UK becomes world´s fastest-growing solar photovoltaics market

A dramatic increase in the number of homes in the UK being fitted with solar photovoltaics (PV) systems has made the country the fastest-growing market for the technology.

According to research by iSuppli, installations of PV systems in the UK will amount to 96MW in 2010, representing a 1,500 per cent increase on the 6MW of energy generated by the technology in 2009.

This far outstrips the growth rate of the UK´s nearest rival Spain, which iSuppli estimates to be 730 per cent this year.

"When you think of weather in the United Kingdom, London fog comes to mind more readily than bright sunshine," said Dr Henning Wicht, senior director and principal analyst for iSuppli.

"However, things definitely are looking brighter for the solar market in the United Kingdom in 2010, as the country has adopted attractive feed-in-tariffs to promote PV adoption."

Last week, work began on a regeneration project in Leeds which will see the use of solar photovoltaics to several energy-efficient homes.