Twiiter @DECCgovuk live with Greg Barker

[Graeme Harrold]

I also know of a few customers not happy with the window tactics of that mountain slightly higher than K2. Most large companies seem to supply decent kit, but usually dont follow that through with a good installation and after sales service....

 

[SRE]

Thought this might be of interest ... wish DECC would just make the announcement, then we'd know where we are!


Dear Member,

I am aware that in the past 24 hours many of you have received information that FIT is under an imminent fast track review and may be cut to as low as 9 pence across the board. The BPVA Board of Directors and I have been in contact with DECC officials to clarify this and we have been re-assured behind reasonable doubt that these are unsubstantiated rumours. I am sure that you agree firstly, this kind of news at this crucial time has a negative impact on the whole industry, it is counter productive and also may give ideas to DECC!?

I have written to those responsible for spreading these rumours and have asked them to clarify on what basis they have made these announcements. I will update you with any progress however the e-mail sent out has a sentence saying “We need resources - both cash, people and other resources to help coordinate and run a campaign to tell this story …” , I leave it to you to judge what their motive is behind writing such e-mails?

I will get back to you as soon as I have further news,
Kind regards,
Reza






Reza Shaybani
Chairman
British Photovoltaic Association

 

[Worcester]

I had a chat with the technical director at REA today, as REA had also issued a similar press release though without mentioning the rate in it, the same very low rate came out in our conversations.- It was the first time that I'd heard it that low.

The situation is that the rate of PV installations is running well ahead of DECC's forecast and their budget. So they have two options, reduce the rate to slow the uptake or find more money.

DECC have to stay within their guidelines, the problem they have is that they have no way of predicting properly the effect of tariff changes...

However the good news is that the RO budget (ROC's) is under utilised, which means that they aren't meeting their overall CO2 reduction figures, so there may be scope for moving some money around between the pots ...

 

[SolarCity]

So they have two options, reduce the rate to slow the uptake or find more money.

They should reduce the rate slightly and find more money. If the uptake carries on like it is, how much more money is it likely to cost?

Frankly, when I see how much money is paid to retired policemen, firemen and tube train drivers, I refuse to accept that money cannot be allocated to an industry which is still very much finding its feet in this country.

 

[Worcester]

BiggsSolar, the problem isn't directly the lack of money - it's where it comes from and the impact of it.

As we all (most?) know, the FITs (and RO) money is raised by a supplementary charge on everyones electricity bill.

Too many installs and that charge goes higher than DECC anticipated, and then it triggers everyone to complain about this new 'green tax'.

Although not directly paid to the givernment, becasue everyone HAS to pay it, under EU rules, the government has to account for it as income and expenditure and as such is considered a tax.

Now, seeing as it is an 'expenditure' (even though they never see the income or pay it out themselves) it is caught by two things, 1) The EU rules on government / state funding and 2) the "spending envelope agreed at the Comprehensive Spending Review" i.e. is it within their budget.

They are between a rock and a hard place.

If they cut it too hard, there will be a massive uproar from the industry and REA's other recent prelease is trying to drum up awareness of the importance of this sector of industry : 11th October 2011 Solar Power Lights Up Economic Gloom — Renewable Energy Association

 

[AIM]

Went to InstallerLive at NEC today. very interesting presentation by Brendan McGarry from Gemserv. He confirmed current rate on FIT will be payable for 25 years on all installs commissioned on/by 31/03/2012. Then who knows..............

I also think he doesn't like Easy MCS et al.............

 

[confounded]

Has anyone got any data on the FIT over the years for Germay? Did they have similar large cuts so early on? I know the recent ones have been large.

 

[confounded]

Just to put the miniscule FIT allocated budget/target expenditure of £161M in 2012 into context.

In 2007 MPs claimed £88m expenses on top of the £60,675 each gets in salary

Jaguar Land Rover got an £800M bailout from the government in 2009 even though they were owned by Tata and one of the wealthiest men in the World.

Not forgetting that the BOE just printed another £75 billion to give to the bankers because there are a little bit short atm.

 

[Graeme Harrold]

Ive been led to believe the Germans are now focusing on increasing self-consumption

SMA Self Consumption Info Sheet

 

[Worcester]

The Germans have two choices:

1) Get paid a Feed in tarrif, and it is connected up stream of their meter, or
2) Buy the electricity that the generate at a reduced rate compared to the cost of grid electrcity

They don't get to use it for free!

I can't remember the exact figures, though I am in Germany for the next 3 days so I'll bring back the figures with me

 

[mstep77]

One of the main reasons for introducing the the FITS in the first place was so we didn't have to pay the fines for not meeting our CRC's, is this not the case anymore?

 

[Graeme Harrold]

Has anyone heard any news on the FIT review yet, as announcements were expected on the 19th (yesterday). Good to see the article on Solar Portal giving more confidence to the change taking place in April.

 

[Tiberius]

"While we were doing 200MWp, Germany did 7,000MWp"

Long way to go if were going to get near there or not at all if the people who believe the industry will collapse in April.