week ending 27 January 2012
Solar Trust
Caroline Lucas: This week, the government lost its appeal against a judge’s ruling that its move to change the rates for solar feed-in tariffs before the official consultation has ended was “legally flawed”. The high court ruling is a real victory for the solar industry and for those households, businesses and community projects in my constituency who would have been left high and dry by the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s attempts to apply a retrospective change to the rate. There has always been widespread acceptance that the tariff would need to be reduced as installation costs fell and economic realities shifted. But the focus of the cross-party and public campaign against the government’s plans has been the speed and scale of the proposed cut, which has already caused huge disruption to the solar industry and the 25,000-plus jobs it has created.
Guardian 27th Jan 2012 more >>
Legal Costs
During questions submitted to the Department of Climate and Energy Change (DECC), Greg Barker revealed the full cost to the taxpayer of DECC’s legal challenges. Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Caroline Flint, submitted the question. The Government have incurred costs of approximately £66,400 to date.
Solar Power Portal 27th Jan 2012- more >>
Solar Preston
City council leaders are planning to earmark £300,000 to look at new ways of investing in green energy. Cash has been set aside in the new Preston Council budget to allow investigations into wind and solar power sources. Council leader Peter Rankin said the council one day hoped to add to the £34,000 solar panels it fitted to the roof of the city’s Town Hall in the summer.
Lancashire Evening Post 27th Jan 2012 more >>
Solar Splits
Splits within the solar industry over the government’s plans to rush through deep cuts to feed-in tariff incentives have deepened, following energy and climate change secretary Chris Huhne’s confirmation that a major solar trade association has backed the government’s recent Court of Appeal hearing.
Business Green 27th Jan 2012 more >>
Micro-CHP Alliance
ALTERNATIVE energy provider Energetix Group is building on its relationship with infrastructure giant Carillion.The AIM-listed Cheshire-based firm’s subsidiary Genlec has signed a deal with Carillion Energy Services to provide installation, maintenance and after- care services in support of its Kingston microCHP boiler field trial programme.
Business Desk 27th Jan 2012 more >>
Stock Market Wire 26th Jan 2012 more >>
Solar Installs
The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has published the latest solar photovoltaic installation figures for 2012, which show that from January 8 22, 2,711 solar PV installs were registered for the feed-in tariff scheme. The current rate of install follows the dramatic drop the industry experienced in the first week of 2012, which saw only 532 systems registered from January 1 8. DECC’s figures indicate that the industry is slowly recovering from the shock of swingeing cuts to the solar PV rate, as installs have climbed back inline with rates the UK experienced in March 2011.
Solar Portal 26th Jan 2012 more >>
RHI
We have received confirmation of Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) accreditation for the 26kW biomass boiler heating our Fort William HQ, which is the first successful accreditation in Scotland and the third in the UK. Under the scheme, we will receive quarterly payments based on 7.9 pence per kWh for the first ‘tier’ of heat usage and 2 pence per kWh for the second tier. This will be the first of many in Scotland and we look forward to our clients benefitting from this scheme.
HW Energy 26th Jan 2012 more >>
Solarcentury quits BPVA
Solarcentury has quit the British Photovoltaic Association after accusing it and its chairman of backing the Government over cuts to solar subsidies. The trade body representing the UK’s solar PV trade was praised by energy secretary, Chris Huhne, in a House of Commons debate this morning (January 25). This has outraged Solarcentury, the London-based solar panel design and installation firm, which only joined the BPVA in May last year when it had only been in existence for 8 months.
Edie 26th Jan 2012 more >>
£66k to fight court battle
Energy Secretary Chris Huhne has described £66,000 as “a few thousand” as he defended his decision to challenge a court ruling over solar subsidies. Mr Huhne was confronted in the Commons about his department’s attempt to overturn a court judgment that ministers’ axing of feed-in tariffs for solar power was unlawful. However, he blamed his predecessor, current Labour leader Ed Miliband, for the “mess”. The Government’s legal fight has so far cost taxpayers £66,000 - and Labour urged Mr Huhne to abandon the case before “wasting” any more cash.
