Plan B in motion for solar PV

The Government took their final steps last Thursday (19^th January) in solving the Feed-In Tariff (FIT) fiasco they suddenly landed themselves into last October.

Since the shocking announcements which saw solar photovoltaic (PV) installations rocket during the six weeks leading up to the December 12^th deadline to guarantee FIT payments of 43p, before the end of the consultation period had ended; the Government’s actions had been criticised by many within and on the outside of the solar industry.

The Government was taken to court by Friends of the Earth, Solar Century and Homesun, when it was found that the Government’s actions to change the FIT rate before they ended their consultation was “legally flawed”; a decision which was then appealed by Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change, Greg Barker and the Department of Energy and Climate Change at the beginning of January.

Since DECC had launched their appeal, the solar industry was left in a state of limbo, without knowing the value of the FIT, installations could not be processed. The industry called out for some form of clarity from the Government, as well as Friends of the Earth pleading with DECC to put a Plan B motion into place to determine their next steps, whatever the outcome in the courtroom.

Plan B was finally released last Thursday, allowing the solar industry to breathe a sigh of relief. Plan B details DECC’s plans, should they lose their appeal and their plans should they win their appeal.

If DECC’s appeal is not granted, then the new cut off date for the 43p tariff will be put back until March 3^rd 2012, then it will revert back to the 21p tariff they had originally stated until April 2012. Should DECC win their appeal, then the 21p tariff will remain in place until April 2012.

Any future tariff from April 2012 is suggested to be set out in the consultation due for release by the beginning of February.

With a clearer path set out for solar investors and workers alike, it is hoped that such a situation will not happen again for any industry in the future.

The outcome for the court case is expected to be released this Wednesday (25^th January). JHS Solar Solutions will keep you updated with the news as it happens.