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 ...

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 ...

Biomass plants and wind farms to keep key government subsides

A recent decision made by the government ensures that renewable energy such as wind farms and biomass plants are to keep the key government subsidies using renewable obligation certificates (ROCs), which are worth around UK£40 (€46.058) per megawatt-hour on top of the UK£55 (€63.33) price of electricity. Developers of offshore wind and biomass plants expressed relief after the government said it would maintain their subsidies. Read more ...

New co-firing renewables obligation subsidies get interest

The biomass industry has cautiously welcomed the new levels of support unveiled by the government today as part of its consultation on proposed changes to the Renewables Obligation scheme. In its review of the Renewables Obligation, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has proposed maintaining current levels of support for biomass projects at 1.5 Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) per megawatt hour (MWh). This could have a major affect on the biomass industry and the renewable energy sector. Read more ...