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New Idea

A solar survey app that has been approved for sale on iTunes. The UK Solar Survey app for UK home owners uses the iPhone to do a "self survey" and see if energy consumption, orientation, shading, roof space and application are correct for PV. Consumers enter details about their property and use their finger to draw the obstructions and shading on the roof space, then the software's algorithms do the rest.

Andy Proctor, creator of the app, saw the iPhone as the best platform with it's built in compass and access to customers interested in PV with iTunes.

The benefit is an independent result that you can then compare with your quote from a PV company and interrogate the quote, the company and the price.

You can also check out the feasibility before contacting an installer, as well as selecting to have MCS installers contact you after seeing your results, should you choose to offer this information to the installers on the UK Solar Survey database of installers.

The UK Solar Survey website has more information and the app can be downloaded on iTunes.

The android and web-based version are due out Q4 of 2011

www.uksolarsurvey.co.uk

Chris Huhne resigns as minister for Energy

Chris Huhne resigns as minister for Energy »

Industry uncertainty deepens

Friday 3rd February 2012

Following reports that he is to be charged over a speeding incident Chris Huhne the Minister for Energy has resigned throwing further confusion towards the outcome of a FiT review and the governments decision to pursue the matter to the Supreme Court. Huhne had received criticism over the cost of continuing the case with some suggesting any economic return the changes to the FiT scheme may have made are being swallowed in legal costs. 

Business Minister Ed Davey will replace Huhne in the interim and the industry will have to see if this precipitates a change of direction for the government's process in constructively moving the solar and PV industry forward. Huhne has declared his innocence and says he is standing down so as not to distract from the government's efforts. Huhne's party leader, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said he hoped Huhne would return to government. 


Huhne is likely to be charged with perverting the course of justice after his car was caught speeding but Huhne claimed another person was driving and that person took the blame and subsequent driver's points. Since then a number of people claimed to have seen the supposed driver at a function casting doubt on Huhne's version of events.


The UK solar and photovoltaic industry will need to wait until next week when the next court decision is due. The industry has been in turmoil since the government announced its desire to change the FiT in place and decided to enforce changes two weeks before the consultation was complete. The courts have so far declared the action illegal but the government has so far being determined to take the issue all the way.

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