Photovoltaic Research and Development in the UK Michael Walls CREST (Centre for Renewable Energy Systems and Technology) Loughborough University, UK

Loughborough’s world record athletes 800 metres and 1500 metres Javelin Marathon 5,000 metres

CREST (Centre for Renewable Energy Systems and Technology) Photovoltaic Materials and Devices (c-Si. Thin film CdTe, DSSC) Applied Photovoltaics (module performance, ageing, modelling, long term stability etc…. Networks and systems Renewable energy in buildings (BIPV) Solar thermal Wind and water power 3

Loughborough University

SUPERSOLAR EPSRC SuperGen SOLAR ENERGY HUB £5m Solar SuperGen led by Loughborough University Consortium led by Loughborough University with Universities of Bath, Liverpool, Oxford, Sheffield, Southampton and the EG&S KTN Research programme on high performance transparent conducting oxides Provision of a UK national Cell efficiency measurement facility Establishment of a UK network for PV research to include Universities, Industry and Finance (Venture Capital).

Photovoltaic platforms One sun Flat plateConcentrators (CPV)

Thin film CdTe photovoltaic multilayer stack

Germans Revise Solar PV Tariffs for 2012 and Set New Degression Schedule By Paul Gipe 02 April 2012 | Government loses FiT appeal » Government loses FiT appeal » The Supreme Court in the United Kingdom has today rejected an appeal by the Government meaning the courts have decided the government acted illegally in trying to impose tarrif cuts before the review. The panel of Supreme Justices have denied the government the chance to appeal against the decision.

Q-Cells was once the largest solar cell maker in the world. Now on Monday the company says it will be filing for bankruptcy Solar shakeout continues: Q-Cells to file for bankruptcy U.S. sets (low) initial tariffs on Chinese solar panels By Ulicia Wang Mar. 20, 2012, 11:51am PT U.S. solar fights back against cheap Chinese panels Oct. 19, 2011, 1:11pm PT Another one bites the dust: BP Solar shuts down Solar industry consolidation continues as industry pioneer BP Solar closes down due to rapidly falling solar panel prices. By Martin LaMonica December 21, 2011 Energy Abound Solar cuts 280 jobs in Longmont Posted: 02/28/ :06:03 PM MST February 29, :10 AM GMT Updated: 02/28/ :10:54 PM MST By Mark Jaffe The Denver Postdenverpost.com

Summary Loughborough has excellent facilities for photovoltaics research from devices and modules through to building integration. Loughborough will be leading the UK EPSRC Supergen Solar Hub. We will set up an active PV network to include Universities, Industry and Finance (Venture Capital) The world-wide take up of Photovoltaics has grown dramatically over the past decade. Installations in 2011 exceeded 24GW. The industry is now in turmoil due to manufacturers selling modules below cost. Module prices are $1/Wp or lower. World-wide production capacity exceeds demand. Changes on Feed- In-Tarriffs (FIT) are adding to the uncertainty. Several manufacturers have gone (or are going) out of business including Solyndra, Unisolar, BP Solar, Evergreen Solar and this week….Q-Cells Other manufacturers including First Solar, Amonix and Abound Solar are mothballing production.