Renewables Installer Wight Energy Welcomes Solar Decision

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Created on Friday, 27 January 2012 15:42

The Isle of Wight's renewables installer Wight Energy is welcoming a decision by the Court Of Appeal to uphold a ruling that blocks a government move to halve payments made to households with solar panels.

The government insists the scheme is unsustainable and says it is planning to seek leave to take the case to the UK's Supreme Court. 

Wight Energy has been installing solar panels for Islanders keen to cash in on the 43p per kilowatt-hour feed-in tariff which was due to be replaced on 1 April 2012. However in October the government announced it would bring forward the deadline to 12 December. A consultation on the proposal closed 11 days after the new deadline, prompting claims that the government was acting unlawfully.  

Cowes based Wight Energy feared that ending the higher rate feed-in tariff could lead to lost jobs in the solar industry. 

Wight Energy MD Ben Lansley-Brown says, “The problem with the fluctuation in the feed-in tariff is that it leaves uncertainty in the market place. For a solar panel installer like Wight Energy, it makes it hard to market consistently. Within the industry it is clear to see that even at 21p per kilowatt-hour, the return on an investment is better than any other but it’s getting that message across to the local community.”

Following this week's decision, householders who had solar panels installed after 12 December may still have access to the higher feed-in tariff, instead of the new 21p per kilowatt-hour rate, until a new deadline of 3 March. But the government may win its case at the Supreme Court and impose the lower feed-in tariff earlier after all.

Wight Energy MD Ben Lansley-Brown says, "It is great news that the government has lost its appeal and that at the current time the rates between 12 December & 3 March look likely to return to 43p per kilowatt-hour.  We need to make as many Islanders aware of the situation as soon as possible.