Commercial solar rooftop: Kingspan looks to engage with other utilities following ESB joint venture
Green business news – by Louise Bateman
13th May 2015
Leading insulation manufacturer Kingspan has signalled its intention to work with utility firms in other territories to accelerate the take up of commercial solar rooftop, following yesterday’s joint venture deal with Ireland’s largest energy company, ESB.
Peter Turley, Business Unit manager for Kingspan Energy, told GreenWise, the tie-up with ESB was a “strong blueprint” for joint ventures with utility companies in other countries to lower the barriers to rooftop solar, where energy regulations permitted it. “It gives us a very good platform to engage with other utilities,” he said.
Fully-funded solar
Kingspan launched its commercial rooftop solar “100 per cent funded solution”, called Funded Solar, in January 2014.
Fully-funded solar
The joint venture with ESB is the first of its type to be signed by Kingspan. It means Kingspan can market its fully-funded commercial rooftop solar solution to businesses in Northern Ireland in partnership with a local utility company, who will be able to supply the green energy generated by the rooftop solar PV systems to local businesses.
“For the client, this means they get cheaper, green power, with Kingspan looking after their roof and ESB looking after their power,” said Turley, who said it was a model that “could be applicable to any market”.
Potential obstacles
“For the client, this means they get cheaper, green power, with Kingspan looking after their roof and ESB looking after their power,” said Turley, who said it was a model that “could be applicable to any market”.
Potential obstacles
However, regulatory barriers and policy uncertainty around solar are some of the potential obstacles facing similar joint ventures, said Turley, who could not talk about other territories or companies Kingspan might be in discussions with.
In the UK, the solar industry is still awaiting its fate following the election of an all Conservative Government in the General Election last week. But the Solar Trade Association (STA) said rooftop solar appeared to be a relative bright spot in an otherwise uncertain picture for solar.
Industry calls for “clarity”
In the UK, the solar industry is still awaiting its fate following the election of an all Conservative Government in the General Election last week. But the Solar Trade Association (STA) said rooftop solar appeared to be a relative bright spot in an otherwise uncertain picture for solar.
Industry calls for “clarity”
Leonie Greene told Solar Power Portal: “The outlook is obviously unclear under the Tories and clarity is needed. On the positive side, Tory ministers have been strong advocates of roof-mounted solar. 650,000 solar roofs really is a world class achievement.”
A DECC spokesperson told GreenWise the department wasn’t in a position to confirm the “latest position on commercial rooftop solar” until the new ministerial portfolios were “set out”.
Turley said the Kingspan ESB joint venture had “between three and five megawatts” of solar photovoltaic capacity on commercial rooftops in its “pipeline” in Northern Ireland. Kingspan estimates there is a potential £320 million electricity cost savings to Northern Ireland businesses over the next 25 years through rooftop solar.
A DECC spokesperson told GreenWise the department wasn’t in a position to confirm the “latest position on commercial rooftop solar” until the new ministerial portfolios were “set out”.
Turley said the Kingspan ESB joint venture had “between three and five megawatts” of solar photovoltaic capacity on commercial rooftops in its “pipeline” in Northern Ireland. Kingspan estimates there is a potential £320 million electricity cost savings to Northern Ireland businesses over the next 25 years through rooftop solar.
Kingspan launched its commercial rooftop solar “100 per cent funded solution”, called Funded Solar, in January 2014.
This story was change at 4pm on Thursday May 14 2015. It previously incorrectly reported there was between 3-5 MW of potential commercial rooftop solar in Northern Ireland. This figure in fact refers to Kingspan ESB’s pipeline of work in the territory.
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