AOL 26th Jan 2012 more >>
Generating Buildings
A unique £3 million project to test how building fa ades could be developed to generate clean electricity has been announced by the Welsh Government in partnership with Cardiff University. The University’s Sustainable Building Envelope Demonstration (SBED) study aims to explore how building fa ades can be harnessed to incorporate systems which can generate, store and distribute renewable energy. The scheme has been backed with £1.8 million from the European Regional Development Fund and is intended to help the advancement of products that not only reduce buildings’ energy requirements, but also generate renewable energy by harnessing solar technology.
Solar Portal 26th Jan 2012 more >>
Huhne Warning
The Energy Secretary today warned that firms should not take the ruling as a sign they can now promote the previous 43p/kWh feed-in tariff rate, because the government was planning to appeal against the decision.
Business Green 26th Jan 2012 more >>
ESCO
Sustainable energy business ENER-G will showcase new and innovative energy management technologies and services - available without any upfront capital cost under shared savings agreements - at Ecobuild.
Low Carbon Economy 26th Jan 2012 more >>
Solar Jobs
HUNDREDS of North East jobs hung in the balance after the Government said it would appeal a ruling that would have boosted solar panel firms.
Journal 26th Jan 2012 more >>
THE UK’s largest solar panel installer is creating up to 100 jobs at a call centre and sales operation in Bridgend. The Green Home Company’s new operations hub will serve the Welsh and south-west of England markets.
Wales Online 26th Jan 2012 more >>
Solar Power Portal 26th Jan 2012 more >>
A BUSINESSMAN has welcomed the “fantastic” High Court ruling that the Government could not cut solar panel subsidies. The Court of Appeal yesterday rejected Energy Secretary Chris Huhne’s claim that he had the power to go ahead with a controversial scheme to cut subsidies for solar panels on homes. Opponents feared that if Mr Huhne’s proposals had been approved, then 29,000 jobs in the solar industry would be at risk.
Hartlepool Mail 26th Jan 2012 more >>
Efficient Schools
Businesses have made a last-ditch attempt to prevent the Education Secretary scrapping a rule requiring new schools to meet the globally recognised BRE Environmental Assesment Method (BREEAM) green building standard, after a spending review report argued the scheme was too bureaucratic.
Business Green 26th Jan 2012 more >>
Resignation Calls
The Government minister who steered the region’s renewable energy sector towards “months of uncertainty” last night faced calls for his resignation following his department’s latest embarrassing defeat. Greg Barker, the Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change, was told the confusion surrounding the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s (DECC) attempts to slash the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) cashback scheme had left the South West’s solar energy sector on its knees.
Exeter Express & Echo 26th Jan 2012 more >>
Insider’s View
A spokesperson for the Supreme Court explained: “We will first have to decide whether the case fits the Supreme Court’s criteria – a process which can take several weeks. If the case is deemed appropriate to be heard, it can then take several months to reach the courtrooms due to the availability of the barristers coupled with the availability of the court.” This will mean that any Supreme Court hearing will most likely occur after March 3 – the date at which proposals laid before parliament, which reduce the feed-in tariff, will come into effect. As a consequence there is unlikely to be any clarity over feed-in tariff rates for systems installed between December 12 and March 3 before the lower FiT rates are implemented. Many in the solar industry believe that DECC is deliberately appealing the decision at the Supreme Court to prolong uncertainty over feed-in tariff rates. By delaying the legal process, DECC hopes to limit another potential ‘goldrush’, should the feed-in tariff rates return to the previous, higher level.
Solar Power Portal 26th Jan2012 more >>
Venture Capital
Solar venture capital trusts (VCTs) have been handed a ‘lifeline’ as the government lost its appeal against a High Court ruling on solar subsidies.
Investment Week 26th Jan 2012 more >>
Green Deal
In 2012, the Green Deal & the Renewable Heat Incentive kick in. Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity. All businesses already are, and all homes will be, eligible to have energy-efficiency makeovers free of charge. They will be repaid by the value of the energy saving. They can also install renewable energy and get paid for the heat and power they generate. This independent site aims to help ensure no-one is ripped off and everyone gets the best green deal.
