The UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) last week published its decision on the FIT Review consultation. The Government has decided to proceed with its decision to slash the FIT rates for installations with a declared net capacity of greater than 50kW. There has been some better news for small-scale Anaerobic Digestion (AD), with an increase in FIT rates. The full decision document can be found here: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/fit_review/fit_review.aspx.
Read Industry Impact Summary Here
ecoConnect has joined a diverse group supporters of solar from major NGOs, industry, farming, the construction sector, social housing, community groups and trade unions who last week submitted an open letter to the Prime Minister urging him to intervene in the Treasury funding cap that threatens to derail the UK’s solar power prospects. READ MORE HERE – ecoConnect Supports Solar Industry June 2011
A busy week of news and events. The ESTA aM&T conference gives the lowdown on smart meters, renewable energy policies that are damaging UK plc and retail giants get green and waste savvy. Its all here……
Renewable energy policies are economically damaging study suggests UK industry being damaged
It’s the Real Thing Coca-Cola gets waste savvy
CRC will not cut emissions Carbon Retirement says CRC has to work with EU-ETS
B&Q gets a greener workforce green apprenticeships a great step forward
Get energy smart with Smart Meters Team’s Paul Martin gives the fundamentals on aM&T
And if you would like more detail from ESTA’s aM&T conference, all the presentations can be found on its site.
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.