The UK governments loses Supreme Court appeal over Feed in Tariffs

The British governments appeal against a previous high court and court of appeal ruling that it had acted unlawfully when it reduced the Solar PV Feed-in-Tariffs (FiTs) was rejected by the Supreme Court. The ruling end months of speculation that the rates that installations fitted between December 12, 2011 and March 3, 2012 would receive.

The ruling confirms that the original payment of 43p/kWh rather than 21p/kWh will apply to systems installed within this period. Mark Newton, Head of Renewable Energy at Fisher German said “This is an excellent outcome for those who have installed before March 3 and I am glad to see that a decision has been made that will end months of speculation. I hope that know we can put this behind us and that people throughout the country can once again have confidence installing renewable energy projects". Read more ...

Recent budget gets response from renewable industry specialists

After the Chancellor delivered his budget, the Chief Executive of the UK’s National Centre for Biorenewable Energy, Fuels and Materials (NNFCC), said it is a 'missed opportunity. Andrew Holmes, Managing Director of the Climate Energy Group, says: “We welcome the news that renewable energy is a priority for the Government. As gas and oil prices continue to rise, making energy bills unaffordable for many elderly and vulnerable people as well as families, we need to be looking at making renewable energy a realistic option for households across the UK.

“The Government must work with the industry to ensure that the future of renewable energy isn’t just a pipe dream but is achievable for both businesses and homeowners across the UK. “More clarity around the future of FiT, RHI and Green Deal will go a long way to helping to achieve this and will encourage further investment in renewables in the UK," concluded Mr Holmes. Read more ...

FiT scheme to be introduced in Japan

Japan is to introduce a Feed in Tariffs (FiTs) for solar, wind and biomass, geothermal and small hydropower from July 1, 2012, as part of the Renewable Energy Law passed in August 2011. An original committee announced in December included a representative from Nippon Steel Corporation. This drew criticism from the renewables industry, which claimed his role in the energy-intensive steel sector was unlikely to be compatible with growing use of clean power.

The new committee – replacing the steel executive with a professor from Kyoto University – was voted through last week by parliament. Some in the renewables industry had feared that preparatory work had not started early enough to introduce the new subsidies on time. They are now expected to be announced just before or after the Golden Week holiday in the first week of May. Read more ...

FiT reforms causing conflicting opinions

The feed in tariff's (FiTs), are again causing problems for the Government after they announced that they will reform them this has raised conflicting opinions, with one company declaring the reforms favour solar power and ignore wind energy. The government last week announced plans to ensure the future of the Feed-in Tariffs scheme to make it more predictable, stating that transparency, longevity and certainty are at the heart of the new improved scheme.

The DECC announced that the reforms would provide greater confidence to consumers and industry investing in exciting renewable technologies such as solar power, anaerobic digestion, micro-CHP, wind and hydro power. "A proposal to develop a small hydro or wind project can take up to two years to achieve planning consent and a further year to complete. Anaerobic digesters can take just as long. Pre-registration would help smooth this process to guarantee a viable project." Read more ...

The UK Energy Now Expo countdown begins

Thousands of farmers are expected at the Malvern Showground in Worcestershire next week for the third Energy Now Expo. Despite the recent legal challenge to proposed changes to the level of Feed-in Tariffs (FITs) for solar PV, renewable energy remains one of the best choices for farmers and landowners looking to diversify their business.

With the cost of energy rising and many observers warning about the damaging effect of fossil fuels on the world's climate, adopting renewable alternatives will allow farmers to offset costs and reduce their carbon footprints. Read more ...

UK consider following the German FiT Model

After the defeat of the UK government over the reducing of the solar subsidies without proper consultation. They are now considering copying the German FiT Model of reducing subsidies when installations reach a certain volume. The government is set to introduce phased reductions in subsidies for solar panels that come into force once a certain level of installations is reached.

A consultation on the so-called deployment trigger could be launched as early next week, a spokeswoman for the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) said. "We intend to announce the results of the solar consultation by February 9," said the spokeswoman. "At the same time we'll also put forward proposals to introduce a cost control mechanism for solar PV." Read more ...

Department of Energy & Climate Change loses solar appeal

The Court of Appeal this week ruled that under the Energy Act 2008 the government does not have the power to change feed-in tariff rates retrospectively. This rejection of a Department of Energy & Climate Change (DECC), appeal means that higher (pre December) rates for solar projects will most probably continue to apply until a government compromise deal comes into effect.

However, the government has sought a further appeal at the Supreme Court, which could yet impact upon the rates from December to March. It will be known whether they receive this in the next few days. Read more ...

Solar issue to be challenged by UK government

The recent decision by the High courts that the government cuts to solar power feed in tariffs are illegal, are to be challenged by the government in an appeal confirmed by the Energy Minister Greg Barker. The Friends of the Earth believe that an appeal would be a waste of the tax-payers money and is urging the ministers to focus on helping the solar industry to get back on a stable footing.

The High Court also said that the government had no realistic prospect of winning an appeal. Friends of the Earth's Head of Campaigns Andrew Pendleton said: "Trying to appeal the High Court's ruling is an expensive waste of taxpayers' money. The government must expand the scheme with all the tax revenue the scheme generates, this can be done at no extra cost to bill payers". Read more ...

Court battle continues with Friends of the Earth

The UK government from October 31, 2011 started slashing the feed in tariff incentive payments for households and communities generating electricity through solar power by 50 percent. Friends of the Earth believe that the decision to reduce payments by 50 percent was premature, unfair and unlawful.

Since 2010 there has been about 100,000 new solar powered projects and a major increase in the number employed in this energy sector. But the decision of the UK government to slash the funding on the feed in tariff could cost 29,000 jobs in the solar industry. Read more ...

Legal challenge to stop cuts in feed in tariffs

Two solar companies and Friends of the Earth are presenting their case today at the High court seeking permission to challenge the government plans to cut the feed in tariff subsidies. The court had previously ruled that this challenge could not take place, according to Friends of the Earth. But now Friends of the Earth has been given the go ahead to seek the courts permission to reverse that decision.

The Government recently launched a consultation into feed-in tariffs. In it, it proposed halving payments from December 12 - two weeks before the consultation ends. "We strongly believe Government plans to abruptly slash solar subsidies are illegal. We hope the High Court agrees to allow our case to be heard as soon as possible." said Andy Atkins, Director, Friends of the Earth. Read more ...

UK slash solar panel tariff by 50 percent

The tariff paid by the government of the UK is to be slashed after December 8, from 43 pence for each kilowatt-hour generated to 21 pence. An eleventh hour rush to install solar panels have been taking place trying to beat the deadline. The decision to cut the benefit has been criticised by environmental campaigners and the green energy industry, with claims the decision will cost thousands of jobs. Ministers claim the feed-in tariff was simply unaffordable at the previous level and argue the cost of photovoltaic panels have fallen since the scheme was launched. Read more ...