Beast, a dual MPPT hybrid inverter rated at 3,600 Watts with on grid, off grid and auxiliary outputs.
Simply Certification gains UKAS accreditation for MCS assessments
Simply Certification has become an MCS contractor certification body after gaining UKAS accreditation in April, widening the choice of assessors for small-scale renewable installations across the UK.
- March 2023
Powervault launches P4 fourth-generation battery storage system
Powervault has launched the P4, its fourth-generation home and commercial battery storage system, offering five capacities from 8kWh to 24kWh with modular expansion and backup power options.
Viessmann launches Vitovolt 300 solar PV system in the UK
Viessmann has brought its Vitovolt 300 solar PV system to the UK, sold as a package with battery storage, heat pumps and EV charging under one control platform.
BISOL Bifacial and BIPV larger modules announced for market availability
BISOL Group has said its first larger-format M10 modules, the BISOL Bifacial and BIPV ranges, will reach the market in March, following the February release of its Duplex M10.
EDF raised SEG Export Variable rate from 1.5p to 3p per kWh
EDF raised the rate on its no-strings SEG Export Variable tariff from 1.5p to 3p per kWh in March 2023, a rate that has since stayed unchanged while average export prices moved higher.
Telford home upgraded with MCS certified solar panels and battery storage
MCS has published a case study of a Telford home fitted with MCS certified solar panels and battery storage in March 2023, reporting that the system has supplied around two-thirds of the household's electricity.
- February 2023
Rooftop solar installations double in a year to post-subsidy record
Solar Energy UK reports 130,596 MCS-registered rooftop solar installations in 2022, more than double the 2021 figure, with a post-subsidy monthly record of 16,043 registrations in January 2023.
BISOL Duplex M10 and BISOL Laminate M10 announced for availability
BISOL has said the first batch of its M10 Duplex modules in full-black 400 to 420 Wp format, with a frameless Laminate version, will be available in February 2023.
- January 2023
SolarEdge Home Load Controller available now
SolarEdge has announced that its Home Load Controller is available now, a device that switches household appliances to match solar generation, battery storage and time of use tariffs.