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A major 30 month project to analyse the barriers to installing and connecting solar photovoltaic power systems has just begun.  The 'PV LEGAL' project will examine the reasons why the installation of PV systems in the UK and across Europe can take weeks, months, or even years, and will include an examination of the difficulties experienced in connecting to the grid.  

The Renewable Energy Association is leading the work for the UK, co-ordinating with 11 other European countries including Italy, France, Spain and Poland.  

 A recent report estimates that PV has the potential to supply up to 12% of Europe's electricity by 2020 (Set for 2020, AT Kearney & EPIA, 2009).  Solar PV currently supplies less than 1% of Europe's power, providing electricity for an estimated 1.5 million homes across the continent. The UK has been particularly poor on PV uptake with only a few thousand installations nationwide, a situation hopefully set to change with the forthcoming 'Feed-In' Tariffs, currently under consultation.

Stuart Pocock, Head of Onsite Renewables said; "REA is delighted to be leading this important piece of work on the barriers faced by PV in the UK.  With the Tariffs due to come in next year, this project will provide a detailed examination of everything standing in the way of installations running as smoothly as possible.  The project will deliver real benefits to improving the regulatory and administrative framework and helping to optimise the uptake of solar PV."

The PV LEGAL project will analyse the administrative and regulatory market barriers for PV in order to establish a comprehensive database on the bureaucratic hurdles that need to be removed across Europe.  Once the database is established policy makers and grid operators in the main European PV markets will be invited to forums, conferences and workshops to discuss recommendations for breaking down the regulatory and administrative barriers.

 The PV legal project will be publicly presented during the 24th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference and Exhibition in Hamburg next week.