Archive for the ‘Feed-in-Tariff’ Category
Solar PV feed-in-tariff fiasco – update
26
On Wednesday 25th January it was reported that the Government had lost their right to appeal the earlier judgement that a reduction in solar pv feed-in-tariffs was unlawful. The government were refused the right to appeal which led Solar industry professionals and consumers to believe that the higher rate of 43.3p would apply for installations up to 4kWp made before 3rd March 2012. However recent activity has led to yet more uncertainty within the sector.
Background:
Solar PV feed-in-tariffs were introduced in April 2010 as an incentive for individuals and businesses to generate their own electricity. There are three levels to the feed-in-tariff scheme – Generation tariff, export tariff and electricity savings. The tariff in question here is the generation tariff.
With the generation tariff, a payment is made for every kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity your solar PV system generates. It does not matter whether you use this or not, it is based purely on what your panels produce. In April 2010 this was set at 43.3p for every kWh produced for systems up to 4kWp. Reductions in the feed-in-tariff were always expected, with a small drop expected from 1st April 2012.
Government Changes
On …
DECC lose feed-in-tariff appeal for Solar PV
25
The court of appeal has left us in limbo for weeks now, however clarity was given to the Solar PV industry today. This morning, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) lost their appeal against the High Court decision on Solar PV feed-in-tariffs. This means the feed-in tariff will now go back to 43.3p for <4kW systems installed until March 3, 2012.
This means that potentially all installs since December 12th and all systems installed and commissioned before 3rd March 2012 will now receive the higher rate of 43.3p – guaranteed for 25 years!
Customers who register on or after March 3 will qualify for the current higher rate until April 1, when the rates will drop to the lower rates, as set out in the October 31 announcement.
Commenting on the decision, Daniel Green, CEO of HomeSun, said: “Four judges, including three in the Court of Appeal, have now called the Government’s actions illegal. That’s a four-nil victory and a decisive ruling that Government may not make retrospective changes to the FiT because, as Lord Justice Moses concludes, to do so ‘would be to take away an existing entitlement without statutory authority.’”
“Both this appeal and the …
Solar PV From Planet Solar Is A Win-Win Situation
2
We are all being encouraged to go ‘green’ particularly when it comes to the functioning and running of our properties. This means investing in some form of renewable energy, however many people are still unaware of the major benefits associated with technology such as solar panels. Planet Solar is here to enlighten you that little bit more:
Feed-In-Tariff
Anybody who installs solar panels on the roof on their home will be rewarded courtesy of the Feed-In-Tariff. The Feed-In-Tariff was introduced by the government to encourage more people to embrace renewable energy and gives you a payment for all the electricity you produce.
Save on energy bills
The cost of traditional energy has risen incredibly over the past few years and will continue to do so in the future as fossil fuels become more and more sparse. Photovoltaic systems will enable you to use conventional energy less often as they will provide you with the majority of energy you need throughout the day.
Added value
Because of the rapid growth of solar PV many home buyers are expecting to see green measures already in place before considering making an offer. The addition …
Solar Panels are the technology of the future
29
The rising cost of electricity has left many households with no option but to use the electricity in their home more sparingly, even when they need it most. Electricity suppliers are expected to announce further price rises in 2012 which leaves many property owners at a crossroads. Do they continue to go without electricity or do they do something about it?
Planet Solar recommends that you consider solar power systems as an alternative source of energy as they can provide your home with the electricity it needs at a far more affordable rate. Luckily enough Planet Solar are one of the country’s leading solar panel installers, so you can be confident you are in safe hands.
Solar panels have been in existence for many years, but only in recent times have they become a practical option for domestic properties. This is because thanks to cash-back schemes such as the government’s Feed-In-Tariff homeowners are now able to earn money for the green energy their panels generate.
Despite the recent cut in the Feed-In-Tariff (FIT), homeowners can still expect to save a decent amount of money on their electricity bills and returns of up …
You Won’t Be Disappointed If You Choose Solar Panels
11
With the recent changes made to the solar panel feed in tariff, now really is the time to invest in renewable energy. Solar panels provide homeowners with the opportunity to reduce their electricity bills as well as helping them to reduce their existing carbon footprint.
As more traditional energy sources are more expensive, a lot of people are realising that choosing solar panel systems for their home is a worthwhile investment. Solar panels are so effective at harvesting energy from the sun that they sometimes produce more energy than you actually need. Don’t worry though, this wont go to waste! Under the feed-in-tariff scheme you get paid for every kilowatt hour you generate, whether you use it or not. This payment is guaranteed for 25 years.
