The solar panel installer

22 May 2013

What attracted you to the solar industry?

Lots of things. I've always had an interest in the environment but I started to look into energy in particular after going on a march protesting against the Iraq war - I was pretty sure it was all about the oil. I ended up doing a Masters specialising in energy policy, and concluded that renewable energy and demand management were the answer to our power problems.

What does your job involve?

Lots of scoping roofs and speaking to potential customers.

I go out to do the technical site surveys, which means looking at all the practicalities around fitting solar panels. I have to go up in people's lofts and measure the roof timbers, work out where the wires and the inverter will go, that kind of thing. I like to get involved in as much of the different aspects of the work as possible.

Jon runs through the practalities of an installation with a customer (c) Joju Solar

What's the best thing about your job?

I really enjoy meeting people who become engaged in the issues by generating their own power, and helping them to reduce their energy consumption.

I remember fitting solar panels for this nice lady who owned a guest house, grew her own food and reared pigs. As part of the project we landscaped her garden and made it look really nice. By producing her own power, I'd say she became a net exporter to the grid during the summer.

Jon and a customer look at a newly installed inverter (c) Joju Solar

How big is Joju Solar?

There are about 15 of us now - mostly designers, project managers and technical sales people. That's down from about 25 during the good times - before the Government cut the 'Feed-In Tariff'; guaranteed payments for solar power. There were a couple of booms during 2011 and 2012, but it's been slow and steady since then, with lots of our work going to businesses now compared to the residential sector.

Were the Feed-in Tariff cuts bad for business?

The funding is designed to be cut as the technology gets cheaper, and it has got much cheaper so we can afford big cuts now. The issue in 2011 was that the Government changed the goal posts by making these cuts early, so it all went a bit bonkers for a while. Lots of companies have been struggling ever since - many going bust or packing solar in. It's great that Friends of the Earth took the Government to court over it and won. Firms needs certainty to be able to plan for the future.

Would a target to clean up all UK power be a good thing?

Yes - renewable energy targets are really important. Germany's storming ahead of us with a target to get 80% of its energy - not just its electricity - from renewable sources by 2050. There are lots of sceptics out there who don't think a renewable energy future is possible but it is. It's economically viable and will create loads of new jobs. We just need the political will.

Feeling inspired? If you want to see more clean British energy, ask your MP to support a clean power target now.

Have you got solar panels?

I used to - I borrowed one for an experiment last summer, when I lived for 3 months off the grid using a 130W solar panel. I wrote a blog about it. I've always been quite outdoorsy and into camping and things, and I felt like a personal challenge. I managed to power all my lighting and power my laptop and mobile phone - just shows what you can do with a tiny panel! It was good to get back to warm showers though.

What's your vision for our energy future?

Wind, solar, wave and tidal along with energy efficiency and good engineering. We should expand the interconnectivity of the national grid, install a variety of energy storage systems, and work out better ways to manage energy demand.

I'd also like to see fewer pensions being invested in big oil companies - and more investment in locally-owned co-operative energy schemes instead, like solar panels on schools and council flats.