The UK solar industry has launched a new initiative in celebration of its third ‘Solar Independence Day’ when the country observed solar energy.

The event saw people up and down the country posting photos using the hashtag #SolarIndependece and to mark the occasion, the Solar Trade Association (STA) has started a new initiative that will raise standards in the maintenance of ground mount and big rooftop solar systems.

Estimates now suggest that the UK now has nearly 12GW of solar PV installed across solar farms, warehouses, schools, offices and homes throughout the country.

This amount of solar power is equal to the amount needed to power almost 4 million homes, while the latest analysis from MyGridGB for the STA shows that in early June solar generation peaked at almost 24% of electricity demand in the UK, which is a new record for the country.

Latest statistics show that there are currently more than 800,000 homes with solar PV and 200,000 with solar thermal systems, meaning that the UK now has more than a million solar homes.

Meanwhile, the STA is eager to raise awareness of the fact that high quality maintenance and operation of solar systems is crucial to ensuring their safe working conditions, longevity and performance.

The group is keen to make sure that the sector does more than just the minimum standard required and establishes the best possible practice to raise standards in the industry.

As a result it has launched the new initiative ‘Raising Standards in Solar PV Operations and Maintenance’ which will build on the work already established by EU level organisation Solar Power Europe.

STA Operations & Maintenance Working Group Chairman and Lightsource Renewable Energy Director, Mark Turner, believes that the initiative will establish best practice and raise standards throughout the UK in maintenance and operations of solar PV, ensuring that people know about the preventative action that will avoid expensive corrections at a later date.