Environment Minister, Gregory Barker, has today announced a consultation as part of the review of Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) for fast-track consideration of large scale solar projects (over 50kW) with a view to making any resulting changes to tariffs as soon as practical, subject to consultation and Parliamentary scrutiny as required by the Energy Act 2008.
You can view my previous posts on solar farms here.
The document published today seeks views on proposals to changes in tariffs for solar photovoltaic (PV) installations larger than 50 kilowatts and farm scale anaerobic digestion (AD) of up to 500 kilowatts.
The consultation document proposes new bands and tariffs.
As has been widely reported, the Government is seeking to remove large scale solar from the FITs scheme to ensure instead that it benefits homes, small businesses and communities.
The Guardian comments that the plan will slash incentives for large solar power schemes by almost 75% and is expected to deal a death blow to large-scale low-carbon projects.
The Renewable Energy Association described the cutbacks as "appalling" and said every scheme over 50kW was likely "dead".
Huhne has already made his mind up. Has he pre-judged the outcome of the consultation?
The Government’s view is that a rapid increase in the number of larger solar installations entering the scheme could distort funding for smaller and domestic scale installations as well as other technologies.
The Government’s view is that a rapid increase in the number of larger solar installations entering the scheme could distort funding for smaller and domestic scale installations as well as other technologies.
Anyone with an interest in this business has until 6 May 2011 to respond to the consultation.
The Government has repeated in this announcement that it will not act retrospectively and that any changes to generation tariffs implemented as a result of the review will only affect new entrants into the FITs scheme.
Installations which are already accredited for FITs at the time will not be affected.
The Government is proposing that the changes it wants to make to the FITs scheme should take effect from 1 August 2011, subject to the outcome of the consultation and Parliamentary scrutiny.
The Government is also seeking views on the scope of the comprehensive FIT review for small scale low carbon electricity generation by 12 April 2011.
This may be the last chance for big solar to make its voice heard.
With a proper guide, anyone could be building their own solar power is not inimical, neither is it detrimental to our environment. So how does solar power work? Solar power works through photovoltaics.
ReplyDeleteThe FIT reductions from the governments fast track review only cover very large systems over 50kWp. This is still large enough for farm owners to make significant returns in the region of £500,000.
ReplyDeleteWith fuel prices rocketing and no sign of them slowing down in the current Middle Eastern crisis, saving energy – and selling the remainder back into the national grid under the government’s Feed in Tariff scheme - makes economic as well as environmental sense.
Farm Solar Specialists
Thank you for your comment, Hestia Solar. It is interesting to learn that significant returns might still be possible from relatively large solar installations even if the Government reduces the FIT following its review, as expected.
ReplyDelete