SolarIQ Cookie and Similar Technologies Policy

This Cookie and Similar Technologies Policy (the "Cookie Policy") explains how SolarTech Energy-UK Limited, trading as SolarIQ, uses cookies and other technologies which store information on, or access information from, a user's device when that user accesses the SolarIQ website, platform, applications or related online services.

SolarTech Energy-UK Limited is a company incorporated in England and Wales under company number 17412990, with registered office at No1 Capital Quarter, Tyndall Street, Cardiff, Wales, CF10 4BZ.

In this Cookie Policy, "SolarIQ", "we", "us" and "our" mean SolarTech Energy-UK Limited.

This Cookie Policy should be read together with the SolarIQ Privacy Notice and SolarIQ Platform Terms of Use.

Where a technology processes personal data, the processing of that personal data is also subject to applicable data-protection law and our Privacy Notice.

This Cookie Policy applies when you access or use any website, web application or other online service operated by or on behalf of SolarIQ which refers or links to this Cookie Policy.

References to "cookies" in this Policy include, where the context permits, cookies and other technologies capable of storing information on or accessing information from a user's terminal equipment.

Such technologies may include browser cookies, local storage, session storage, software development kits, tracking pixels, web beacons, scripts, tags, device identifiers and comparable storage or access technologies.

The technologies actually used by SolarIQ will depend upon the functionality and services implemented from time to time.

A cookie is a small data file which a website or online service may place on a computer, mobile telephone, tablet or other device when the service is accessed.

Cookies may enable an online service to recognise a device, maintain a secure session, authenticate a user, remember information or preferences, understand how the service is being used or provide other functionality.

Some cookies operate only for the duration of a browsing session and expire when the relevant browser or application is closed. These are generally referred to as session cookies.

Other cookies remain on the device for a defined period after the browsing session has ended or until they are deleted. These are generally referred to as persistent cookies.

Cookies may also be classified as first-party cookies, where they are set by or on behalf of SolarIQ, or third-party cookies, where they are set or accessed by another organisation through technology incorporated into SolarIQ's online services.

SolarIQ's use of cookies and similar technologies is governed principally by the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003, as amended ("PECR"), together with applicable UK data-protection legislation where the relevant technology involves the processing of personal data.

PECR regulates the storage of information on, and access to information stored on, a user's terminal equipment.

Where consent is required under PECR, SolarIQ will not use the relevant technology for the relevant purpose before valid consent has been obtained.

Where the applicable legislation permits storage or access without consent, SolarIQ may rely upon the relevant statutory exception provided that the requirements attaching to that exception are satisfied.

Where information obtained through a cookie or similar technology constitutes personal data, SolarIQ will also ensure that the subsequent processing of that personal data has an appropriate lawful basis under applicable data-protection law.

Further information about SolarIQ's processing of personal data is contained in the SolarIQ Privacy Notice.

Not every use of cookies or similar technologies requires consent.

SolarIQ may use a technology without obtaining prior consent where its use falls within an applicable exception under PECR.

Where no applicable exception applies, SolarIQ will obtain consent before storing or accessing information on a user's device.

Consent will be sought through a cookie banner, consent-management platform or another appropriate interface.

Where consent is requested, SolarIQ intends that users should be able to make a genuine and informed choice.

Accordingly, non-exempt technologies will not be activated merely because a user continues browsing the website, and consent will not be inferred from inactivity.

The relevant interface will enable users to accept or reject non-exempt technologies and, where appropriate, make choices between different categories or purposes.

Refusing consent should be no more difficult than giving consent.

Where consent is given, SolarIQ may maintain an appropriate record of that consent, including the choices made and the version of the consent information presented at the relevant time.

The precise technologies deployed by SolarIQ may change as the Platform develops. Depending upon the functionality in use, SolarIQ may use the following categories.

Certain functionality made available through SolarIQ may be provided using technology supplied by third parties.

