Subsidies For New Household Solar Panels To End Next Year

The renewables industry and green groups have accused ministers of striking a major blow against household solar power after the government said a green energy subsidy scheme would end next year without a replacement. The closure of the feed-in tariff (FIT) to new applicants from next April marks the final chapter for the scheme, which has encouraged more than 800,000 households to install solar panels since it was launched in 2010. Solar installations had already largely dried up after the incentives were cut drastically in 2016, but renewables advocates had hoped a replacement would take its place. On Thursday, the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy made clear there would be no extension or new alternative. Read more on the Guardian website.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jul/19/subsidies-for-new-household-solar-panels-to-end-next-year

FIT Cuts Are ‘Idiotic’ and Will Hit Social Housing

The Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change has attacked the Government over the change to feed-in-tariffs that will “end solar power for social housing”. Speaking in the House of Commons, Caroline Flint MP criticised the move which will see feed-in tariff payments cut by more than half from December. She said: “[The Opposition] regrets that the Government’s plans would exclude nearly nine out of ten households from installing solar power under the feed-in tariffs scheme, [which] will disproportionately hit social housing and community projects.” Mrs Flint said: “Let us get serious. We have a cut of more than 50% with just six weeks’ notice. Is that reasonable? Is that fair? Is that sustainable? I suggest that it is not.” Read more on 24dash.

Council Launches £100m Retrofit Solar Energy Scheme

Phase one of a scheme, which will lead to at least 10,000 homes in Birmingham benefiting from a retrofit energy efficiency upgrade, has swung into full gear as dozens of high-tech solar panels begin being fitted to homes and businesses. Eventually, councillors hope to extend the programme to 420,000 owner-occupied and privately-rented homes. Residents are already seeing the benefits from Birmingham City Council’s ‘Birmingham Energy Savers’ which will see improved insulation and new environmentally friendly means of energy production fitted to thousands of private and council owned homes. The initial phase of the scheme is being funded by the Working Neighbourhoods Fund, and targets vulnerable families in target areas for significant energy improvements. For a typical family household this will lead to savings of hundreds of pounds per year off fuel bills, as well as drastically reducing a household’s carbon footprint.  The project will also create and provide training and protect jobs, and support the growth of green businesses in the city.  To find details of how this will be funded and a link to the Energy Savers website, go to the Birmingham City Council website.