UK solar industry stalwart Ray Noble has been recognised within the Queen’s birthday honours list, leading a crowd of renewables advocates to have received honours this weekend.
Noble has been named a Member of the British Empire, acknowledging his services to the renewable energy industry. Having joined BP Solar in 1999, Noble later established his own consultancy, Solar BIPV, advising some of the world’s largest solar manufacturers.
He has been an instrumental figure in the formulation of UK solar policy, holding positions at both the Solar Trade Association and Renewable Energy Association, where he remains as solar, battery storage and electric vehicle adviser.
In 2014 Noble was the recipient of the Solar Power Portal Awards Outstanding Achievement award, recognising his contribution to the domestic PV industry.
Speaking to Solar Power Portal this morning, Noble said there was nothing to stop the solar industry from going from strength to strength.
“When I started in solar in the late 1980s no one, including government, would believe that ‘space technology’ solar would ever work in the UK.
“It has been a long slog but now there is nothing to stop solar the world over being the lowest cost of electricity generation,” he said.
Other renewables industry figures to receive honours include ex-Dong Energy chairman Brent Cheshire and Zero Carbon Futures’ Colin Herron, who both received CBEs for their services to the renewables industry, and Alan Creighton, senior smart grid development engineer at Northern Powergrid, who received an MBE for his services to the energy industry in general.
Sonya Bedford, head of renewable energy at law firm Stephens Scown, also received an MBE for her services to community energy. She dedicated the honour to her family and the communities she has worked with to date,
“The communities I support have achieved so much and it is a pleasure to volunteer with them. I’m so lucky to have a job that I love. I’m going to continue to champion and support the energy projects that are making a difference in our communities,” she said.