18 May 2012

The next round of feed-in tariff cuts could be delayed by up to one month as a result of low solar installation figures. This could change the results of the latest consultation, which was due to map out the expected tariff rates from July 1.

Speaking with the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) this morning, the Solar Power Portal was told that what the Minister has Tweeted in true, and that we can expect the deadline to be moved.

“We have listened carefully to the solar industry and are considering moving the date of the feed-in tariff changes as a result of concerns,” explained a DECC spokesperson.

DECC also confirmed that an official announcement on this will be published shortly along with the results of the feed-in tariff consultation. “We know everyone is keen to see this, so we are working to publish [the consultation] as soon as possible,” the spokesperson continued.

Source: Solar Power Portal

1st April 2012

From April 1, 2012, the brand for HIT® solar modules will be changed from “SANYO“ to “Panasonic“ in Europe. The change will be made to the brand

only. There will be no change to the sales structure and the HIT ® solar modules will continue to be manufactured at the same SANYO production bases as before. The brand change will be carried out throughoutEurope.

23 March 2012

After the Supreme Court today rejected the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) appeal over premature cuts to the feed-in tariff scheme for solar photovoltaics the UK solar industry has breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Today a panel of Supreme Justices refused Government leave to appeal an earlier High Court ruling that the cuts were unlawful. This means that all systems installed between December 12, 2011 and March 3, 2012 will receive the higher feed-in tariff rates for 25 years.

The decision made this morning is final, and the Department will not be taking the appeal any further. In fact just last week at the Solar Power UK Roadshow in Suffolk, Alasdair Grainger from DECC’s feed-in tariff team confirmed that they would not take the case to the European court if the case was lost.

“The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom has refused permission to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change to appeal the Court of Appeal decision in this matter,” read an official statement.

“The Court of Appeal upheld the Administrative Court's judgment that it is not within the power conferred on the Secretary of State by the Energy Act 2008 to reduce the tariff paid for electricity generated by small-scale solar photovoltaic generators, in respect of installations becoming eligible for payment prior to the coming into force of the modification.”

“Permission to appeal was refused because the application does not raise an arguable point of law of general public importance which ought to be considered by the Supreme Court at this time, bearing in mind that the case has already been the subject of judicial decision and reviewed on appeal and because paragraph 16 of the Court of Appeal's judgment disposes of the proposed argument based on the subject of the challenge being only a proposal,” read the ruling.

Responding the Supreme Court’s decision, Energy and Climate Change Secretary Edward Davey said “We are disappointed by the decision of the Supreme Court not to grant permission to hear this case.  But the Court’s decision draws a line under the case.  We will now focus all our efforts on ensuring the future stability and cost effectiveness of solar and other microgeneration technologies for the many, not the few.”

 Source: Solar Power Portal

30th August 2011

At a time when Government is striving to gear up its ‘go green’ strategy, new research conducted by utility and environmental consultancy Gemserv has identified a widespread lack of green awareness. Over 50% of the survey respondents were unable to correctly identify that Government’s Green Deal is related to energy efficiency initiatives, suggesting instead that it was designed to protect national forests or to increase the number of hybrid cars on the road.

Link to the full story

9 June 2011
The government today confirmed that the Feed in Tariff rates for Solar PV installations up to 50kW will remain at their current rates of up to 43.3 pence per unit.
The govenment acted to ensue that the Feed in Tariff budget is protected for "householders, small businesses and communities" and to ensure the scheme's longevity.

The new tariffs will ensure a sustained growth path for the solar industry while protecting the money for householders, small businesses and communities and will also further encourage the uptake of green electricity from anaerobic digestion.”

(Climate Change Minister, Greg Barker

This move will allow the UK solar market to continue to grow and allow that UK industry to grow its skills base. Large scale 'solar farms' threatened to suck much of the funding out of the Feed in Tariff budget with little benefit to the UK economy.

15th March 2011

BusinessWeek - Stocks of solar power providers climbed for a second day on Tuesday as the situation at a damaged nuclear power plant in Japan worsened, causing investors to gravitate toward companies that make solar panels and other related equipment.

3rd March 2011

OFGEM have published the RPI adjusted FiT tariffs for 1/4/11 to 31/3/12. All tariffs, including the export tariff and generation tariff, have been increased by 4.8% in line with the RPI change. This increases the generation tariff for a PV system up to 4 kW from 41.3 pence per unit to 43.3 pence per unit for new and existing FiT contracts. The export tariff increases from 3 pence per unit to 3.1 pence per unit. 
Link to OFGEM document.

02 November 2010

Situated on the Glastonbury festival farmland, Britain’s largest privately owned solar power plant is now fully operational. Conventionally home to residents of the furry variety, the 1,500m² cowshed roof will now feature a huge array of over 1,000 solar panels.

The system is expected to yield 160.704kWh a year, enough to supply 40 households with energy and eliminate 100 tons of CO₂ emissions every year.

The solar plant is our figurehead,“ said Michael Eavis, the owner of the Worthy Farm and initiator of the Glastonbury Festival. "This has brought us one big step closer to our goal of operating the farm as ecologically as possible.”

Glastonbury is Europe’s largest open-air music festival, attended by roughly 200,000 guests from all over the world, and is held on Worthy Farm, in southern England.

Specifications