Solar 62
The benefits of solar PV are becomingly increasingly well-known. But with the myriad of companies out there extolling the virtues of this technology, it can be hard to know what’s really important. Ploughcroft offer some pointers to the consumer thinking about solar PV.
The UK’s five leading green media companies have joined together to impose a voluntary blackout of renewable energy companies looking to exploit consumer confusion surrounding the Feed-in Tariff.
The B2B and B2C network of the biggest online sites is to create and maintain a blacklist of companies that will be refused editorial and marketing space.
The move is in response to press releases and online advertising campaigns targeted at the consumer, which carry misleading claims and false facts to exploit the current confusion and uncertainty in the market.
BusinessGreen, ClickGreen, GreenWise, Renewable Energy Installer and YouGen have agreed to impose the three-month blackout in an attempt to deter companies from promoting inaccurate and irresponsible claims in editorial submissions and advertising.
ClickGreen’s Stuart Qualtrough explained the joint agreement would hopefully help support the industry’s long-term reputation.
“We will not be naming and shaming but simply ignoring,” he added. “We want to promote a level playing field for both the installers and the consumers that will encourage the further roll-out of renewable energy across the UK.”
And James Murray, editor of BusinessGreen, said the aim of the blackout was to protect both readers and reputable solar firms from misleading claims about the current level of incentives for solar installations.
“Rightly or wrongly the government has created confusion in the solar market by again appealing against a court ruling that deemed its proposed cuts to feed-in tariffs were unlawful,” he explained. “But there are some adverts and claims circulating that ignore the nuance of the case and are attempting to drum up short term business based on misleading claims.
“We are delighted to promote reputable solar firms that communicate with customers in a clear manner, but those that seek to exploit current confusion are only serving to damage the entire market.”
Cathy Debenham of YouGen, added: “It is really important that consumers are protected from this totally unethical practice. High feed-in tariff rates have led to many to many people being misled by dodgy sales people.
“We know that there are lots of excellent solar PV installers giving realistic information, and we want to make sure that it is their voices that are heard during this period of uncertainty, not those of the cowboys.”
GreenWise editor Louise Bateman, said: “The solar Feed-in Tariff debacle has been the biggest story to hit the UK green sector and it is important that it continues to be reported accurately and that rogue traders are not allowed to take advantage of the situation and further damage this important renewable energy industry. That is why we have agreed to this voluntary blackout.”
And Lu Rahman, editor of Renewable Energy Installer, added: “We represent the interests of the small-scale installer, the majority of whom have worked hard to create businesses built on trust, strong customer relationships and knowledge of their sector. It is therefore disappointing that a small number of installers are looking to exploit the current Feed-in Tariff situation for financial gain.
“Prior to the 12 December deadline many companies were working tirelessly to ensure their pre-bookings were met and customers qualified for the higher rate tariff before it was cut. Now we have businesses looking to make what they can from the situation without thinking about the knock-on effects it will have for the reputation of a growing industry.
“Only last year, the sector had to rise above the media claims of ‘cowboy installers’. Let’s hope the Feed-in Tariff doesn’t create a new reason for renewables to hit the headlines, in all the wrong ways.”
The Renewable Energy Association is warning UK solar PV installers could soon face a shortage of solar panels as manufacturers divert stock to other countries following DECC’s disastrous handling of the Feed-in Tariff scheme.
Government ministers have been warned they have passed the point of no return with their appeal bid to the Supreme Court as last week’s ruling has wider implications for other Whitehall departments.
Lee Summers, technical director at the Alumet Group commented: “The High Court ruling on the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) for solar PV will have numerous consequences for the UK solar industry. It is hoped that some much need certainty will return and that we can go back to planning and running our business sustainably.”
It’s all very well saying more installers need to get into installing renewable technologies, but for many it remains a leap into the dark. Ian Stares, product group manager for renewables and green energy products at PTS, says there are four key steps installers must take before they take the plunge.
In the light of the Feed-in Tariff cuts, Toby Ferenczi, Engensa, describes a roadmap for surviving policy changes – one company’s journey.
Bright future: Ian Draisey of Dulas looks beyond recent uncertainty in FiT
The recent Feed-in Tariff announcement has left many in the industry feeling disheartened and uncertain as to the future of the PV sector over the coming months. Whilst recognising the upset the cuts have created, Ian Draisey, of Dulas MHH, is finding positivity in the situation.
Solarcentury has quit the British Photovoltaic Association in a row over its support for the government’s appeal bid on the Feed-in Tariff cuts.
