Market Development and future outlook

The implementation of the Microgeneration Strategy including the low carbon buildings programme will support continued growth in the UK’s PV industry. Forthcoming activities include a new accreditation scheme for products and installation and ongoing work to increase the knowledge base of the construction industry.

PV implementation is also growing as a result of the planning requirements of local governments. Several local governments now place a specific requirement on developers of new buildings to incorporate renewable energy systems into new developments over a certain size. Other initiatives encouraging the use of renewable energy in buildings include the new Code for Sustainable Homes which was published in 2006. Since PV is ideally suited for building integrated applications and use in urban areas it is hoped that these positive policies will increase demand for PV and support ongoing growth.

85 kW CIS 'solar wall' in Denbighshire, North Wales –the world's largest single CIS PV installations (photo: EETS)