For all the latest news stories visit www.eibi.co.uk RENEWABLE ENERGY


Solar panels spread across UK sporting venues


Major UK sporting venues are increasingly turning to solar energy, with Cardiff’s Principality Stadium (pictured) now home to what is believed to be the country’s largest rooftop installation of its kind. The 1.5-megawatt system at the


Principality Stadium, installed by EvoEnergy, comprises 3,296 panels and is expected to generate about 1.24 million kWh of electricity each year. It is projected to meet roughly 22% of the stadium’s demand and avoid around 1.2 million kWh being drawn from the grid. The scheme is forecast to cut about 260 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually and pay for itself in just under four years. At Ascot Racecourse, a 608 kW solar array has been installed across


tonnes of CO₂ each year. “This installation is a significant


milestone for Ascot,” says Felicity Barnard, chief executive of Ascot Racecourse. “By turning our Grandstand roof into a long-term energy asset, we are supporting both our environmental commitments and the future sustainability of the racecourse.” Elsewhere, the Queen’s Club in


the Grandstand by SSE Energy Solutions and Ortus Energy. The system uses more than 1,200 panels and is expected to generate around 570,000 kWh annually, supplying about 9% of the venue’s electricity once fully operational. It is projected to reduce emissions by around 118


industrial heat A new study by EnergiRaven suggests Greater Manchester could meet around 85% of its residential heating demand using excess heat from industry. Sources include data centres, power generation, water treatment plants, breweries, and food manufacturing facilities across the region. The analysis estimates that capturing and distributing this waste heat via a district heat network could save approximately £8.83 billion over 20 years compared with continued reliance on gas heating and direct electric panel systems. The proposal centres on a planned ‘Heat Highway’ – a


Potential for Manchester to benefit from excess


West London has installed a 421kW system producing around 360,000 kWh annually, cutting emissions by about 55 tonnes and reducing its reliance on grid electricity by a quarter. Manchester City has fitted around 2,800 panels across its training sites and the Joie Stadium, with surplus energy exported to the Etihad Stadium. In east London, the London Stadium


has added a 6,500m² solar membrane as part of a £4.35m upgrade, expected to generate about 850,000 kWh a year.


New Reports


● The Future of Scottish Wind Development: A new Aurora Energy Research report, commissioned by the Scottish Onshore Wind Developers Forum, finds increasing Scottish onshore wind deployment after 2030 could cut UK energy system costs by £5bn annually. The analysis warns current Clean Power Action Plan proposals risk higher costs, delayed investment and reduced energy security.


● Policy Pulse: In its latest Policy Pulse report, the Building Controls Industry Association (BCIA) has warned commercial and public buildings risk being overlooked in the UK’s net-zero transition despite more than £40bn in decarbonisation funding and support. The report calls for greater clarity around the future policy framework for non-domestic buildings.


● Practical approaches to controlling heat pumps: A new white paper produced by Resideo examines heat pump control approaches across the UK, Germany and the Netherlands to help installers navigate evolving best practice. The paper explores system design, zoning and control strategies, highlighting lessons from more mature European markets as UK heat pump adoption continues to accelerate.


connected network of pipes designed to transport waste heat, store it as hot water, and distribute it to homes and buildings across Greater Manchester. The route has been mapped using detailed spatial datasets from the Ordnance Survey National Geographic Database, identifying both heat sources and high-demand residential areas. Greater Manchester is well suited for such a system due to its concentration of industrial sites, including


Carrington Power Station and the Heinz site in Wigan. The region also includes legacy energy infrastructure and former mining areas potentially suitable for geothermal heat recovery. The report argues that heat networks could help


address inefficiencies in current heating systems, particularly in high-rise buildings reliant on electric panel heating and in older, poorly insulated housing stock associated with fuel poverty. Different temperature levels could be supplied depending on building type, with higher temperatures for existing inefficient stock and lower temperatures for new builds.


building fabric improvements Homeowners and landlords making energy efficiency improvements are to be offered subsidies of up to 20% on bank loans under a new government scheme. The scheme is designed to improve affordability for those looking to install heat pumps, solar panels, storage batteries, domestic wind turbines and/or micro-hydropower. The government has been approaching lenders – particularly standard mortgage providers –


EIBI | JULY / AUGUST 2026 Energy efficiency loans exclude


registered with the Financial Conduct Authority to participate. However, detailed inspection of


the scheme’s rules, prepared by DESNZ, reveals that building fabric improvements are overtly excluded. This is despite increasing concern about the size and operability of heat pumps when installed in homes in a poor fabric state. The rules also make it plain that no discounts would be available to fund insulation, windows and doors


glazing, or even roofing repairs in advance of a solar installation – the latter despite growing concern regarding the need for sound roofs before photovoltaic panels are installed. The government intends these subsidised loans to form a significant part of its Warm Homes Plan. This was originally to replace funding for the Energy Company Obligation and the Great British Insulation Scheme, both of which had concentrated on improvements to the building fabric. Their cancellation has already led to over 17,000 jobs being lost in the fabric installation industry.


● The state of energy and sustainability in the UK material handling industry: A new joint report published by Consultus Sustainability and the UK Material Handling Association (UKMHA) has exposed a disconnect between energy price anxiety and operational action across the UK logistics and supply chain sector. The report reveals that UK material handling businesses rate their concern over volatile energy costs a worrying 8.05 out of 10.


● Progress in reducing emissions: The Climate Change Committee (CCC) has warned that UK households face higher energy bills because electrification is progressing too slowly. Its latest assessment says faster uptake of heat pumps, electric vehicles and other low-carbon technologies would reduce costs while keeping the UK on track for future carbon budgets.


● Thinking the unthinkable, coal power and national security: Climate change denial group Net Zero Watch argues the UK should reconsider coal power, as the electricity system is increasingly exposed to foreign supply, vulnerable infrastructure, high gas prices and rising costs.


07


NEWS UPDATE


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36