Photovoltaic panel prices are dropping by as much as ten per cent per year as an industry expert told a conference.Kees van der Leun, of solar panel firm Econcern, told delegates at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, that the potential of solar power has been greatly underestimated.He...

Microgeneration is to help cut the energy bills of a stone quarrying and processing firm in Gloucestershire.The Forest of Dean Stone Firms, which quarries fine grained sandstone, has applied for permission to install a microgeneration hydropower facility on ancient ponds.Cannop ponds in Parkend were originally built to turn a water...

Solar photovoltaic panels on homes in a new development in Hampshire will help residents cut their energy bills.Photovoltaic solar roof tiles installed by SolarCentury on the development will generate a large share of the electricity to run the homes.Inside the home smart meters have been installed which show how much...

Photovoltaic solar panels could become more efficient at generating electricity after scientists broke their previous record for converting sunlight into power.Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems claim to have achieved conversion efficiency of 41.1 per cent, breaking their own earlier record of 39.7 per cent.To achieve this,...

Renewable energy in the form of photovoltaic panels, combined heating and cooling, and wind turbines is expected to feature heavily in the building development sector, a new report reveals.A survey of 5,450 professionals in the industry revealed that three quarters believe they are likely to be involved with renewable energy...

The role of microgeneration systems such as photovoltaic panels and wind turbines in helping a house achieve a zero carbon rating are being considered.A consultation into the definition of the term 'low carbon' is a quarter of the way through and will affect all new homes built from 2016, as...

Three wind turbines, photovoltaic panels, solar thermal water heating and a biomass boiler meet the energy needs of the new headquarters of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).The building was designed with the aim of meeting zero carbon standards, while having to satisfy value for money criteria...

A combined heat and power plant (CHP) generates electricity and heat for Tesco's most energy efficient store to date.Powered by natural fuel from sustainable sources, the CHP is just one of a range of energy efficient measures in the new store which help it use 48 per cent less energy...

Photovoltaic panels installed on a school will help reduce its energy costs while educating pupils about renewable energy.The Buckie Community High School yesterday switched on 24 photovoltaic panels installed on its roof.Over the course of a year the photovoltaic panels are expected to generate 3,300 kilowatt hours of renewable energy...

Photovoltaic solar panels have been installed and commissioned at the offices of the West Berkshire Council.The microgeneration panels, which cover 85 square meters, are capable of generating 11.2 kilowatts, have been.Energy generated via the 66 sharp 170Wp polycrystalline modules will be used to supply the building with clean energy as...

Domestic energy assessors should be aware that according to a recent study, the efficiency of wind turbines varies greatly, depending on where they are located.A report by environmental consultants Encraft revealed that in some cases, wind turbines don't even generate enough electricity to keep a light bulb lit.On...