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Monthly Archives: September 2011
Solar Panels Grants
At the moment there are no national schemes for solar panels grants. There used to be until quite recently, but that has been replaced by the feed in tariff. This has turned out to be a much more successful scheme because it makes solar energy in to a better investment.
Financial incentives are in place for solar energy.
Solar Grants v Feed In Tariff
The solar grants, when they were in place, took about £500 off the cost of a solar installation. However this did not have the effect of making lots more people get solar panels. Probably because a solar installation costs somewhere in the region of £10,000 for an average sized installation, so £500 didn’t make much difference to the cost.
With the feed in tariff, you have to pay the full price for a solar installation, however you are then paid for all of the solar energy which you produce. That includes all of the energy which you use yourself, and any which you do not use and is exported on to the National Grid you get extra for. In this way you are normally able to make around £1,000 every year. This is a much better incentive than a solar grant then.
It is still possible to get solar grants from some local councils though, so it’s worth finding out if your council is offering anything like that in order to reduce the cost of the installation. You can still get the feed in tariff as well of course, so it is all going to help.
Why are Financial Incentives Available?
The question is though, why is the UK government intent on incentivising solar energy? The reason for that is they have an aim to significantly reduce carbon emissions by 2020. The only way that is going to happen is if more people get their energy from renewable energy sources rather than fossil fuels.
This does not answer the question of why they want to reduce carbon emissions in the country though. The reason for that is the threat of global warming. This is something that just about everyone knows about by now, it has been in the news a lot.
In terms of the effects of global warming though, the one that most people fixate on is the possibility that polar ice caps are going to melt, leading to a rise in sea levels. While this could have a devastating effect on some communities, that is not actually the worst effect that could come about.
The worst potential outcome of global warming is that we will no longer be able to feed ourselves as a species. That could happen if the rise in temperatures disrupts ecosystems meaning that the conditions whereby we are able to grow food are not present anymore. So global warming can cause suffering in a lot of different ways.
Solar Energy UK
If you want to get involved in the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, then you can get in touch with us at Solar Energy UK and we’ll provide you with a free quote for a solar installation. We provide MCS accredited solar installers meaning that you will also qualify for the feed in tariff.
Solar Power System
If you want to use solar energy to for electricity production then you’ll need a solar power system. This can be provided by a solar installation, which includes having solar panels put on your roof. It’s not quite as simple as that of course, it also has to be connected up to your house. First of all though we’ll look at the solar panels which produce the electricity.
A solar power system.
How Solar Panels Work
Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels are made up of a series of solar cells. These generate electricity from light. The way that this works is an interesting process, it is a unique way of making electricity.
When light hits a solar cell, it frees up electrons, causing them to move. This is important because electricity actually is the flowing of electrons, so that light can get them to move is a good first start. The reason that this happens with a solar cell is because they are made of a semiconductor, usually silicon. It has to be a semiconductor because they have the quality that when light hits them, electrons move.
Now, to get the moving electrons to become a flow requires the solar cells to be set up in a certain way. There’s a negatively charged half and a positively charged half. When electrons are made to switch sides from light hitting them, it upsets the natural balance between them. In order to restore the balance, electrons have to flow along a wire which is connected to the solar panels.
This wire, of course, leads to your house. That is how the electricity gets there. However that is not the end of how a solar energy system has to be set up.
Converting Solar Energy
There’s a problem with the form of electricity that comes directly from solar panels because it is direct current (DC) whereas your home will, as all houses do, run on alternating current (AC). This means to convert the solar energy in to a useful form of energy requires an inverter. So one of those also has to be installed on your property.
Before it gets to the converter though, the energy is stored in a DC battery. That is another important part of a solar energy system because it means that you can use the energy when you actually want it, rather than when it is produced. In this way then, you can use solar energy at night by draining the battery.
There will be times when you drain the battery completely and you need more energy, at which point you will switch seamlessly to your normal energy supplier. On other occasions though you will have filled the battery and still be producing more solar energy. At this point, the extra will be taken to the National Grid and you will be paid for this energy. This payment comes from the feed in tariff, which does not just pay for the energy you export back to the National Grid, but for all of the solar power that you produce.
