Pictured above: Going Solar director Charles
Houston
A top renewable energy installer is urging consumers who want to
earn the best returns for generating electricity to act now before
a government incentive programme is slashed this summer.
Going Solar, the Midlands-based company behind the UK's largest
roof top solar PV installation to date, has put together a
five-point action plan in response to the changes for customers who
either want to invest in the green technology or have a roof they
are interested in renting out.
The Government is set to radically revise the Feed-in Tariff
scheme for solar PV systems that are above 50kWp. The plans include
dropping the rate for projects between 250kWp and 5MWp from 30.7p
to 8.5p per kWh.
It aims to introduce the new tariffs from August 1 but customers
who are connected to the grid by July 31 can still qualify for the
current schedule, explains Going Solar director Charles
Houston.
"There is still time to beat the deadline but it is important to
act now to take advantage of the more generous rates that are
available under the existing Feed-in Tariff regime.
"While Going Solar has lobbied hard for roof-mounted, solar PV
sites to be spared the guillotine, it now appears the Government is
determined to take radical action which could result in the UK
having some of the lowest tariff rates in Europe," he adds.
Going Solar's action plan recommends:
• If you have a site that will generate more than 50kWp, an
installation can be carried out quickly and, if there is no grid
apparatus upgrade, then connection likewise.
• If you have more than one metered supply, you have the
option of doubling your array, for example, into two x 50kWp to
achieve 100kWp, to maintain the same level of return.
• Reduce your project to 50kWp.
• Do the sums on a 150kWp array. Locations in southern
England may still offer attractive returns especially if you can
secure a power purchase agreement on the generated power.
• Write to your MP and express your views or take part in
the Department of Energy and Climate Change consultations.
Other changes to the tariffs for solar installations of less
than 50kWp are also under review but any revisions are not expected
to come into effect before March 31, 2012. "So, if you are
contemplating a smaller scheme, you should still act now to avoid
any nasty surprises next year," says Charles.