Edmund Robb, Prospect Law provides a summary of the judgement handed down by the Court on of Appeal on 25 January 2012.
On 25 January the appeal mounted by DECC against Mr. Justice Mitting’s judgment in the High Court dated 21 January 2012 in favour of the Judicial Review launched by Prospect Law on behalf of Solar Century Holdings Ltd, (which was later joined by Friends of the Earth and Homesun) against the Ministerial Statement by Greg Barker MP was been unanimously dismissed by Lords Justices Moses, Lloyd and Richards in the Court of Appeal.
Sundog Energy’s managing director, Bill Roberts’s, all-electric company car is now using the power of the sun, generated direct from the company’s 14kWp roof top solar PV installation. And, having just clocked 10,000 miles in less than 6 months, Bill’s Nissan Leaf appears on the Nissan telemetrics website as one of the world’s highest mileage electric vehicles.
Solar Power UK is hosting a series of roadshows in the following locations:
London-based trade installers can take advantage of free renewable energy workshops from January to March 2012. Independent consultants BSK-CiC, working together with NAPIT, is providing access to specifically-designed workshops which focus on business opportunities relating to low carbon emissions and the renewable energy sectors.
The first Krannich solar trade outlet in the UK is scheduled to open its doors soon. Based at the company’s Reading headquarters, the store will offer a one-stop solution for installers in the South East. Products will also be available online later in the year.
Everything from inverters to safety boots and harnesses will be available at trade prices. From cabling to special tools, or solar modules to data communication packs, all will be available from a variety of the world’s best suppliers.
“This is an experiment for us,” commented Krannich Solar UK ceo, Juan Romera-Wade. “We are continuously looking for new ways to improve our services to customers – in this case anyone operating within striking distance of our offices. If this proves to be successful we will consider opening further trade outlets in suitable locations throughout the UK.”
Homeowners have been given a short-term window of opportunity to enjoy a solar power “gold rush”.
Power-One, provider of renewable energy and energy-efficient power conversion and power management solutions, today has installed 25MW of Aurora solar power inverters in one of the largest PV installations to date in India.
Waxman Energy, specialist in the design and distribution of solar PV, has appointed directors Sam Waxman and Joe Pape as joint managing directors.
The Supreme Court has warned a final appeal by energy ministers over the High Court ruling on Feed-in Tariffs will take around eight months to reach its courtrooms.
Renewable energy company Eco Environments has launched a wholesale division by announcing partnerships with two major German manufacturers.
Despite being refused leave to appeal to the Supreme Court by three appeal judges this morning, Energy Secretary Chris Huhne has confirmed the Government will still seek permission to go the Supreme Court.
The Government wants to overturn a High Court ruling that planned cuts to the Feed-in Tariff were unlawful.
In a statement, Cabinet Minister Huhne said: “The Court of Appeal has upheld the High Court ruling on FITs albeit on different grounds. We disagree and are seeking permission to appeal to the Supreme Court.
“We have already put before Parliament changes to the regulations that will bring a 21p rate into effect from April for solar pv installations from 3 March to help reduce the pressure on the budget and provide as much certainty as we can for consumers and industry.
“We want to maximise the number of installations that are possible within the available budget rather than use available money to pay a higher tariff to half the number of installations. Solar PV can have strong and vibrant future in UK and we want a lasting FITs scheme to support that future and jobs in the industry.”
John Cridland, CBI Director-General, said the further appeal was wrong, adding: “The judgement should be used to draw a line under this saga, which saw the Government scoring a spectacular own goal and confidence in the renewables sector undermined.
“We must bring certainty back to this high growth sector. Looking to the future, the Government should guarantee the rate applicants will receive earlier in the process, for all the technologies covered by the feed-in-tariff, to give buyers the confidence to proceed.”
Earlier today, fellow DECC Minister Greg Barker wrote on his Twitter account: “Win, lose or draw today, important we move forward together, drive down costs + step up deployment”.
Industry leaders have called on the Government to now draw a line under the Feed-in Tariff fiasco after the Court of Appeal today unanimously ruled Secretary of State Chris Huhne had overstepped his powers with plans to rush through sudden cuts to solar tariff payments.
Now campaign group Friends of the Earth, which helped bring the original successful court challenge, say any Government move to appeal again to the Supreme Court will create yet more uncertainty for solar firms.
And the organisation has urged defeated Ministers to concentrate on safeguarding the industry rather than wasting more time and money on further appeals.