Solar Energy UK
If you would like to get a solar power system installed, and be eligible for the feed in tariff, then get in touch with Solar Energy UK to get a free quote.
Dye-Based Solar Energy Invented
At the moment, solar energy is already the most versatile and portable of all the renewable energy sources. Advances are always being made though, and one of the most interesting is research be led by Dr Neil Robertson at Edinburgh university, who is leading a team of scientists who are developing dye-based solar cells.
Solar cells on a rucksack.
How It Works
Basically, the way that it works is that the dyes are infused with very tiny solar cells, and these are what trap energy from the sun, and turn it in to electricity. That is only a very simple explanation of course, but you get the general idea.
It means that we will be able to power literally just about everything with solar energy. They have already made a rucksack which has some of this material on it. Also, a smoke alarm has been made which has these solar cells coating its base. Meaning that you would never have to worry about changing the batteries in a smoke alarm again!
The Potential Scope
This is a breakthrough in solar energy which has the potential to be have a massive scope in terms of uses. They claim that the 1.6 billion people on this planet who still do not have access to an electricity grid could benefit from this technology. That’s because it is cheap, it is easy to produce on a mass scale, and of course it is portable. It can be put on clothes even.
Another one of the stated aims of this technology is to make batteries obsolete. That’s because anything that you need batteries for around the home could be fitted with this sort of technology instead. We’ve already mentioned smoke alarms, but it could work for literally anything. From remote controls to mobile phones.
A prediction made by one of the scientists on the team is that within a decade, solar energy of this kind is going to be cheaper than the conventional energy that we need at the moment.
Combating Global Warming
The issue of how much renewable energy costs in relation to conventional energy is a crucial one when it comes to combating global warming. If we are going to make a smooth transition from using fossil fuels to supply us with the energy that we need, to renewable energy sources, then it is going to have to be cheaper to use renewable energy.
This is not all about greed either, it’s just about the best use of the resources available. If things like solar energy are too expensive for everyone to use, then it’s not realistic to expect them to do so. Indeed, if we try to artificially make the transition before the technology is ready then that is just going to lead to an economic collapse. Which is going to cause the sort of pain and suffering that we are trying to avoid by combating global warming.
Solar Energy UK
The sort of technology being described here is still quite a long way off from being commercially available though. At the moment, the best you can do is get solar panels for your home. That is something that we can help with at Solar Energy UK, and by using our MCS accredited solar installers you’ll also be eligible for the feed in tariff which makes it a good investment as well.
Eco-Friendly Student Village In Bradford
The University of Bradford has recently opened the Green complex, which is a residence for students that uses as much renewable energy as possible. It has solar panels installed, so that they get much of their electricity from solar energy, and it has other energy saving features as well.
Green student residence in Bradford.
Saving Energy
The most important thing about projects of these kinds, of course, is that they are helping to save energy. That is, the polluting kind of energy which is produced by fossil fuels. Instead, clean forms such as solar energy are being used because it is helping in the fight against global warming.
This has been a growing trend, indeed you can see simply from looking at this news blog that just about every week, or every few days even, there is a new large scale solar energy project being begun somewhere in the country.
Saving Money
Although it is mostly about saving the environment, it’s also a way of saving money. Conventional energy prices are rising all the time. In fact just recently there was another price hike, leaving many people wondering how they are going to afford to heat their home this coming winter. With renewable energy though, and solar energy in particular, the prices are coming down.
Once you have the solar panels installed of course, the energy is free. The costs of installations are generally on the way down though, as the increased demand leads to a larger supply, and technology improves to create more solar panels for less. Also, the more that energy prices rise, the more you will be saving by getting your energy for free with solar panels.
Financial considerations are also being talked about with the Green student village in Bradford, with monitors being set up so that the students can measure their energy use. If they only use a small amount of energy, then they will get rebates on their energy bills.
