BPVA Launched

The BPVA (British Photovoltaic Association) was officially launched today at the 'Solar in Building Design and Construction' conference held at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London. This event is being attended by over 200 representatives from a broad spectrum of companies, financial institutions, associations and press from the photovoltaic (PV) sector. 

The launch was presided over by the Chairman and CEO of the association - Reza Shaybani and James Steynor. "We could have not wished for a better attendance at this event and the enthusiasm for the BPVA has exceeded all our expectations," said Shaybani. 

"Membership is now over 40 and growing as we speak," added Steynor, "and this for an association that is only a few hours old." 

The BPVA is the only UK-based association dedicated to the PV sector. In Steynor's opening presentation he emphasised that this focus on PV gives a very clear message to members and people interested in the activities of the association - the BPVA delivers what it says on the tin: PV and only PV. "Other initiatives while worthy and clearly very valuable to the overall development of renewable energy in the UK, are inevitably compromised by representing what are, in effect, competing technologies, such as wind power and solar water heating," Steynor stressed. "Our focus at the BPVA is to work towards widespread adoption of PV at grass root level. We want to help increase the number of consumers who consume PV generated electricity, which offers affordable local solutions on a local and affordable scale." 

Shaybani added: "Our focus is to educate and inform, acting as a catalyst to develop the PV market in the UK, bringing in jobs both in the technology and engineering sectors while also making a major contribution to reducing carbon emissions." 

The growth in widespread adoption of PV technology in the UK is set to accelerate rapidly against the backdrop of feed-in tariffs introduced by the Department of Energy and Climate Change on the 1st of April this year. While the initiative underpins this growth by securing investment in PV for the next 25 years, this is only the start. A drive to stimulate the establishment of basic infrastructure and ensure overall that there are no encumbrances to PV installations is necessary and this is a key element to PV success that BPVA will be targeting in the coming years. 

The BPVA came into existence through the need for consumer education and representation, seen by the founding members, who come from a broad spectrum of national and international companies and financial institutions. The BPVA also has also benefited greatly from the support of a number of national and global associations connected with the PV market. 

One founding member, Gianluca Aiazzi CEO of SYSTEM Photonics S.p.A comments, "The formation of the BPVA is vital for the market in PV to develop at its full potential in the UK. It is not simply a matter of seeding the technology with government backing, such as the feed-in tariffs - though clearly vital, this is only the start. Associations focusing on PV alone are essential as is well-proven in other markets worldwide. We wish the BPVA great success, and we are delighted to have been part of the launch." 

The BPVA will be headquartered in The Building Centre located in London, which will house a stateof- the-art showroom for PV technology. All those interested in PV will be able to see first-hand what the technology offers, and learn what opportunities PV technology can deliver. "We plan to have the showroom fully operational by the end of October," commented Steynor, "and we will base all our activities from this prestigious location."