Such providers may include, depending upon the technologies implemented from time to time, providers of hosting infrastructure, authentication systems, analytics, customer-support tools, embedded media, communications services, security systems or other Platform functionality.

Before implementing a third-party technology, SolarIQ will seek to understand the purposes for which that technology stores or accesses information and the manner in which the relevant provider uses information obtained through it.

Where a third party uses information for its own purposes, that organisation may act as an independent controller and its own privacy documentation may also apply.

SolarIQ will seek consent before enabling non-exempt third-party technologies where consent is required by law.

A current list of applicable technologies and providers should be maintained in the cookie schedule referred to in clause 13.

SolarIQ may include content or functionality supplied by another online service, such as videos, maps, document viewers, scheduling tools or similar embedded functionality.

Such third-party content may itself use cookies or comparable technologies.

Where technically practicable and legally required, SolarIQ may prevent non-exempt third-party technologies from operating until the relevant user has made an appropriate choice.

SolarIQ may alternatively provide external links or require a user to affirmatively activate particular embedded content.

Once a user leaves SolarIQ and accesses a third-party website or service directly, that third party's own cookie and privacy arrangements will apply.

Users may manage applicable cookie and similar-technology preferences through the SolarIQ consent-management interface.

The relevant control should be accessible through a "Cookie Settings", "Privacy Settings" or equivalent link made available through the website or Platform.

Where a technology is based upon consent, consent may be withdrawn at any time.

Withdrawal will not affect the lawfulness of processing which took place before withdrawal.

Where SolarIQ relies upon a statutory exception which requires users to be given a simple means of objecting, that objection mechanism may also be provided through the consent-management or privacy-settings interface.

Changing a preference will ordinarily affect future storage or access. It may not automatically delete information already stored on a device, and users may separately delete stored cookies using their browser or device controls.

Most browsers and devices allow users to inspect, delete or restrict cookies and other locally stored information.

Depending upon the browser or device, users may be able to delete existing cookies, block future cookies, restrict third-party cookies, clear cookies when a browsing session closes or use private-browsing functionality.

Browser-level restrictions may affect both SolarIQ and other websites.

Blocking Strictly Necessary Technologies may prevent login, authentication, Data Room access or other parts of the Platform from operating correctly.

Browser and device controls operate separately from SolarIQ's own consent-management interface and may not always communicate a user's granular preferences to SolarIQ.

SolarIQ will seek to retain cookies and comparable identifiers only for a period proportionate to the purpose for which they are used.

Some technologies will expire when the relevant browser session ends.

Persistent technologies may remain for a defined period where this is reasonably necessary for their purpose, for example to maintain security, remember permitted preferences or record a user's cookie choices.

SolarIQ will periodically review the duration of persistent cookies and similar technologies and should not retain them for materially longer than is reasonably necessary for the relevant purpose.

The specific duration applicable to each deployed technology will be identified in the cookie schedule where practicable.

SolarIQ will maintain a schedule identifying the material cookies and similar technologies actually deployed through its website and Platform.

The schedule should identify, where applicable, the name or identifier of the technology, the provider, its purpose, whether it is first-party or third-party, the applicable category, its duration and whether consent or another applicable PECR basis is relied upon.

The schedule forming part of this Cookie Policy shall be populated from SolarIQ's live implementation and updated when technologies materially change.

SolarIQ does not currently deploy analytics, advertising or third-party tracking technologies on the Platform. This schedule will be updated before any such technology is introduced, and consent will be sought at that time where required.

Information collected using cookies or similar technologies may constitute personal data where it relates to an identified or identifiable individual.

Depending upon the technology concerned, this may include IP address, online identifiers, device information, browser information, authentication records, user preferences, Platform interactions, timestamps and other technical or usage information.

Where such information constitutes personal data, SolarIQ will process it in accordance with the SolarIQ Privacy Notice.

The lawful basis applicable to subsequent processing under the UK GDPR may differ from the PECR basis permitting storage or access to information on a device.

Compliance with one regime does not remove the need to comply with the other where both apply.

