It was a completely packed-in crowd. Over 140 turned up to the Gherkin at law firm Hunton & Williams to listen to legal experts from UK, France, Italy, Germany & Spain (and in that order). Some quick perspectives below (though being on the panel myself with one eye on the watch) I certainly didn’t catch everything, we seemed to focus on solar quite a bit,
Any of you who were there and reading this, please feel free to add your comments:
Here’s the powerpoints used: Green in the City- EU Perspectives – Financing Renewable Energy Projects
UK: Comparing EU mandates vs performance for renewables, UK near bottom of the renewables league tables (just like Eurovision, it was commented) so we have to do this, but great FIT uncertainty, particularly in Solar hindering investment.
France: FIT’s under review, so increasing uncertainty, but an investment window of opportunity on solar (seems very much like the UK at present)
Germany: FIT friendly, Subsidy, grant and loan friendly. An application/planning process to die for, very proactive. Lot’s of wind turbines, but not so much wind! Maybe over-egged it on incentives so some yellow flags going up.
Italy: PV is booming, incentives are high, but due diligence is critical and planning approvals rule. Beware of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA’s)
Spain: economy a challenge (mess?), but projects still getting done, PV under scrutiny for EXISTING not future projects, so perhaps windows of opportunity there.
Next session is on The Future of the UK Waste Industry on 31 March
ecoConnect believes that the concept of building a green industrial economy is not an option; it is a government and business imperative for ensuring prosperity and the UK’s economic and environmental survival.