Solar Hot Water Systems
As well as providing the students with electricity, solar energy will also be supplying them with some of their hot water needs as well. That’s because the building also has solar thermal panels installed, connected to the hot water system.
This is something else which is also available to individual households, and it’s a great way to cut your carbon footprint as well as reduce your heating bills.
This student village in Bradford has received the highest rating for energy efficiency, one of only 15 building in the world to receive this score from the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM).
Solar Energy UK
If you are interested in making your home more energy efficient, in particular by having solar panels, solar thermal panels or heat pumps installed on your property, then get in touch with Solar Energy UK for a free quote. By using our MCS accredited solar installers you will also qualify for any and all financial incentives which the government introduces, including the feed in tariff which is available now.
Norfolk Council Considering Solar Energy
Norfolk County Council is considering starting a solar energy firm which will install solar panels on the roofs of council-owned buildings throughout the region. They intend to do this by founding a company which will be owned by the council but which acts independently.
Norfolk Council intend to install solar panels on a number of council-owned properties.
Financial Reasons For Using Solar Energy
Not too long ago, before the feed in tariff came in to effect, the only real reason to set up solar panels was for the environmental benefits. While they are still the reason that solar energy is so important, another reason to use solar panels now is for the financial benefits.
These are the two reasons cited by Norfolk Council for considering this investment in solar power. They intend to cut their carbon emissions, but are also interested in the revenue that will be created by the solar installations.
Before the feed in tariff was brought in, it would take around 25 years for the savings that you made from using the solar panels to be enough to pay off the initial installation costs. Quite apart from the fact that this is a long time to wait for a return, solar panels only tend to last about 25 years so you probably wouldn’t get very much return at all.
Now, however, with all of the solar energy that you produce generating you money through the feed in tariff as well as making your savings on energy bills, it is a much better investment. This is especially the case when you consider that both the savings that you make, as well as the feed in tariff, is inflation proof. The feed in tariff tracks the RPI (Retail Price Index) meaning that the rates increase with inflation. The savings that you make will also increase as energy costs increase, as once the solar panels are installed you’ll be getting the energy for free.
So with the feed in tariff in place, it now only takes around 10 years before you will have been able to pay off your solar installation costs. After that you’ll be making money. Norfolk Council intends to use this money to put back in to front line services.
Environmental Benefits Of Solar Power
The environmental benefits that will come about from using solar energy arise from the reduction in carbon emissions. After all, the more energy that is created through renewable means, the less that has to be provided through the burning of fossil fuels. This will help with the government’s target to significantly reduce carbon emissions by 2020.
The reason that it is so important to cut carbon emissions of course is because of the threat of global warming. Everyone knows about these threats now, but there is very little we can do about it except for transition to renewable energy as quickly as possible.
Solar Energy UK
If you are interested in getting a solar installation for your home, then get in touch with Solar Energy UK to get a free quote.
Solar Panels For Farms
Farms are in a very good position to make use of solar energy. There is usually lots of roof space on a farm, for example on barns as well as the main house. That’s why many farmers have already made use of solar installations to handle much of their energy needs. It is also why Barclays have set up a fund of £100m specifically for farmers, which we have already noted in a recent news article.
Solar panels on the roof of a barn.
Feed In Tariff
What makes solar energy such a good way to deal with a farm’s energy needs is the feed in tariff. This has made it a much better financial opportunity, as now it should only take 10 years to pay off the initial installation costs. After that time, you can actually make money from a solar installation.
The way the feed in tariff works is that for every unit of electricity produced with your solar panels, measured in kilowatt hours, you are paid a certain amount. Exactly how much will depend on the type of solar installation, as well as how much power it produces. For the highest rates it has to be less than 50kW.
Using Farmland
Of course it is not only roof space that can be used for solar panels, they can also be ground-mounted. This means that if you want to use a portion of your farmland for solar panels then that is a possibility as well.
If that is done though then it means that the farmland will be tied up with this for around 25 years at least. That may or may not be the most profitable use for it. There have been cases where farmland has been used for solar energy instead of crops or the grazing of animals. This is usually done when the intention is to power other homes though.