Where SolarIQ undertakes analytics without relying upon consent, it will do so only where the relevant use satisfies an applicable legal exception.

Where reliance is placed upon the statistical-purposes exception, SolarIQ will seek to ensure that the sole purpose of the relevant storage or access is the production of statistical information concerning use of the SolarIQ service with a view to improving that service.

The resulting statistical information should be aggregated so that it does not identify individual users and should not be used to make decisions about particular individuals.

Individual-level information used to generate those statistics should not be retained for longer than reasonably necessary for that process.

Where SolarIQ uses an analytics provider for purposes which extend beyond the statutory exception, consent will be obtained where required.

SolarIQ will not rely upon the Strictly Necessary, statistical-purposes or other non-consent exceptions to conduct behavioural advertising or cross-site or cross-device tracking where those exceptions do not lawfully apply.

If SolarIQ implements advertising pixels, remarketing technologies, conversion-tracking technologies or other technologies which track individuals for advertising purposes, those technologies will be placed behind the appropriate consent mechanism.

A user who rejects advertising or marketing technologies should remain able to access the core SolarIQ website and Platform, subject to any functionality which genuinely and lawfully depends upon a separate user choice.

SolarIQ may add, remove or change cookies and similar technologies as its website, Platform, service providers and technical infrastructure develop.

Where a change materially affects the purposes for which information is stored or accessed, SolarIQ will update this Cookie Policy and, where necessary, the consent-management interface.

Where existing consent does not validly extend to a new purpose, SolarIQ will obtain fresh consent before using the relevant technology for that purpose.

SolarIQ may also periodically ask users to review their preferences where reasonably appropriate.

SolarIQ may maintain records evidencing consent, refusal, objection or other cookie preferences for an appropriate period.

Such records may include the preference selected, date and time, relevant consent-management configuration, version of the information presented and a technical identifier reasonably necessary to associate the preference with the relevant browser or device.

These records may be retained for the purposes of applying user preferences, demonstrating compliance, investigating complaints and maintaining an appropriate audit trail.

Where a technology operates on the basis of consent, you may withdraw your consent at any time using the relevant SolarIQ cookie or privacy settings.

Where a statutory exception permits SolarIQ to use a technology without consent but requires SolarIQ to provide a simple means of objecting, you may exercise that objection through the relevant control made available by SolarIQ.

SolarIQ will seek to give effect to a withdrawal or objection without undue delay.

A technology may continue to operate where it is separately and lawfully required for a Strictly Necessary purpose.

Certain third-party technology providers may process information outside the United Kingdom.

Where information collected through a cookie or similar technology constitutes personal data and is transferred internationally, SolarIQ will address the transfer in accordance with applicable UK data-protection requirements.

Further information about international transfers is contained in the SolarIQ Privacy Notice.

SolarIQ will take reasonable technical and organisational measures intended to protect information collected through cookies and similar technologies against unauthorised access, disclosure, alteration or loss.

Where third-party technologies are used, SolarIQ will seek to select providers and configurations appropriate to the nature of the information and the relevant processing.

No online technology can, however, guarantee absolute security.

SolarIQ may amend this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes to the Platform, the technologies used, applicable service providers, legal requirements or regulatory guidance.

The current version will be made available through the SolarIQ website or Platform.

Where a change materially affects a user's choices or requires renewed consent under Applicable Law, SolarIQ will take appropriate steps to obtain or refresh those choices.

The version number and effective date at the beginning of this Cookie Policy indicate when the current version became effective.

Questions concerning SolarIQ's use of cookies, similar technologies or personal data may be directed to:

SolarTech Energy-UK Limited, trading as SolarIQ. Company number: 17412990. Registered office: No1 Capital Quarter, Tyndall Street, Cardiff, Wales, CF10 4BZ.

Privacy email: contact@solariq.net

Further information about how SolarIQ handles personal data and how individuals may exercise their data-protection rights is available in the SolarIQ Privacy Notice.