Green Deal Advice 25th Jan 2012 more >>
Energy Efficiency
The Environmental Change Institute at Oxford University have just put out a new report calling for new laws to increase energy efficiency standards in all of the UK’s 26 million homes and 2 million business properties. Implementing these reccomendations would mean that energy use in all buildings in the UK result in zero carbon emissions by 2050. The report, Achieving Zero by Dr Brenda Boardman, sets out not only how this is necessary to reduce the UK’s CO2 emissions but also provides a roadmap to how it can be implemented and the many benefits it will provide.
Stop Climate Chaos 25th Jan 2012 more >>
Government loses solar appeal
The government has confirmed it will seek permission to appeal against a second court ruling that today branded its plans to cut solar incentives as unlawful. Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne released a statement confirming the government had applied to take its case to the Supreme Court in an attempt to ensure it can impose cuts to feed-in tariffs (FITs) on installations completed after December 12 last year.
Business Green 25th Jan 2012 more >>
It would be nice to report today on a stirring victory for the UK’s solar industry that finally provides clarity to the level of incentives available to solar installations, and more importantly sets a clear precedent that the government cannot drive a coach and horses through its own consultation rules and change crucial policies retrospectively. But sadly, while such a report would be largely accurate, it would also only tell half the story. This sorry saga is not over yet. The solar sector and the wider green economy are right to celebrate today. They have won an important victory and have hopefully set a precedent on government consultation practices that should benefit the entire business community.
Business Green 25th Jan 2012 more >>
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has lost its appeal against a High Court ruling which branded its plans to rush through cuts to solar subsidies as illegal. Three Court of Appeal judges this morning upheld the original decision that the government had acted unlawfully in proposing cuts to feed-in tariffs for solar installations completed after December 12 last year, on the grounds the consultation on the proposed changes to the scheme did not close until December 23.
Business Green 25th Jan 2012 more >>
Utility Week 25th Jan 2012 more >>
Guardian 25th Jan 2012 more >>
Chris Huhne, the Energy Secretary, said he would seek permission to appeal to the Supreme Court, meaning businesses and consumers have no idea whether solar panels installed in coming weeks will earn 43p per kilowatt hour (kWh) for energy generated over the next 25 years or could yet have a new 21p/kWh rate imposed retrospectively.
Telegraph 25th Jan 2012 more >>
The decision means that households that have installed solar panels recently or will do soon will qualify for the original top rate. It is expected to spark a stampede for panels before the new deadline of March 3, when the £1,000 subsidy rate expires. It takes at least four weeks to install and register the panels. Nevertheless, the Government has refused to concede defeat over its plan to halve subsidies earlier than expected. Having lost its latest challenge, it said that it would seek permission to appeal to the Supreme Court, prompting the CBI to demand that the Government draw a line under the saga.
Times 26th Jan 2012 more >>
THE SOLAR power industry has received a boost in the courts, after judges upheld a decision blocking the government’s attempts to cut solar subsidies. The Court of Appeal case involved the government’s move to halve the payments made to households with solar panels. Under the programme the households are paid for the electricity they generate. The government – which says it cannot afford to sustain the scheme – has indicated that it will now take the case to the Supreme Court.
City AM 26th Jan 2012 more >>
By the beginning of next month we should have more of an idea of what the future holds as Government prepares to publish the results of Phase 1 of the FiT consultation, the launch of Phase 2, and its plans for appealing to the Supreme Court.
Solar Power Portal 25th Jan 2012 more >>
Boom, and Bust
Businesses are worried a mini solar ‘gold rush’ and continued uncertainty in the market will damage the renewables sector in the long-term.
Edie 25th Jan 2012 more >>
Supreme Court Appeal
The Supreme Court has today warned that if Government decides to launch a feed-in tariff appeal, it could take up to a year to be heard. The announcement comes after the Court of Appeal this morning ruled against the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC), consequently putting a stop to Government’s intended feed-in tariff cuts.