There are a number of solar panel installers throughout England who can supply and install your solar panels for you. Prices vary so it is always good to shop around to make sure that you get the best deal. Before signing any contracts make sure any extras have been included in the final price and ask any questions that you have beforehand to …
Answering your questions on the feed-in-tariff cuts
31
The Solar PV world was hit today with the news that the current feed-in-tariff rates are going to be reduced. For domestic installations up to 4kWp, the current rate of 43.3p will reduce to 21p.
Whilst the cuts were expected, previous figures issued did not suggest the drop would be as much. What was also unexpected is the cut-off dates for installations being brought forward to 12th Dec 2011.
At Planet Solar we are keen to help our customers understand the changes to the tariff and how this will affect them. Below are some answers to common questions:
1. What have the tariffs been cut to?
A. The generation tariff figure has been reduced for domestic properties installing systems of 4kWp or smaller from 43.3p for every kilowatt hour generated to 21p. The export tariff of 3p remains the same.
2. What is the new date for installation completion?
A. All PV systems must be installed and commissioned by 12th Dec 2011 to receive the current tariff of 43.3p.
3. What does it mean by installed and commissioned?
Basically, your system needs to be installed and fully working, and a fully accredited by the MCS. Planet Solar will ensure …
Planet Solar use strong buying power to prepare for feed in tariff cuts
27
Recent weeks have seen a large amount of speculation and media coverage on the potential reduction in the feed-in-tariff for Solar PV systems. For domestic installations up to 4kWp, the current payment is 43.3p for every kilowatt hour generated by a Solar PV system of this size or smaller.
The feed-in-tariff comes under regular review by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) and is set to change from 1st April 2012. No official announcements have been made yet by DECC however more updates are expected later this year.
Rumours on the actual drop have ranged from 39.6p down to an unexpected 9p, which would see a significant drop in the income generated from Solar PV systems. However, more recent reports have suggested the figure is likely to be more like 20p for systems up to 4kWp.
The speech earlier today by the Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change, Greg Barker, confirmed that the cuts for Solar PV feed-in-tariffs would happen from April 2012, in a bid to spread the government budgets more evenly across all renewable energy sectors.
As part of Energi Installations, Planet Solar have been operating for over 6 years …
Order your Planet Solar PV system today to benefit from a great return on investment
24
With the current feed-in-tariff offering a payment of 43.3p for every kilowatt hour of electricity generated by Solar PV modules, for systems up to 4kWp, it is clear to see why so many UK households are now taking advantage of this tariff and ordering their Solar PV systems now to ensure full commissioning by end of March 2012.
There is set to be a review of the current feed-in-tariff and the payments will change from April 2012, however as of yet it is not confirmed what this payment will change to. The figure is likely to be reduced, which is why anybody wishing to take advantage of the higher feed-in-tariff should act now.
The current payments are guaranteed for 25 years, so as long as your system is installed and commissioned by end of March 2012 your payments will be ensured at the present rates.
At Planet Solar we are currently working on a 6-8 week lead time, which is great for us as a business, however to ensure systems are commissioned before the end of March 2012 it is important customers place their orders as soon as possible.
For full details on …
Solar PV Industry creating jobs in the UK
14
Recent REAL Assurance figures released by Renewable Energy Association (REA) suggested that the Solar PV industry is helping the UK employment market grow. It is estimated that around 25,000 jobs have been generated purely because of the introduction of the government feed-in-tariff. What is even more positive is that it is thought this figure is hugely underestimated, as only small-scale Solar PV installations are dealt with by the REAL group, therefore larger scale installations have not been accounted for.
4,000 companies in the UK Solar PV industry alone are members of the REAL Assurance Scheme and the number keeps on growing, with around one hundred new members joining each month. If the industry continues to grow at this current rate the number of solar jobs within the UK could exceed 7,000 by the year 2012.
Labour has been one of the main areas of the solar industry which has created employment opportunities. Solar panel installers and electricians are just some of the roles which have been in higher demand over the past year.
As a leading company in the UK Solar PV industry, Planet Solar are always on the lookout for enthusiastic …
Planet Solar – over 500 domestic PV installations in past year
4
The Solar PV market in the UK is continuing to grow and as experienced Solar PV designers and installers, Planet Solar have now completed over 500 Solar PV installations on domestic properties in the past 12 months alone, and the number is continuing to grow.
Renewable energy sources such as PV are becoming an increasingly popular choice for UK households, in particular due to rising electricity costs. Solar PV modules allow you to generate your own free electricity during the day, meaning the amount that you need to purchase from your electricity supplier is reduced, along with your bills.
In addition to this, the current government feed-in-tariff provides a payment for every kilowatt hour of electricity generated by your Solar PV system, along with an export tariff for electricity which is sent back to the grid. This combined with the savings made along with the reduction in your carbon footprint make Solar PV an extremely beneficial source of renewable energy.
For full details on the feed-in-tariff and how a Planet Solar PV system can benefit your home, contact us today for further information.
