PREVIEW Solar & StorageEDITION 3-5 October 2017 THE NEC, BIRMINGHAM, UK TODAY uk.solarenergyevents.com UK solar rebounds as gigawatts Solar & Storage Live of subsidy- free planning comes to Birmingham applications fly in Credit: WELink Credit: he UK stands to remain as Tone of Europe’s leading PV markets despite the retraction of subsidies as its pipeline of solar sites currently in planning has swollen to more than 3GW. And while some of that figure includes sites to have missed out on various FiT and ROC deadlines, nearly half (1.3GW) has entered planning in 2016 and 2017, indicating confidence from developers in building these sites out without subsidy support. Writing for Solar Power Portal Finlay Colville, head of market research at Solar Media, revealed olar & Storage Live – which evolved alongside the UK’s show to tackle key and pressing Robert Llewellyn, who said he that the bulk of the applications Spromises to be the UK’s domestic solar industry. That themes. could not wait to recognise so- are in the 25-50MW capacity largest solar and storage exhi- evolution has continued with Current exhibitors include lar’s growing role in the energy range, with most sites being bition – comes to Birmingham’s new content, new exhibitors and industry stalwarts such as JA mix. lined up for the 2019/20 build NEC in early October. added extras, with a few old Solar, Sungrow, SolarEdge and “I’m very pleased to be back cycle. Borne out of the successful favourites returning once again. Samsung SDI. doing it again, it’s a great gig. Solar Energy UK, Solar Media’s More than 1,400 visitors have The Solar Power Portal It is so encouraging to see the (continued on page six…) flagship exhibition returns once already pre-registered for the Awards returns once again on level of interest in solar from the again to Birmingham between exhibition; with total visitors the evening of Wednesday 4 public,” Llewellyn said. 3 and 5 October 2017. However expect to surpass 3,000 over the October 2017. More than 600 More on Solar & Storage Live with storage now coming to the three days. They will be joined industry professionals are ex- 2017, the conference agenda fore, it felt only right to give the by more than 60 exhibitors who pected to attend the glittering and the Solar Power Portal technology equal billing. will pack the show floor, and ceremony – now in its fifth year Awards 2017 can be found Solar Media’s Birmingham a vast array of delegates for a – with 13 gongs up for grabs. throughout this, the preview show now extends to eight brand new, three-day confer- The black tie gala dinner will be edition of Solar & Storage years, having grown and ence aligned with the trade hosted by television personality Today. uk.solarenergyevents.com | 3-5 October 2017 | 1 Advertisement Industry news Wenger clinches Solar & Storage Live returns electric new signing rsenal’s Emirates Stadium Ais to be powered at least in part by solar after the club extended its association with Octopus Energy. The deal follows a year-long trial with renewables at the north London stadium. Speaking after the announce- ment, Arsenal CEO Ivan Gazidis said it was important for the club to take “all steps in this area”. Home batteries bolstered by tax break esidential battery storage Rhas won a partial victory after the government agreed to a tax break for battery systems, but only if they are supplied and olar Media is returning to really exciting for the future,” Even household names like submitted since the start of installed alongside solar panels. SBirmingham’s NEC for the said David Owen, chief execu- E.On, EDF and IKEA have all 2016, all of which are intended The Solar Trade Association eighth year running, this time tive at Solar Media. entered the residential market to be energised in the coming announced in August that it has introducing Solar & Storage Storage technologies be- in the last, indicating significant years. secured a 5% rate of VAT on Live as its flagship event. came a more prominent feature confidence in the technology. Meanwhile, the industry is battery storage instead of the Previously known as Solar at 2016’s show, which was the This is not to say however awaiting several key pieces of standard 20% currently applied. Energy UK, the rebranding is largest gathering of battery that solar PV is to be neglected legislation that could embrace However, in order for HMRC designed to reflect a new focus storage exhibitors in the UK. at this year’s exhibition. Having more renewables in the system. to allow the lower rate to apply for this year and the years More than 40 storage-relat- endured a difficult 2016 in the The government’s eagerly the battery has to be sold and