Rachel Tidmarsh, Managing Director of aerial mapping company Bluesky, helps explain how a new generation of geographic data products are helping property owners, developers and service companies assess the suitability of properties for environmentally friendly projects including solar energy systems and monitor their success.

When it comes to the installation of solar thermal systems, it's crucial that suppliers, installers and users appreciate the importance of chemical water treatment. Why this is critical to system longevity, performance and efficiency?

Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) sometimes gets overlooked as the battle of thin film versus silicon often hogs the limelight. CSP has other ideas than being left in the shadows.

Solar panels are a long term investment that you can't just fit and forget. This feature explains how including smart meters as part of a PV installation will enable installers to closely monitor performance - helping them to maintain optimum output.

The global solar and PV industry have seen rapid growth over the last few years and in the rush to maximise opportunities some operators have cut corners to meet changing policies or beat price volatility. Where ever such incidents occur they impact on the overall perception of the industry and can become a barrier to consumer acceptance. Developing a standard solution to PV safety fears at an early stage of industry growth will improve industry opportunities with a concerted effort to ensure safety throughout the value chain.

A recent publication by the director of policy and research of the Renewable Energy Foundation has created concern amongst renewable energy companies by claiming that the UK government programme of green policies will in fact cost the country jobs and provide a negative overall benefit. David Ridsdale reports on how misinformation created by such reports only clouds the overall renewable policy agenda.

Spurred by an increasingly long list of fire issues from PV products, IMO Precision Controls recently wrote to an international electrical body expressing their concern regarding a safety critical component being used in many installations of PV equipment. Graham Viney, Quality Manager at IMO discusses the safety issues with AC to DC switching and highlights a lack of industry awareness of the challenges or the solutions.

A consortium of companies and universities in the UK was recently given a grant to develop solar powered personal infrastructure for soldiers on the move. The project has already led to user friendly solar products.

Andrew Lee, International Sales Manager for Sharp Solar in the UK suggests that now is not the time to lose faith in the FiT and examines how the UK solar industry is placed to react to the cuts and looks at where the job opportunities are for those looking to enter the industry.

The financial markets are abuzz with news that China is set to be the largest economy in the world very soon but what does this actually mean for foreign interests hoping to infiltrate the apparent opportunities in such a large market. Graham Curren, CEO of Sondrel takes a UK perspective and looks at the key points to consider when taking business to China and the benefits this can bring. Curren asks if China is worth the risk for any technology company.

A report on a recent conference exploring the possibilities of ALD