Untapped potential of solar energy

Dec 3 2009 By Stewart Watkins, The Journal

WITH the world's politicians heading off to Copenhagen for the climate summit next week, it is likely that high on the agenda will be the challenge of producing enough energy to power the needs of the world’s population.

This is not a new dilemma, but with fossil fuels diminishing and the evidence for man’s role in global warming increasing, the question of how to supply our energy needs is likely to prove more pressing than ever.

Here in the UK the idea of alternative energy often conjures up images of fields of wind turbines. Less frequently do our thoughts turn to solar energy - hardly surprising in a country renowned for its climate for all the wrong reasons.

However, as the recent Solar Flair 09 conference in County Durham revealed, the UK has enormous untapped potential to make far greater use of solar energy. In fact if every south-facing house in the UK were fitted with solar panels, enough electricity would be generated to meet all the country’s energy needs.

The conference, organised by the County Durham Development Company, heard from experts at the forefront of solar technology innovation as well as from companies and industries involved in the photovoltaics supply chain.

The aim was to explore the uses of photovoltaics and the opportunities for companies to get involved.

Much of the apprehension and reluctance to invest in solar energy comes from the cost, which has proved prohibitive in the past. But the Government is introducing a feed-in tariff in April offering financial incentives for embracing solar energy.

This new tariff is likely to make the installation of solar panels affordable not simply for businesses but also for residential customers who will be able to sell any units of energy not used and potentially make a tidy profit. The feed-in tariff will stimulate the photovoltaics sector and generate job opportunities.

This has been amply demonstrated by the diversification of Romag plc which is now developing a range of photovoltaic products including its PowerPark photovoltaic canopy for the charging of electric cars. The feed-in tariff will enhance the attractiveness of the product since it can not only charge your car, but also reduce your electricity bills. The technology will also generate job opportunities in the installation sector, one of the reasons why One North East has invested in a dedicated solar training centre being set up by Romag.

Stewart Watkins is managing director of the County Durham Development Company