16 December 2024
Our latest Utility-Scale and Rooftop Forums marked a historic moment for Solar Energy UK, with the most well-attended events we’ve ever hosted – and our Winter Reception enjoyed a capacity crowd.
The day kicked off at The Conduit, Covent Garden, where Alex Minhinick, Partner at Burges Salmon, provided a detailed update on changes to development planning across England, Scotland, and Wales. The session was followed by a preview of our ‘Solar Farmers’ video, filmed this summer on three solar farms developed by our members. The video aims to amplify the voices of farmers who host ground-mounted solar projects, highlighting how these projects support food production by providing secure incomes and placing farmers back into the media, political, and social narratives on the industry.
Jake Setterfield from communications agency Meeting Place elaborated on the second arm of this initiative with a preview of our forthcoming Farming Sustainably report. This report explores farmers’ perspectives on their latest harvest, renewable energy, and other diversification options. Keep an eye on Solar Energy UK for updates.
After lunch, Paul Wakely of the National Energy System Operator took the stage to present on the scenarios for Clean Power 2030, allowing attendees to engage in a dialogue about the evidence and assumptions behind the report – a critical discussion point for SEUK. This was followed by a presentation on the RePower Ukraine initiative, which Solar Energy UK and our members are supporting. This initiative involves installing backup solar and battery power supplies for Ukrainian hospitals and other critical infrastructure. We are actively calling for donations to this life-saving cause.
The afternoon’s Rooftop Forum was hosted by Ian Rippin and Lucy McKenzie from MCS, discussing updates to consumer codes, reforms to the MCS scheme, and the latest developments in PAS 63100 standard for home battery fire safety. Jonathan Bates from Photon Energy provided an update on fire safety at commercial scale, with insights from the Standards and Certification Steering Group led by Jason Kirrage of SolarEdge.
We extend our sincere thanks to all the contributing speakers, particularly Tim Warham from the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, who provided an update on the Solar Taskforce. Sturge Mazzocchi, Head of Solar Careers Programme at SEUK, concluded the Forum by introducing our Solar Careers UK programme and plans for a careers fair next year.
The real highlight of the day began with the Winter Reception, where members, sponsors, and stakeholders connected over drinks and networking opportunities. It’s always a joy to talk to members, share ideas, and forge new connections. For example, one member mentioned having a surplus of decommissioned solar panels, and we were able to link them with Big Solar Co-op to support the creation of the UK’s first solar farm using re-used panels. If you have panels you wish to donate, please email info@bigsolar.coop.
The opening speech at the reception was delivered by Chris Hewett, SEUK Chief Executive, followed by contributions from our valued sponsors: Shire Leasing, Segen, UKSOL, and Solarport.
Liz Cammack, VP Sales and Advisor to the Global Board of leading renewables distributor Segen, commented, “Thank you to SEUK for bringing together all corners of the industry at this year’s Winter Reception. It was a brilliant opportunity to connect with both familiar and new faces, and to share insights from our opening of a new training academy, which aligns well with SEUK’s efforts to bring skilled labor into the workforce.”
Julie Henehan, Director of Corporate Development at Shire Leasing, added, “Congratulations to the SEUK team for hosting another outstanding event. The Winter Reception provided a beautiful setting for connecting with members and discussing ways to enhance our offerings. We are committed to supporting members’ access to solar solutions more affordably, driving economic and environmental benefits.”
Christy Tattershall, Marketing Director of Solarport, noted, “This gathering underscored the pivotal moment for the UK solar industry. By prioritizing collaboration, championing UK-based innovation, and collectively tackling challenges, we can drive the change needed for a cleaner, more secure energy future.”
Andrew Moore, Chief Executive of UKSOL, echoed this sentiment, “The Winter Reception was an excellent platform to showcase UKSOL’s achievements over the past year and to emphasise the critical importance of a robust UK supply chain for solar hardware. Thank you to Solar Energy UK for organising such a successful event.”
SEUK’s Commercial Director, Stephen Wilding, reflected on the day the following morning, saying, “Thank you to all involved for making these forums very well received. The day’s discussions highlighted important topics, and the content delivered by influential companies and organisations within our industry was outstanding. It’s clear that this is the most we’ve had attend both the day and evening events, reflecting our commitment to working smarter, better, and more collaboratively. We’ve set a high bar for next year, but with our talented team and a focus on evolution and learning, we’re confident in continuing to produce great results.”
You can view more photos of the day at flickr.com/photos/solarenergyuk/
Author
Gareth Simkins
Senior Communications Adviser
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