A record number of contracts related to solar power projects were awarded in 2014, according to new figures released by Barbour ABI.
The data shows that œ5.2bn worth of construction contracts for over 1,000 renewable energy projects were awarded, with over œ1.7bn relating to solar projects.
This means that 2014 saw the biggest increase in year on year approvals of solar energy projects, increasing by 59%. Furthermore, 611 solar farms with a value of over œ100,000 were submitted for planning in 2014, compared to only three in 2010, showing rapid growth for the sector over the last five years.
The new data from Barbour ABI follows recent official figures from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), which shows that overall solar PV capacity at the end of 2014 stood at 5,095 MW. This represents an increase of 79% since the end of 2013 and an estimated 649,787 installations – an increase of 28% on 2013’s figures.
