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Solar tariffs set to drop for systems over 50kWp
The Government has published its plans to reduce financial support for new solar pv systems over 50kWp as part of its fast-track review announced in February 2011.
Greg Barker, Climate Change minister announced: "These proposals aim to rebalance the scheme put a stop to the threat of larger-scale solar soaking up the cash. The FITs scheme was never designed to be a profit generator for big business and financiers."
The Government is proposing reducing the support, from 1st August 2011, for all new PV installations larger than 50kWp and stand alone installations. Systems installed prior to this date will be unaffected. The new proposed rates are:
19p/kWh for 50kW to 150kW
15p/kWh for 150kW to 250kW
8.5p/kWh for 250kW to 5MW and stand-alone installations
New Energy Solutions is currently working with customers to ensure installations over 50kWp are completed prior to 1st August deadline.
Inflation increases Feed-in Tariff payments
The Government has released details of the new feed-in tariffs, adjusted annually to reflect inflation.
For installations registered in FiT Year 1 (01 April - 31 March 2011) and new installations registered in FiT Year 2 (1 April 2011 - 31 March 2012) the tariffs have been altered to reflect the 2010 retail price index of 4.8%. Prices will come into force of 1 April 2011.
Solar PV under 4kWp on new build (first occupation) : 37.8p
Solar PV under 4kWP retrofit : 43.3p
Solar PV under 10kWp : 37.8p
Solar PV under 100kWp : 32.9p
Solar PV between 100kWp - 5MW : 30.7p
Standalone Solar PV not wired to a building : 30.7p
Systems over 50kWp are currently under review by the Government, with announcements of new tariffs for systems up to 5MW anticipated expected in the summer.
Fast Track Review of FiT
The Government has announced a fast track review of the Feed-in Tariff in advance of the April 2012 expected review.
The review, to take place this summer, will target systems over 50kWp and the explosion of large scale solar farms.
Andrew Lee, of Sharp Solar, is concerned that the review would stop communities or councils estates putting up solar panels, as well as limiting an important industry just as it is taking off.
2010 Record Year for Solar Power
In 2010, the UK installed more solar power that in any other year according to data from the energy regulator Ofgem. The tenfold expansion is all thanks to the launch of the Feed-in Tariff in April 2010. With all good investments, news spread fast.
16,000 homes and commercial properties installed solar panel systems with a capacity to generate more than 42MW of electricity. In 2009 only 4MW of solar power were installed in the UK.
FiT Payments Received
Customers are reporting receipt of their first FiT cheques showing that the feed-in tariff is working as expected.
The first cheques covered the period April - July, with cheques up to £750 being reported for this period of maximum solar output. "June was our best month for our system, as we were generating over 15 units a day, the output drops off either side of June slowly, so this is definitely our best quarter," reports Paul Taylor from Lower Brailes, Warwickshire. Paul installed a system of 16 215 Hybrid Sanyo panels in July 2009, just days after the FIT announcement was made.
80% Farmers Want Solar
80% of Farmers want solar panels on their roofs by 2013, according to a new survey.
The poll by Farming Futures and Solar century revealed that 88% of farmers are currently considering installing renewable systems on their farms, where large buildings can provide ample space for numerous solar panels.
Government Declares Power To The People
Greg barker, UK Climate Change Minister has announced Power to the People in a a speech at the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
During the controversial speech, he outlined the Government's support for domestic and small business scale roof systems; "We want micro generation technology to break down the barriers, with consumers becoming active participants in the green energy sector,” so that, “We can literally bring power to the people – to communities and to local businesses. The coalition is committed to the roll-out of the widest possible range of domestic community-scale renewables,” explained Barker.
However, it was clear that the Government is not supporting large scale solar fields: "There is one problem. The fact is we inherited a system from the previous government that simply failed to anticipate the potential for industrial-scale, stand-alone greenfield solar. And while we will certainly not act retrospectively, large greenfield-based solar parks should not be allowed to extort the funding available for domestic solar technology.
“We want to see an ambitious roll-out of solar panels on Britain’s roofs, but not all over our countryside, and I will not allow the hard-earned funding available to be scooped up by industrial-scale PV farms at the expense of domestic or small-scale PV.”
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