Government crack down on solar power projects branded a “joke”
Publication date: 22 March 2011
Author: Mason Media Ltd
Tagged with: David Hunt, Eco Environments
A leading renewable energy company has branded the Government’s clampdown on solar power projects “a joke” which threatened to damage job creation and economic growth.
David Hunt of Eco Environments
The Coalition has announced that incentives for solar power projects are to be slashed with subsidies for mid-sized facilities being cut by half and the very largest projects having their grant cut by nearly three-quarters.
The Government wants to cut the subsidy for installations producing 50kW to 150kW from 32.9p/kWh to 19p, while installations producing over 150kW will have their subsidy cut from 30.7p to 15.7p. Solar farms producing over 250kW would receive only 8.5p.
Ministers say the clampdown is intended to help protect the incentives available for smaller household schemes.
David Hunt, a director with Liverpool-headquartered Eco Environments, said: “The Government’s claim to be the greenest ever is in tatters. While we accept that solar farm scale projects of 1MW plus do warrant review, reducing the tariff significantly for installations of just over 50kWp is farcical.
“There is a huge gulf between 50kWp and 1 MW. This decision seriously impacts on community projects and businesses trying to reduce their energy bills and their carbon footprints. In short the decision shows the Government’s understanding of the green economy to be a joke.”
Eco Environments , which also has offices in Manchester, Tamworth, Penrith and Darlington, said the announcement could also have a serious impact on the continued growth of the renewables sector.
David added: “The renewable energy sector is one of the most exciting and fastest growing sectors in the UK economy. Around 50 per cent of our client base is commercial which means that mindless proposals such as this one could seriously impact job creation and future growth. We would encourage David Cameron and his Government to seriously reconsider the proposals they have put forward.”
The company designs, installs and commissions a comprehensive range of renewable energy and energy conservation solutions, specialising in Solar Photovoltaic (PV), wind turbines and solar thermal water heating systems and heat pumps.
Email newsletter
If you enjoyed this article sign-up to receive our bi-weekly email newsletter:
Latest news
- 2 megawatts: Conergy wins tender of Stadtwerke Trier for two solar parks (16 May 2012)
- Eco Environments targets commercial sector as turnover breaks £6 million barrier (15 May 2012)
- Zodiac, Totempower and Lloyd’s Register embark on project (14 May 2012)
- Natural Power achieves EIA success on single largest consent in England and Wales (10 May 2012)
- Offshore wind holds vast potential in South (10 May 2012)
Company directory
Bachmann electronic GmbH | Campbell Scientific | Deutsche WindGuard Offshore GmbH | Dörken MKS-Systeme GmbH & Co. KG | ENERTRAG Service GmbH | Falck Nutec | GeoSea nv | GLOBAL ENERGY SERVICES | GS Solar | James Walker & Co Ltd | MT Højgaard a/s | Natural Power | Ovako AB | PCS Power Converter Solutions GmbH | SGS Renewable Energy | Siemens Wind Power A/S | Van Oord | Winwind Ltd. |
Login Status