To be able to make the decision as to whether this is your best option or not, you will need specific advice from a solar energy expert. You can get that advice by contacting Solar Energy UK. We will be able to survey your property and recommend your best option in terms of using solar panels. Although of course the farmer is going to have the best idea of the opportunity costs of using the land for solar power production rather than actual farming.
Financing The Installation
The best way to finance a solar installation is through savings of course. However, given the large costs its likely that you are going to need a loan. As stated, Barclays has a fund set up specifically for this purpose. It’s also sometimes possible to have the costs added on to your mortgage, which is often the best option as this will have the lowest interest rates.
Solar Energy UK
If you are interested in getting solar panels for a farm, or for a domestic or commercial property, then get in touch on our freephone number. At Solar Energy UK we will be able to provide you with a free quotation.
Solar Energy To Be Cheaper Than Coal By 2020
A recent study by the EPIA (European Photovoltaic Industry Association) has found that by 2020 solar energy will be cheaper than getting your energy from coal power stations in many parts of Europe. In fact in some parts of Europe, such as Italy, this is going to happen a lot sooner, perhaps by 2013.
Solar power is soon going to be the cheaper option.
Competitive Advantage
This study is excellent news for solar energy, and for the fight against global warming. After all, the only reason that more people are not using solar panels for their home right now is that it’s cheaper to use conventional sources of energy.
Actually that is not quite accurate. At the moment, with the feed in tariff in place, you can actually make money by using solar energy. However there is an obstacle that you have to jump over in order to make use of this financial boon, which is the cost of the solar installation. Not everyone can afford that, and it is quite substantial, somewhere in the region of £10,000 usually.
Another aspect of the report though, was the expectation that the costs for solar installations would continue to decrease. They have done so consistently for many years now. The report finds that the costs are likely to reduce by 50% in the next decade due to economies of scale and technology improving.
This means that the option of having solar panels installed is going to open up to many more people. What is helping at the moment is the feed in tariff, but once solar energy has the comparative advantage over other energy sources that will probably be taken away as it will not be needed anymore.
Government Action
The only bad news is that these findings are based on governments continuing to intervene in energy markets. That is, through things like feed-in tariffs (although the study does say that these will be able to be reduced or taken away). It also makes assumptions based on things like the carbon trading schemes being in place, which will make burning coal more expensive.
The study also suggests that subsidies should be taken away from the coal industry, after all that sort of government action would stand in the way of the increased uptake of solar energy.
Of course there is a limit to how much governments can do, which is why it is going to take some time for solar energy to be able to take over from things like coal as being the cheaper option. Mostly it is going to come down to technological advances, and also with increased demand for solar panels meaning that more will be made, the mass scale on which this can be done should also become cheaper.
Solar Energy UK
As stated though, even now using solar panels for your home is a good financial option. It takes a little while to pay off the installation costs, but usually only about 10 years now with the feed in tariff.
To make use of the feed in tariff you have to use MCS accredited solar installers, such as the ones provided by Solar Energy UK. If you are interested in this possibility, and to find out more, get in touch for a free quotation.
Solar Energy Systems
There are two main types of solar energy systems. First of all you have the kind that produces electricity, which is done with PV (photovoltaic) solar panels. Then you have your solar thermal systems, which provide you with hot water. Which one you are going to prefer will really depend on what you are looking for, as well as your budget.
Solar thermal panels.
Electricity-Producing Solar Energy
The kind of solar energy system that will provide you with the most amount of versatility is the one that generates electricity. After all, electricity is what powers just about everything in a home, so there is very little limitation on what you can do with energy of this kind. If you have an electric heating system, then it can even heat your home.
The way these work is with PV solar panels, each one being made up of a multitude of solar cells. There are differences between solar modules of this kind, for example the amount of power that they emit and how efficient they are. So you’ll have to choose the ones that are going to be best for you. At Solar Energy UK we provide solar panels from three of the best suppliers; Sanyo, Schott and Hyundai.
