The government has confirmed today that the feed in tariff is to be cut by around 50% in December. The only amendment made from the leaked document cited in our previous post is that this is going to happen from the 12^th instead of the 8^th December. If you are going to be able to make use of the full feed in tariff rates, therefore, fast solar panel installations are going to be necessary. With a 14 day installation from Solar Energies UK you still have time to do that, so get in touch on our freephone number for a free quote.

With fast solar panel installations you can still utilize the feed in tariff's highest rate.

Feed In Tariff Reduced

The top rate for the feed in tariff, which is currently at just over 43p for installations up to 50kW, is to be cut to 21p. While a reduction was anticipated, it was expected that this would come in April next year, and it would not be so severe. The government has cited a number of reasons for this reduction, including the cost of solar installations coming down and the price of conventional electricity going up. This, they state, means that the returns on the feed in tariff at its current rate is unsustainable.

The reason that they have had to reduce the rate is really down to the fact that they are running out of money in the budget for it. That is why, in February, the declared that the rate for larger solar arrays would be reduced significantly from August 1^st this year. However it turns out that this was not enough, since using solar energy became such an attractive proposition that their budget could no longer handle the increased demand.

In fact, every other country in Europe which has introduced a feed in tariff has already had to cut the rates at which it is offered due to increased demand, so it should not have come as too much of a surprise. However this is not the only change that is due to come in to effect, you are also going to have to meet certain energy efficiency standards in order to qualify for the new top rate.

This means your property is going to have to get an Energy Performance Certificate of at least level C. The rating you get is going to be based on the amount of energy that your home uses every year, and so how much carbon dioxide it causes to be emitted. If you haven’t already had work done to your property to make it more energy efficient, then some work will probably be necessary in order for you to get a level C.

What the Changes Mean

At the feed in tariff’s current rate, which you can still get with fast solar panel installations, it normally takes around 10 years to pay off your installation costs. However with the new rate it is more likely to take 18 years. This should still allow you at least 7 years of profiting from your solar panels, but clearly it is not as good as having 15 years. You will also have to take in to account the cost of any work needed to get your Energy Performance Certificate of course, although making your home more efficient should also save you money.

Solar Energies UK

If you are thinking about utilizing solar energy for your home, it’s going to be necessary to get fast solar panel installations. You can get one in 14 days from Solar Energies UK, so there is still time. To get a free quote, get in touch on our freephone number.

Written by cMcall

Craig Mackey has been involved in the solar energy sector for more years than he cares to remember. Nevertheless, he still retains his enthusiasm. He also enjoys sports, especially from across the pond, and writing.

Tags: energy performance certificate, fast solar panel installations, feed-in tariff, government, solar energies uk, solar energy