About a decade ago, one or more Solar Trade Association (STA) board member companies decided that, having looked at what was to become our technology, and having had a go at manufacturing and installing a handful of panels using different materials, that the Solartwin patent was not going to be commercialised. To their annoyance the patent was not left to wither away in their hands. It was transferred, after a legal tussle, to ourselves. We launched Solartwin in 1999. The events described below are in no way be linked to their decision.

The STA have expelled us as members. They did so after a meeting which we were not allowed to attend, despite our request to present our case. The apparent reason for our expulsion is that STA as a condition of membership require our panel to be installed in traditional solar scenarios, and not just in the very particular way, that we specify even though our EN 12975 panel test certificate explains this requirement very clearly. The expulsion meeting apparently took place by telephone. Any STA member who dares to install our panel can now be expelled too. We now take this fact into account when recruiting installers.

We have retained the STA logo on some of our literature because we know the STA has made tactical mistakes in the past regarding Solartwin. For example a few years ago, STA fined us £1000 for explaining how old solar technology negated about 20% of its carbon savings by using mains powered pumps. We used data from a DTI research report and we named seven solar companies, at least four of whom were linked to the STA board at the time. After a legal tussle the STA grudgingly rescinded the fine.

We have posted this news item publicly because unfortunately the STA have refused to meet us privately to discuss this expulsion issue. If you think that you as a consumer are affected negatively by the ban on STA installers reselling Solartwin, please contact the Office of Fair Trading.  enquiries@oft.gsi.gov.uk