In terms of the financial aspect, this kind of solar energy is also now in a very good position. That’s because you no longer have to depend entirely on the savings that you make on your energy bills to pay off the installation costs. Instead, the government has introduced the feed in tariff, which pays you for all of the energy that you produce with your solar panels. This makes them a far better investment, as you can usually pay off the cost of the installation within 10 years, giving you around 15 years of actually making money with them.
Solar Hot Water Systems
Although you can’t do as much with a solar hot water system as you can with solar electricity of course, they are still a great way to save money on energy bills. Solar thermal panels are able to take care of a large percentage of your hot water needs, which can be used not only as the water that comes out of your taps but if you have the right kind, for central heating as well.
At the moment there are no financial incentives active for this kind of solar energy, however the renewable heat incentive is going to come in to effect very soon for businesses, and at around this time next year for domestic households. This will work in the same way as the feed in tariff, paying you for all the renewable heat you produce. Also, a solar hot water system is not as expensive as PV solar panels.
In order to make use of the financial incentives attached to solar power, you will have to use MCS accredited solar installers, or the kind provided by Solar Energy UK.
Solar Energy UK
If you are interested in finding out more about solar energy systems, or you are ready to get a free quote for a solar installation, then please feel free to get in touch on our freephone number.
There are two main types of solar energy systems. First of all you have the kind that produces electricity, which is done with PV (photovoltaic) solar panels. Then you have your solar thermal systems, which provide you with hot water. Which one you are going to prefer will really depend on what you are looking for, as well as your budget.
Electricity-Producing Solar Energy
The kind of solar energy system that will provide you with the most amount of versatility is the one that generates electricity. After all, electricity is what powers just about everything in a home, so there is very little limitation on what you can do with energy of this kind. If you have an electric heating system, then it can even heat your home.
The way these work is with PV solar panels, each one being made up of a multitude of solar cells. There are differences between solar modules of this kind, for example the amount of power that they emit and how efficient they are. So you’ll have to choose the ones that are going to be best for you. At Solar Energy UK we provide solar panels from three of the best suppliers; Sanyo, Schott and Hyundai.
In terms of the financial aspect, this kind of solar energy is also now in a very good position. That’s because you no longer have to depend entirely on the savings that you make on your energy bills to pay off the installation costs. Instead, the government has introduced the feed in tariff, which pays you for all of the energy that you produce with your solar panels. This makes them a far better investment, as you can usually pay off the cost of the installation within 10 years, giving you around 15 years of actually making money with them.
Solar Hot Water Systems
Although you can’t do as much with a solar hot water system as you can with solar electricity of course, they are still a great way to save money on energy bills. Solar thermal panels are able to take care of a large percentage of your hot water needs, which can be used not only as the water that comes out of your taps but if you have the right kind, for central heating as well.
At the moment there are no financial incentives active for this kind of solar energy, however the renewable heat incentive is going to come in to effect very soon for businesses, and at around this time next year for domestic households. This will work in the same way as the feed in tariff, paying you for all the renewable heat you produce. Also, a solar hot water system is not as expensive as PV solar panels.
In order to make use of the financial incentives attached to solar power, you will have to use MCS accredited solar installers, or the kind provided by Solar Energy UK.
Solar Energy UK
If you are interested in finding out more about solar energy systems, or you are ready to get a free quote for a solar installation, then please feel free to get in touch on our freephone number.There are two main types of solar energy systems. First of all you have the kind that produces electricity, which is done with PV (photovoltaic) solar panels. Then you have your solar thermal systems, which provide you with hot water. Which one you are going to prefer will really depend on what you are looking for, as well as your budget.
Electricity-Producing Solar Energy
The kind of solar energy system that will provide you with the most amount of versatility is the one that generates electricity. After all, electricity is what powers just about everything in a home, so there is very little limitation on what you can do with energy of this kind. If you have an electric heating system, then it can even heat your home.
The way these work is with PV solar panels, each one being made up of a multitude of solar cells. There are differences between solar modules of this kind, for example the amount of power that they emit and how efficient they are. So you’ll have to choose the ones that are going to be best for you. At Solar Energy UK we provide solar panels from three of the best suppliers; Sanyo, Schott and Hyundai.
