Ground-mounted solar PV market under threat
The Government is considering making changes to the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) scheme to stop the development of ground-mounted solar photovoltaic (PV) field arrays, it emerged yesterday.Speaking in Parliament, yesterday morning, Energy Minister Greg Barker said the Government had inherited a FiT system that had failed to anticipate PV field arrays, which he said ran the risk of distorting the solar market.
The FiT incentive scheme was introduced in April to kick-start renewable energy generation in the UK. It guarantees an inflation-linked income for on-site renewable electricity projects under five megawatts (MW) in size for a period of up to 25 years. The attractive rates have led to a number of companies setting up to develop solar projects based on roof and land space across the UK. Private individuals are also investing in ground-mounted solar arrays on their property.
Yesterday, Barker said the Government would not act retrospectively, but that large field arrays should "not be allowed to distort the market" for roof-mounted PV or other renewables.
Warning to solar investors
The Renewable Energy Association (REA) responded to the statement by issuing a warning to potential investors in field arrays.
"The minister stated that the Government would not act retrospectively, so comfort can be gained that no project that starts generating will see its revenue diminished, but this statement is likely to worry potential investors in ground-mounted schemes," said Gaynor Hartnell, chief executive of the REA. "Those that have acted in good faith, and already made substantial investments on legal works and preparation of planning applications, will be feeling very uncomfortable indeed."
Ground-mounted solar investment
Within the last few months, two ground-mounted solar plants have been given the greenlight in the South West. 35 Degrees, a company with plans to invest in further solar PV arrays around the UK, won planning permission to build a 1 MW ground-mounted plant in Cornwall in September. Meanwhile, a couple was granted permission to build a 450 kilowatt solar array on private land in Somerset last month.
In all, 35 Degrees plans to build and manage 100 MW of PV in the UK and has already spent £500,000 on start-up costs on the 18 month-old Cornwall project. Its managing director Stephen McCable has already indicated that any changes to FiTs scheme would stop the company going ahead with its plans and put the whole industry at risk.
"Our business plan and the entire industry will be stopped in its tracks even at the suggestion that the Government is going to revise the Feed-In Tariffs," he toldGreenWise in September. "It will have a devastating impact on the industry – what is required is absolute certainty."
Other investors in the market include Vigor Renewables, which launched in March to partner with landowners and commercial property owners and managers to build, own and operate solar and wind power generating assets on roof and land-based sites across the UK.
REA said it would be "seeking clarity" from the Department of Energy and Climate Change on its policy for ground-mounted solar systems..
.
Source: Green Wise Business.
The FiT incentive scheme was introduced in April to kick-start renewable energy generation in the UK. It guarantees an inflation-linked income for on-site renewable electricity projects under five megawatts (MW) in size for a period of up to 25 years. The attractive rates have led to a number of companies setting up to develop solar projects based on roof and land space across the UK. Private individuals are also investing in ground-mounted solar arrays on their property.
Yesterday, Barker said the Government would not act retrospectively, but that large field arrays should "not be allowed to distort the market" for roof-mounted PV or other renewables.
Warning to solar investors
The Renewable Energy Association (REA) responded to the statement by issuing a warning to potential investors in field arrays.
"The minister stated that the Government would not act retrospectively, so comfort can be gained that no project that starts generating will see its revenue diminished, but this statement is likely to worry potential investors in ground-mounted schemes," said Gaynor Hartnell, chief executive of the REA. "Those that have acted in good faith, and already made substantial investments on legal works and preparation of planning applications, will be feeling very uncomfortable indeed."
Ground-mounted solar investment
Within the last few months, two ground-mounted solar plants have been given the greenlight in the South West. 35 Degrees, a company with plans to invest in further solar PV arrays around the UK, won planning permission to build a 1 MW ground-mounted plant in Cornwall in September. Meanwhile, a couple was granted permission to build a 450 kilowatt solar array on private land in Somerset last month.
In all, 35 Degrees plans to build and manage 100 MW of PV in the UK and has already spent £500,000 on start-up costs on the 18 month-old Cornwall project. Its managing director Stephen McCable has already indicated that any changes to FiTs scheme would stop the company going ahead with its plans and put the whole industry at risk.
"Our business plan and the entire industry will be stopped in its tracks even at the suggestion that the Government is going to revise the Feed-In Tariffs," he toldGreenWise in September. "It will have a devastating impact on the industry – what is required is absolute certainty."
Other investors in the market include Vigor Renewables, which launched in March to partner with landowners and commercial property owners and managers to build, own and operate solar and wind power generating assets on roof and land-based sites across the UK.
REA said it would be "seeking clarity" from the Department of Energy and Climate Change on its policy for ground-mounted solar systems..
.
Source: Green Wise Business.
No comments:
Post a Comment