Solar Power Portal 25th Jan 2012 more >>
Court Case What Happened
This morning we published news outlining that three Appeal Court judges upheld the High Court findings that Government’s 12/12 deadline was unlawful. At the time, it was unclear whether DECC had actually been granted an appeal. We can now clarify that an appeal was granted, yet DECC lost its case.
Solar Power Portal 25th Jan 2012 more >>
Read the Court of Appeal’s ruling rejecting government plans to impose retrospective cuts to solar feed-in tariffs
Business Green 25th Jan 2012 more >>
Grimsby Solar Slump
UNCERTAINTY around the level of subsidy for solar panel installations is deterring homeowners and businesses from embracing renewable energy. That is the view of Jim Keyworth, contracts manager at Humberston-based G-Tech Electrical, whose firm has seen demand for solar panels slump since the Government halved the subsidy – or feed-in tariff (FIT) – for photovoltaic (PV) systems earlier than expected.
Grimsby Telegraph 25th Jan 2012 more >>
Norwich Solar Cuts
Council bosses will have to go back to the drawing board over plans to place solar panels on thousands of homes around Norwich. The government today lost its bid to overturn a High Court ruling that its plans to cut subsidies for solar panels on homes are unlawful. But that came too late for Norwich City Council, with the company picked to install panels on council homes - at no cost to the city council - having already pulled out. The council had hoped to “lease” out the roofs of suitable council homes to the supplier, which would install and maintain the photovoltaic panels for 25 years.
Eastern Daily Press 25th Jan 2012 more >>
National Trust
The National Trust has demonstrated its support for the UK solar power industry by commissioning renewable energy consultants Dulas to deliver its biggest solar panel installation yet. The works at the National Trust’s Grade 1 listed villa Llanerchaeron, Wales is expected to generate up to half of the electricity the property requires, with installation reaching completion before the cut to Feed In-Tariffs (FITs) came into force last month (December 12).
Edie 25th Jan 2012 more >>
Western Mail 25th Jan 2012 more >>
Cornish Success
Cornwall Council has successfully proceeded with plans to install solar PV on more than 50 sites across Cornwall, including schools, colleges, libraries and leisure centres. The scheme, which went ahead despite feed-in tariff uncertainty, is expected to help save more than £500,000 of council tax payers’ money a year.
Solar Power Portal 24th Jan 2012 more >>
Solar arrays have become an increasingly common sight for residents of Cornwall, after the council confirmed that installations have been completed at around 40 sites in the county as part of one of the largest council-led renewable energy projects in the UK.
Business Green 24th Jan 2012 more >>
Cornwall Council wants to reinvest £10 million which was left over when its solar park was put “on ice” but insists the renewable energy scheme will go ahead before long. The Government announcement of a scaling back of the lucrative Feed-in Tariff (FiT) last year halted the authority’s plans for an array of solar panels on land near Newquay Cornwall Airport, the first of its kind in the country. The council said in September it would switch the £15 million intended for the Kernow Solar Park into more than 300 smaller projects – including cash-generating solar panels on council-owned buildings and schools. But the halving of the FiT – payments for each unit of electricity supplied to the national grid – which took effect in December reduced the viability of many schemes and has meant just £5 million has been taken up.
Western Morning News 24th Jan 2012 more >>
Hull Solar
THE engineering firm behind a clean, green power plant in Hull has underlined its own environmental credentials after installing a solar system on its new headquarters. Spencer Group, which recently gained approval to build the £150 million Energy Works facility in east Hull, has invested about £70,000 to install solar panels on the roof of One Humber Quays.
Hull Daily Mail 24th Jan 2012 more >>
Scottish Solar Expansion
A RENEWABLE energy company is opening several new offices and predicting a trebling of turnover despite uncertainty over cuts to feed-in-tariff (FiT) payments. Absolute Solar and Wind is seeing huge interest from people looking to install photovoltaic panels to cut their energy bills and sell excess electricity back to the National Grid. As a result, the Glasgow firm is opening additional offices in Aberdeen, Inverness and Edinburgh while hiring up to 30 staff in the next few months.