In terms of the financial aspect, this kind of solar energy is also now in a very good position. That’s because you no longer have to depend entirely on the savings that you make on your energy bills to pay off the installation costs. Instead, the government has introduced the feed in tariff, which pays you for all of the energy that you produce with your solar panels. This makes them a far better investment, as you can usually pay off the cost of the installation within 10 years, giving you around 15 years of actually making money with them.
Solar Hot Water Systems
Although you can’t do as much with a solar hot water system as you can with solar electricity of course, they are still a great way to save money on energy bills. Solar thermal panels are able to take care of a large percentage of your hot water needs, which can be used not only as the water that comes out of your taps but if you have the right kind, for central heating as well.
At the moment there are no financial incentives active for this kind of solar energy, however the renewable heat incentive is going to come in to effect very soon for businesses, and at around this time next year for domestic households. This will work in the same way as the feed in tariff, paying you for all the renewable heat you produce. Also, a solar hot water system is not as expensive as PV solar panels.
In order to make use of the financial incentives attached to solar power, you will have to use MCS accredited solar installers, or the kind provided by Solar Energy UK.
Solar Energy UK
If you are interested in finding out more about solar energy systems, or you are ready to get a free quote for a solar installation, then please feel free to get in touch on our freephone number.There are two main types of solar energy systems. First of all you have the kind that produces electricity, which is done with PV (photovoltaic) solar panels. Then you have your solar thermal systems, which provide you with hot water. Which one you are going to prefer will really depend on what you are looking for, as well as your budget.
Electricity-Producing Solar Energy
The kind of solar energy system that will provide you with the most amount of versatility is the one that generates electricity. After all, electricity is what powers just about everything in a home, so there is very little limitation on what you can do with energy of this kind. If you have an electric heating system, then it can even heat your home.
The way these work is with PV solar panels, each one being made up of a multitude of solar cells. There are differences between solar modules of this kind, for example the amount of power that they emit and how efficient they are. So you’ll have to choose the ones that are going to be best for you. At Solar Energy UK we provide solar panels from three of the best suppliers; Sanyo, Schott and Hyundai.
In terms of the financial aspect, this kind of solar energy is also now in a very good position. That’s because you no longer have to depend entirely on the savings that you make on your energy bills to pay off the installation costs. Instead, the government has introduced the feed in tariff, which pays you for all of the energy that you produce with your solar panels. This makes them a far better investment, as you can usually pay off the cost of the installation within 10 years, giving you around 15 years of actually making money with them.
Solar Hot Water Systems
Although you can’t do as much with a solar hot water system as you can with solar electricity of course, they are still a great way to save money on energy bills. Solar thermal panels are able to take care of a large percentage of your hot water needs, which can be used not only as the water that comes out of your taps but if you have the right kind, for central heating as well.
At the moment there are no financial incentives active for this kind of solar energy, however the renewable heat incentive is going to come in to effect very soon for businesses, and at around this time next year for domestic households. This will work in the same way as the feed in tariff, paying you for all the renewable heat you produce. Also, a solar hot water system is not as expensive as PV solar panels.
In order to make use of the financial incentives attached to solar power, you will have to use MCS accredited solar installers, or the kind provided by Solar Energy UK.
Solar Energy UK
If you are interested in finding out more about solar energy systems, or you are ready to get a free quote for a solar installation, then please feel free to get in touch on our freephone number.There are two main types of solar energy systems. First of all you have the kind that produces electricity, which is done with PV (photovoltaic) solar panels. Then you have your solar thermal systems, which provide you with hot water. Which one you are going to prefer will really depend on what you are looking for, as well as your budget.
Electricity-Producing Solar Energy
The kind of solar energy system that will provide you with the most amount of versatility is the one that generates electricity. After all, electricity is what powers just about everything in a home, so there is very little limitation on what you can do with energy of this kind. If you have an electric heating system, then it can even heat your home.
