The Solar Trade Association (STA) will end its affiliation with the Renewable Energy Association (REA) and become an independent organisation on 1 January 2015, it has been announced.

The two associations became affiliated in March 2011, when the STA merged with the REA’s Solar Power Group and relaunched in representation of both the solar heating and solar power industries.

Over the past four years, the affiliation has:

• Helped restore growth to the rooftop solar power and ground-mount solar power industries;
• Promoted best practice in the development of ground-mount solar farms, through the ‘10 Commitments’ campaign, biodiversity guides and Solar Independence Day;
• Challenged government’s decision on removing the RO for large scale solar power and securing improvements to grace period requirements;
• proposed policies on the Domestic and Non-Domestic Renewable Heat Incentives via government consultations;
• played a role in the Community Energy Shared Ownership Taskforce to ‘facilitate commercially-viable partnerships’ between renewable energy developers and community groups; and
• helped to promote consumer interest and engagement in domestic solar energy through the ‘Your Roof’ campaign.

However, the STA has announced that from next year, it will become independent once again to focus on its core work and ‘strengthen solar energy’s voice’.

'We will continue to work side by side towards our common goal of mainstreaming renewable energy'

Speaking of the decision, STA Chairman Jan Sisson, said: “Solar has come of age and has become a significant presence in the UK renewables market. As this market has expanded, so too must the STA to meet the new challenges ahead. It is vital that solar energy strengthens its voice, particularly with an eye on the increasingly competitive post-subsidy world.

“I would like to thank everyone at the Renewable Energy Association for its valued contribution in supporting the STA to become the highly professional, respected, and influential voice of solar that it is today. It speaks volumes about the progress of the STA that we now attract all the leading names in solar to our membership and we look forward to strengthening our voice going forwards. We may now be two separate organisations, but we will continue to work side by side towards our common goal of mainstreaming renewable energy.”

REA Chairman Martin Wright, added: “I’m very proud of the achievements we have secured together these past three and a half years and very grateful to the STA staff and membership for their vital work. I wish the STA every success for the future.”

Wright also stated that the REA will continue to work on solar heating and solar power through its existing On-site and Renewable Power sector groups in the aim of ‘securing a bright future for UK solar energy’.

Despite ending their formal affiliation, both associations will remain open to collaboration on areas of mutual interest in the future.

Find out more about the Solar Trade Association and the Renewable Energy Association.