Minimum EPC rating now required for Home Solar Panels

1 April 2012

As of today, homeowners wishing to install Solar Panels must ensure that their property has an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of at least ‘D’ to get the current Feed-in Tariff (FIT) rate of 21p.

Properties that fall short of the minimum EPC requirement will be eligible for the lower FIT rate of 9p, for each unit of electricity generated, unless they can be upgraded to achieve an EPC rating of at least ‘D’.
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YouGen’s ten-point Solar checklist

9 March 2012

YouGen, the independent renewable energy website, has drawn up a helpful consumer checklist for UK homeowners considering investing in renewable energy, including Home Solar Panels.

The checklist has been presented as part of YouGen’s campaign to crack down on dishonest Solar Panel Installers, who are looking to take advantage of potential customer uncertainty over the Feed-in Tariff.
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Get Solar Panels and beat unpredictable energy price rises

19 January 2012

On Tuesday, Scottish Power became the last of the ‘big six’ energy providers – following British Gas, EDF, E.ON, Npower, and Scottish & Southern Electric (SSE) – to announce cuts to their gas or electricity prices by around 5% in early 2012.

Scottish Power has joined EDF and Npower in cutting their gas price by 5%, while SSE has reduced the cost of gas by 4.5%. E.ON and British Gas have cut the cost of their electricity by 6% and 5% respectively. None of the ‘big six’ have cut prices for both gas and electricity.

The gas and electricity price reductions will help to lower energy bills in the short term, but costs are likely to rise according to E.ON UK Chief Executive, Dr. Tony Cocker: Read More

DECC add £197 million to Feed-in Tariff budget

11 January 2012

Yesterday brought the welcome news that the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) have added £197 million to the Solar PV Feed-in Tariff (FIT) budget for small-scale green energy incentives.

The move is designed to stop the FIT scheme from going over budget. It has been achieved by DECC re-allocating funds set aside for the Renewables Obligation incentive scheme, Although DECC stated that this was ‘purely a technical adjustment’ and that more subsidy had not been made available for the FIT scheme.

For the Solar Industry, it brings some positive respite in the wake of ongoing legal challenges and widespread uncertainty regarding the Government’s future intentions for the FIT scheme. Read More

Insulate to meet new Energy Efficiency requirements for Home Solar Panels

20th December 2011

On 31st October, the Government launched a consultation to reduce the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) rate for Home Solar Panels and to implement minimum Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings for Solar Panel installations.

The new FIT rate pays 21p for each unit of electricity, or kWh, generated for Home Solar Panels up to 4kWp in size. It has been implemented to reduce the high FIT margins and to make the Solar PV industry more sustainable.

This proposed FIT cut represents a 50% reduction and was scheduled to take effect for all Solar PV installations from the 12th December, 11 days before the consultation end date of the 23rd December. Read More

Comparing Solar Panels ROI with Alternative Investments

12 December 2011

The new Feed-in Tariff (FIT) rates for Solar Panels begin today – Monday 12th December – but how does the return on initial outlay compare with other top investment opportunities?

The Government Solar Panels scheme pays 21p for each unit of Photovoltaic (PV) energy generated for systems up to 4kWp, whether it is used or not, as well as an additional 3.1p for each unit of electricity that is unused and exported back to the national grid.

The green energy that the Government Solar Panels generate can also be used for free at the source, leading to substantial reductions on energy bills. Read More