Herald 24th Jan 2012 more >>
Liverpool Solar Cuts
PLANS to build solar panels on around 4,000 homes in the city have been scrapped by Liverpool Council in the face of Government cutbacks. More than £1.5m investment will be scrapped because of the decision, while thousands of Liverpool families will face higher fuel bills than expected, with many pushed into “fuel poverty”.
Liverpool Daily Post 23rd Jan 2012 more >>
Solar Power Portal 23rd Jan 2012 more >>
Small Approvals
AN application to build a small scale wind turbine on farm land at Roydon has been given the green light. Approved at South Norfolk Council’s planning committee on Wednesday, the turbine.
Diss Express 23rd Jan 2012 more >>
AN application to install a small scale wind turbine in Burston has been approved. Heard at South Norfolk Council’s planning committee on Wednesday, the turbine, which will measure 14.97 metres to the hub with three 5.5 metre diameter blades
Diss Express 22nd Jan 2012 more >>
Solar Cuts
Government moves to cut solar subsidies by early March - reducing the uncertainty hanging over the solar industry since Ministers attempted to rush through payment cuts in December - have been welcomed by Friends of the Earth. Friends of the Earth claim that some 30,000 jobs were thrown into jeopardy - when the Government announced plans last year to abruptly cut payments for any solar scheme completed after 12 December 2011 - 11 days before an official consultation into the proposals had even closed. “However, we are still pressing ahead with our appeal and if successful, we retain the option of introducing a December reference date. In the circumstances we believe this gives the industry as much certainty as is possible. And it puts us in a better position to protect the budget for everyone involved.”
Oil Fired Up 21st Jan 2012 more >>
Solar Power Portal 20th Jan 2012 more >>
The Government caused uproar late last year by cutting subsidies, at short notice, paid to those who install solar panels to generate electricity. The charity Friends of the Earth has been one of Westminster’s biggest critics and recently secured a High Court victory against the plans. Its energy campaigner Donna Hume explains why.
Money Saving Expert 20th Jan 2012 more >>
“For consumers that are happy with the rate of return that 21p per kWh gives, now is a good time to install. It’s unlikely to get better, and it’s quite likely that the rate may go down again after 3 March 2012. There’s the added bonus that they may win the jackpot and get the 43p rate.”
Energy Efficiency News 20th Jan 2012 more >>
Edinburgh Community Hydro
A BID has been launched to harness the power of the Water of Leith to generate electricity and money for local projects. Residents in Balerno want to reinstate the hydroelectric power station at the Harlaw Reservoir dam in south-west Edinburgh. The structure was part of a network which once powered mills across the region but has been defunct since the Second World War. Balerno Village Trust has applied to the city council for planning permission in the hope of developing the structure by next year. The 65-kilowatt plant is expected to cost £300,000 to rebuild and would be owned by a co-operative comprised of residents from the village. The trust counts a renewable energy engineer and an industrial designer among its members and costs have been kept down by drawing up their own schematics and using research carried out several years ago. Key to the success of the project is the Feed-In Tariffs – the government-backed incentive to encourage renewable energy. It would be paid 3-5p for every kilowatt hour generated but 17-20p on top of that for generating renewable power.
Although initial estimates vary, the trust believes the plant could generate funds in the region of £55,000 per year.
Evening News 20th Jan 2012 more >>
Balerno Village Trust 20th Jan 2012 more >>
Call for Green Deal Delay
The Property and Energy Professionals Association (PEPA), a trade body representing business engaged in the provision of Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) and Display Energy Certificates (DECs), has urged Government to reconsider its plans to fully introduce the Green Deal in October this year. In its response to the Green Deal consultation, PEPA expressed a number of concerns over current plans for non-domestic buildings. As a result, PEPA is asking Government to consider a staged introduction of its flagship green policy.
Solar Power Portal 20th Jan 2012 more >>
Dagenham Solar
Germany-based solar photovoltaics manufacturer, Mage Solar has partnered with logistics company Kuehne +Nagel for the opening of new a warehouse and dispatch centre in Dagenham. The logistics centre will substantially cut down the lead-time Mage Solar’s British installation partners currently experience.
Solar Power Portal 20th Jan 2012 more >>