DECC launch FIT review

[solarfred]

Large business customer writes directly to James Marsh due to their direct issues with potential time frame anomalies and the projected plans they have which will be impacted. The response was a carbon coy of the response above. Not addressing the specific issues just sending out a pre-prepared briefing.

 

[Somecamel]

Amber Rudds big energy reset speech today. Looks like the estimates on solar deployment up to 2020 has been revised from 9.55gW to 12GW, not too sure if this is good news or not as some of the pundits are suggesting we'll be at 12GW in the next few months!?!

 

[The Solar King]

Reliable source tells me 11GW by end of Q1. He should know, he does the figures (not at DECC).

 

[Somecamel]

Q1 as in end of March?

 

[The Solar King]

Yes, Q1 as in end of March

 

[Somecamel]

So this leads into the rumour that the FITS scheme will come to an end then, rather the cliff edge 1st January..

Interesting times

 

[The Solar King]

Currently too many unknowns. It will all come down to whether the Energy Minister George Osborne lets his deputy Amber Rudd spend the money or not.

Unfortunately the 0-4kw band is likely to sail through 3MW in the current quarter. the volume of installation on social housing is massive (and that's a story for another day). Most of volume will come from pre-accredited systems and the rush top beat the RO closure

Many arguments have already been won over FITs .

Huge co-ordinated action going on to win over sufficient government MPs to let the industry have a future.

As you say interesting times.

 

[SRE]

I've been told the announcement is expected on 23rd Nov. Does that sound right?

 

[Somecamel]

I've been told the announcement is expected on 23rd Nov. Does that sound right?

That sounds worryingly close to the 1st Jan deadline...

 

[The Solar King]

It is thought unlikely they will announce anything before the Paris Climate talks. 23rd was the original date. Remember they will need to show they have properly considered all 2500 consultation responses which were more than simply saying we don't agree with what you are proposing. To do that in four weeks would be a mammoth achievement from a group of under achievers. Failure to do so could lead to a legal challenge. They are having to tread very carefully.

Remember contents of email from FITs team to member of public posted here suggesting time table was implementation by end of January or early February.

 

[Gavin A]

when you say 23rd was the original date, is that the date that DECC were originally planning for?

ie were they originally planning based on an illegal date because they don't understand the legislation they're operating under?

or is that just from the solar power portal article that gave that date?

 

[SRE]

It's the date Easy MCS are quoting - no idea where it came from, sorry.

 

[The Solar King]

As I understand this is the date from the original timetable that DECC naively thought they could work to when the review and consultation were originally published and was mentioned in communication. Just goes to show how little those in DECC driving this understand of the legislation under which they operate.

It also shows how important it is for those in the industry to ensure they are well informed.

Trust I don't end up eating humble pie as a result of this post.......

 

[TedM]

23rd November is 40 calendar days before 1st January - inclusive.

I have just been looking at the recent Feed-in Tariff Orders and the dates that they were laid before Parliament and then brought in to force:

The Feed-in Tariffs Order 2012 8/11/12 1/12/12 24 days
The Feed-in Tariffs (Amendment) Order 2013 9/05/13 1/07/13 54 days
The Feed-in Tariffs (Amendment) Order 2014 20/06/14 14/07/14 25 days
The Feed-in Tariffs (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2014 29/10/14 1/01/15 65 days
The Feed-in Tariffs (Amendment) Order 2015 19/01/15 1/04/15 73 days
The Feed-in Tariffs (Amendment) (No. 2) Order 2015 9/09/15 30/09/15 22 days

It is obvious that the 21 day rule for SIs has been used in the past. Whether this was correct in law is a matter for a constitutional lawyer I think.

 

[The Solar King]

The problem will be there has been no legal challenge in the past when the 21 day rule has been used as opposed to the 40 days stated in the Energy Act.

As is so often the case, the lawyers may be the only ones who benefit from all this.