ahead. Solar, now an estab- ed companies demonstrated immediate aftermath of subsidy awaited Clean Growth Plan installed alongside solar, which lished technology, will share their products and courted the cuts, the industry has begun to will detail how the country is already benefits from the lower the stage with battery storage industry’s interest last October show the kind of resilience it to meet its fifth carbon budget rate. after what has been a trans- as storage looked to break into was previously famed for and obligations, and BEIS and “This is a helpful and welcome formational 18 months for the the power sector in a big way. identified new routes to market. Ofgem in August established decision by the Treasury follow- nascent technology. One year on, and storage has The first subsidy-free, plans to instigate a more de- ing a major lobbying effort from “We’re really seeing very made significant strides. The utility-scale developments are centralised approach to energy. the Solar Trade Association,” strong development in this area pipeline for utility-scale storage beginning to come to fruition, The government is too commit- said STA vice chair Seb Berry. which is why we have refocused facilities has swelled beyond with the first sites expected ted to reviewing the small-scale our biggest event of the year. 3GW, numerous compelling to complete before the end feed-in tariff before the end of We see solar and storage business models for C&I appli- of the year. Solar Media’s in- the year, which could yet see Public support for becoming a key element in cations have emerged and the house market research division the rates amended to use up the market along with other residential market has been has also identified more than the growing underspend within fracking hits record ancillary technologies and that’s inundated with new entrants. 1.3GW of planning applications the scheme. low ublic support for shale gas Pextraction hit a record low this summer, according to offi- cial figures. Just 16% said of those sur- PLACE YOUR AD HERE! veyed by BEIS said they support- ed the extraction of shale gas, We’ll be running three editions of Solar & Storage Today throughout the exhibition, providing all 1,400+ compared to figures upwards of attendees with a daily round up of news, views and opinion from the show floor. 73% for solar PV. We have a limited number of advertising opportunities available, so if you are interested in reaching an The survey also uncovered unrivalled audience of attendees please contact Will Swan via [email protected] growing ease within the British public over both energy security Solar & Storage TODAY and energy bills, with fear of black outs falling to just 37%. uk.solarenergyevents.com | 3-5 October 2017 | 3 How to exhibit Looking for sales leads for new solar & storage sites in the UK? The UK Large-Scale Solar Farms: The Post-Subsidy Prospect List identifies the status of all sites making up the Gigawatt level of new utility-based solar farms The UK Battery Storage Project Database report is a comprehensive listing of 200 plus utility scale battery storage projects in the UK Solar Media Market Research, provides the industry with accurate and timely data to ensure maximum focus on current and pending opportunities at the site-specific level. CONTACT US AT: [email protected] DATA POWERED BY: 4 | 3-5 October 2017 | uk.solarenergyevents.com Feature Looking for sales leads for new Current exhibitors solar & storage sites in the UK? The UK Large-Scale Solar Farms: The Post-Subsidy Prospect List identifies the status of all sites making up the Gigawatt level of new utility-based solar farms The UK Battery Storage Project Database report is a comprehensive listing of 200 plus utility scale battery storage projects in the UK The event was very successful. I met a lot This was a great opportunity THERE’S STILL of interesting PV and storage professionals to network with a large TIME TO EXHIBIT! and gained the latest market insights and number of companies and If you want to join more than 60 of your developments. I enjoyed it very much and gather different perspectives peers already exhibiting at Solar & Storage Live, had good fun too, which is also important. on the development of it is not too late. The exhibition, the conferences and the technologies and the market. There is still a limited amount of space on the show floor available to purchase with a number of stand Alex Daynes, sales manager, Enercon GmbH-UK awards event were very well organised. options available. Pol Spronck, international sales manager, Solarwatt We already have more than 1,400 pre-registered visitors with many, many more expected to sign- up in the coming weeks.