Friends of the Earth’s Executive Director Andy Atkins said: “This landmark judgement confirms that devastating Government plans to rush through cuts to solar payments are illegal – and will prevent Ministers from causing industry chaos with similar cuts in future.
“The Government must now take steps to safeguard the UK’s solar industry and the 29,000 jobs still facing the chop.
“Ministers must abandon plans to tighten the screw on which homes qualify for solar payments – and use the massive tax revenues generated by solar to protect the industry.
“Helping more people to plug into clean British energy will help protect cash-strapped households from soaring fuel bills.”
John Cridland, CBI Director-General, said the Government should not take the case to the Supreme Court as now confirmed, and added: “The judgement should be used to draw a line under this saga, which saw the Government scoring a spectacular own goal and confidence in the renewables sector undermined.
“We must bring certainty back to this high growth sector. Looking to the future, the Government should guarantee the rate applicants will receive earlier in the process, for all the technologies covered by the feed-in-tariff, to give buyers the confidence to proceed.”
Juliet Davenport, CEO of Good Energy, added: “The credibility of the way the FIT budget is set has been seriously damaged, and the government must reform the tariff to prevent this boom-and-bust situation from happening again.
“FIT is a great way to give people more control of their energy bills, so it’s no surprise that the scheme has been popular – it should not be a victim of its own success.
“Now the government is looking at other ways of reducing uptake such as proposed minimum energy efficiency standard which will be unattainable for many households. The government’s decision to provide a replacement deadline on 3rd March at least means we know what tariff projects registered before 1st April will get – and will probably result in another mini-goldrush in the next few weeks.
“But we still don’t know what support projects registered after April 1st will receive.”
Solar Trade Association chairman Howard Johns is calling for a line to be drawn under the affair to allow the industry to get back to business.
He said: “Hopefully today’s result will draw this episode to a close, and mean that one of the only growing sectors in the UK can get back to work.
“The Government’s appeal against the original ruling has created huge uncertainty for the thousands of small businesses in the sector, and we sincerely hope that the Government chooses not to take this further by appealing against this result.”
David Hunt, a director with leading renewable energy company Eco Environments, said: “This is an almighty kick in the teeth for the Government, but a fantastic result for consumers who have either gone ahead with an installation since December 12 or are keen to do so now.
“The phones have already started ringing with homeowners keen to cash in on this mini gold rush. Given that the cost of Solar PV installations has dropped dramatically since December 12, consumers can now achieve breathtaking returns on investment.”
The full consultation on the FIT rates for solar and other technologies is due for release on February 9 which should give a clear picture of the rates from April this year and beyond.
David added: “We would also hope that the consultation will confirm whether or not homes considering an installation from April will need an Energy Performance Certificate of Grade C or above to claim the top FIT payment – or be subject to a much lower rate.
“We trust that after the fiasco of recent months over the introduction of lower FIT rates, the Government will heed the warnings of the solar industry and remove the stringent EPC requirement for homes which would price the majority of the population out of even considering an investment in solar technology.”
And Phil McVan, MD of Myriad CEG Power, added: “The stop, start nature of what has happened in the solar industry as a result of the Government’s actions is exactly what businesses don’t want at a time when they are trying to juggle limited resources and lack of credit from the banks with meeting green energy commitments.
“It has meant people have been unable to plan effectively for the future because they don’t know when the sands are going to shift.
“The Government should be working to minimise the damage to the industry, ensure that poor and disadvantaged communities don’t miss out on the real benefits of solar energy and that robust businesses have an environment in which they can prosper and help the UK meet its green energy targets.”
Renewable Energy Association chief executive Gaynor Hartnell supported the calls for the Government to move on.
“The Government’s action and the subsequent court case had together thrown the solar industry into a state of extreme uncertainty, which was most regrettable,” she said. “We now want to put this behind us as swiftly as possible, and work with Government and supporters to secure a larger budget for small scale renewable energy generation.
“In reality, Government is well aware that it would be incredibly unwise to reduce payments to renewable energy producers after they had commissioned their projects, as it knows what immense damage that would do.”
The Court of Appeal today (Wednesday 25 January 2012) unanimously rejected government attempts to overturn last month’s High Court ruling that its plans to rush through sudden cuts to solar tariff payments are illegal.
The Court of Appeal has upheld a High Court ruling that government cuts to the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) were unlawful.
Judgment will be handed down at 10am tomorrow [Wednesday 25 January 2012] on the government’s appeal against last month’s High Court ruling that its plans to cut solar subsidy payments were illegal.