The way these work is with PV solar panels, each one being made up of a multitude of solar cells. There are differences between solar modules of this kind, for example the amount of power that they emit and how efficient they are. So you’ll have to choose the ones that are going to be best for you. At Solar Energy UK we provide solar panels from three of the best suppliers; Sanyo, Schott and Hyundai.
In terms of the financial aspect, this kind of solar energy is also now in a very good position. That’s because you no longer have to depend entirely on the savings that you make on your energy bills to pay off the installation costs. Instead, the government has introduced the feed in tariff, which pays you for all of the energy that you produce with your solar panels. This makes them a far better investment, as you can usually pay off the cost of the installation within 10 years, giving you around 15 years of actually making money with them.
Solar Hot Water Systems
Although you can’t do as much with a solar hot water system as you can with solar electricity of course, they are still a great way to save money on energy bills. Solar thermal panels are able to take care of a large percentage of your hot water needs, which can be used not only as the water that comes out of your taps but if you have the right kind, for central heating as well.
At the moment there are no financial incentives active for this kind of solar energy, however the renewable heat incentive is going to come in to effect very soon for businesses, and at around this time next year for domestic households. This will work in the same way as the feed in tariff, paying you for all the renewable heat you produce. Also, a solar hot water system is not as expensive as PV solar panels.
In order to make use of the financial incentives attached to solar power, you will have to use MCS accredited solar installers, or the kind provided by Solar Energy UK.
Solar Energy UK
If you are interested in finding out more about solar energy systems, or you are ready to get a free quote for a solar installation, then please feel free to get in touch on our freephone number.
Solar Project For Quarry
Slip Inn Quarry, near Lutterworth, was due to have 23,000 solar panels installed in it. This was before the government’s decision to reduce the rate of the feed in tariff for large scale solar energy projects though. Before, it was around 30p per kWh, but it has now been reduced to 8.5p per kWh. This applies to all projects producing more than 50 kilowatts of power.
Solar energy project in quarry cut back.
23,000 to 250
In order to be able to make use of a higher rate in the feed in tariff scheme, the company installing the solar panels in the quarry have reduced the amount of solar panels from 23,000 to 250. It was mentioned in the previous news article that the reduction in the feed in tariff for large scale projects would lead to reductions of this kind, and the rationale behind the decision was considered.
While it is certainly of considerable concern that large scale projects such as this may not be built anymore, or at least there won’t be so many of them, we also have to look at the unseen consequences as well as the ones that we can see.
Unseen Consequences
While at first glance, it seems that the government’s decision to reduce the feed in tariff for solar energy projects over 50kW is reducing the amount of solar power that is going to be produced, that is not necessarily the case.
It is true that there will be fewer large scale projects, of the ones such as the one illustrated here. However the reason the government has taken this measure is that it wants to be able to encourage more people to have solar panels installed on their roof. So this could be an unseen consequence.
The amount of money that is available for the feed in tariff is not unlimited, and with it being a popular scheme, the government can see that it is going to get used up one way or another. They therefore have had to decide whether they want large scale projects to make use of most of the funds, or smaller scale domestic solar energy projects. They have decided on the latter, allowing more people to get solar panels for their roofs.
Solar Panels for your Home
While for this project in the quarry, it means that 22,750 less solar panels are going to be installed, it is to be hoped that the same number will be installed on roofs around the country instead. This is not going to happen immediately of course, but if the scheme goes on as it has been then that is what should happen.
Just about anyone can make use of solar energy by getting solar panels. As long as you have a roof that either faces south, or east-west, then there shouldn’t be a problem. The costs for a solar installation are not insubstantial of course, but with the feed in tariff the returns are certainly worth it now.
Solar Energy UK
For a free quote for a solar installation, get in touch with the friendly and knowledgeable staff at Solar Energy UK.
Slip Inn Quarry, near Lutterworth, was due to have 23,000 solar panels installed in it. This was before the government’s decision to reduce the rate of the feed in tariff for large scale solar energy projects though. Before, it was around 30p per kWh, but it has now been reduced to 8.5p per kWh. This applies to all projects producing more than 50 kilowatts of power.
23,000 to 250
In order to be able to make use of a higher rate in the feed in tariff scheme, the company installing the solar panels in the quarry have reduced the amount of solar panels from 23,000 to 250. It was mentioned in the previous news article that the reduction in the feed in tariff for large scale projects would lead to reductions of this kind, and the rationale behind the decision was considered.
While it is certainly of considerable concern that large scale projects such as this may not be built anymore, or at least there won’t be so many of them, we also have to look at the unseen consequences as well as the ones that we can see.
Unseen Consequences
While at first glance, it seems that the government’s decision to reduce the feed in tariff for solar energy projects over 50kW is reducing the amount of solar power that is going to be produced, that is not necessarily the case.
It is true that there will be fewer large scale projects, of the ones such as the one illustrated here. However the reason the government has taken this measure is that it wants to be able to encourage more people to have solar panels installed on their roof. So this could be an unseen consequence.
The amount of money that is available for the feed in tariff is not unlimited, and with it being a popular scheme, the government can see that it is going to get used up one way or another. They therefore have had to decide whether they want large scale projects to make use of most of the funds, or smaller scale domestic solar energy projects. They have decided on the latter, allowing more people to get solar panels for their roofs.
Solar Panels for your Home
While for this project in the quarry, it means that 22,750 less solar panels are going to be installed, it is to be hoped that the same number will be installed on roofs around the country instead. This is not going to happen immediately of course, but if the scheme goes on as it has been then that is what should happen.
Just about anyone can make use of solar energy by getting solar panels. As long as you have a roof that either faces south, or east-west, then there shouldn’t be a problem. The costs for a solar installation are not insubstantial of course, but with the feed in tariff the returns are certainly worth it now.
Solar Energy UK
For a free quote for a solar installation, get in touch with the friendly and knowledgeable staff at Solar Energy UK.
Large Scale Projects Affected By Feed-In Tariff Cut Back
In August, the feed in tariff rates for large scale projects were cut back significantly, which has led to a contraction in the solar energy industry. It’s important to note though that domestic solar installations have not been affected. Indeed it is because the government does not want larger scale projects using all of the funds available that this reduction has taken place. But is it a good idea?
Solar energy projects of this size will no longer receive high rates on the feed in tariff.
The Rationale Behind The Decision
It has not been made public how much funding is available for the feed in tariff, however the government has made clear that it is only a limited amount. With a larger scale project of course, the amount that they receive from the feed in tariff will be more than with a smaller installation. So this is going to reduce the amount that will be available for the smaller projects.
On the face of it then, it seems that the government is doing the right thing. That is, with the intention of making more money available for solar energy projects that can be made use of by domestic households. It means that if you want to get solar panels for your home, then there is more chance that you are going to be able to make use of the feed in tariff if the larger scale projects have not already used it all.
The Effects Of The Decision
However, does it make any difference to the amount of solar energy production is being encouraged? In this case, the answer is no. It doesn’t really matter whether the solar power is created on solar farms, or with solar panels installed on people’s roofs. In the end, the feed in tariff pays by the amount of kilowatt hours that are produced. So it is going to incentivise exactly the same amount.
What about the economics of it? Does it matter whether it is companies that are getting the benefits of the incentive, or ordinary people? That’s harder to gauge, however potentially in this case it would actually be better for the companies to be getting the extra money. That’s because they’re likely to invest more in the green sector, it might even make them enough money to build another solar array. It could lead to more solar energy production then.
When people are getting more of the money, they’ll have more money to feed in to the economy of course, but there’s no guarantee that they’ll use it to expand the green economy. So in that case it might not be that it’s better for individuals to be getting the extra money. On the other hand though, the more people that are involved in solar energy the better, so it does help in that sense.
Solar Energy UK
If you’re interested in getting solar panels for your roof, the best time is now. That’s because, while the feed in tariff has not been reduced for domestic projects yet, it will be reduced a certain amount soon. The government is doing that in order to encourage people to use solar energy as soon as possible.
If you would like to get a solar installation, get in touch with Solar Energy UK for a free quotation.
