The next phase for Solar PV ‘Feed in Tariff’ rates is between 1st April and 30th June and properties will require an Energy Performance Certificate of level ‘D’ or above to qualify for the higher tier of tariff rate for the given installation size.

Anyone looking to install PV on their property during this period must ensure the building has an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) with a rating of level ‘D’ or above. Although most modern properties should achieve this, some may require additional works such as loft or cavity-wall insulation. Any Solar PV system will count towards the EPC rating of your home and here at EZsolar we can help to advise any additional requirements you might need to help achieve this as part of our free site survey.

An Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) provides information on how to make your property or home more energy efficient, and therefore reduce its output of Carbon emissions. Every dwelling bought, rented or sold requires an EPC.

Energy Performance Certificates carry ratings that compare the current energy efficiency and carbon emissions with potential figures that your home could achieve. Potential figures are calculated by estimating what the energy efficiency and carbon emissions would be if energy saving measures were to be installed. These ratings are calculated following a detailed analysis of the property with data collected using the same calculations enabling comparisons between different properties.

The rating measures the energy and carbon emission efficiency of your home using a grade from ‘A’ to ‘G’; with an ‘A’ rating being the most efficient.

Current figures suggest the average efficiency of homes in the UK is level ‘D’.

After the Supreme Court today rejected the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) appeal over premature cuts to the feed-in tariff scheme for solar photovoltaics the UK solar industry has breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Today a panel of Supreme Justices refused Government leave to appeal an earlier High Court ruling that the cuts were unlawful. This means that all systems installed between December 12th 2011 and March 3rd 2012 will receive the higher feed-in tariff rates for 25 years.

The decision made this morning is final, and the Department will not be taking the appeal any further. In fact just last week at the Solar Power UK Roadshow in Suffolk, Alasdair Grainger from DECC’s feed-in tariff team confirmed that they would not take the case to the European court if the case was lost.

“The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom has refused permission to the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change to appeal the Court of Appeal decision in this matter,” read an official statement.

“The Court of Appeal upheld the Administrative Court’s judgment that it is not within the power conferred on the Secretary of State by the Energy Act 2008 to reduce the tariff paid for electricity generated by small-scale solar photovoltaic generators, in respect of installations becoming eligible for payment prior to the coming into force of the modification.”

“Permission to appeal was refused because the application does not raise an arguable point of law of general public importance which ought to be considered by the Supreme Court at this time, bearing in mind that the case has already been the subject of judicial decision and reviewed on appeal and because paragraph 16 of the Court of Appeal’s judgment disposes of the proposed argument based on the subject of the challenge being only a proposal,” read the ruling.

Reacting to the news, a spokesperson for DECC, commented: “We are disappointed by the decision of the Supreme Court not to grant permission to hear this case.”

The decision marks the end of months of court wrangling between the Department, Friends of the Earth and two solar companies. As a result of the ruling, the Supreme Court ordered DECC to pay the costs of the other parties.

Ofgem has published a new table on its website outlining the feed-in tariff rates as of April 1 this year. Owing to an annual boost from the Retail Price Index, some microgenerator’s FiT income will increase to 45.4p per kWh from that date.

This RPI linked increase takes place every year, and means that all those who have installed solar panels before 3rd March 2012 will see their feed in tariff payments increase by 4.8%. This means that those who are currently receiving the 43.3p rate will receive 45.4p per kWh from the 1st April 2012.

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has published its response to the controversial ‘Phase 1 consultation on Solar Photovoltaic Feed-in Tariffs’.

DECC has announced that photovoltaic systems installed on or after April 1^st 2012 will be required to produce an Energy Performance Certificate rating of D or above to qualify for the full FiT level. DECC lowered the proposed level from C to D as a result of industry concerns raised from almost 3,000 responses to the consultation. DECC viewed the previous proposals for an EPC rating of C or linking it to all financeable measures under the Green Deal, as ‘impractical at this stage’.  DECC estimates that about half of all properties are already eligible for a ‘D’ rating.

Multi-installation tariffs will remain at 80% of the standard tariff, to reflect the lower costs that such installations benefit from. As a response to feedback, DECC has changed the threshold for the lower tariff from more than one, to more than 25 installations operated by an individual or organisation. However, DECC is consulting on a proposal that would allow social housing, community projects and distributed energy schemes to be exempt from the reduced multi-installation tariff rates.

Following the publication of a report analysing the falling costs of solar PV, DECC has proposed a much-touted cost control mechanism. DECC will remove the need for emergency reviews by ‘pegging the subsidy levels to cost reductions and industry growth to provide more certainty for future investments. This will ensure that subsidy levels keep in step with the market’. DECC will use budget flexibility to cover the overspend following the December surge in installations, while still allowing £460 million for new installations over the Spending Review period. DECC believes that this won’t have any impact on consumer bills beyond the agreed overall cap on renewable subsidies as it will primarily be funded from an underspend on the budget allocated for large-scale renewables.

DECC’s proposed mechanism for changing tariffs after July will include an automatic baseline transgression of 10% every 6 months, which can be triggered early if deployment exceeds pre-determined levels. The system will be reviewed annually to ensure that it is performing well against its objectives.
DECC is also proposing that solar FiT tariff levels should reduce from July 1^st, 2012. The rates for July will be 13.6p or 16.5p depending on the volume of deployment of PV in March and April 2012. FiT rates will be further reduced in October by 5%, and every six months thereafter. The Department is also consulting on whether the export tariff can be raised and whether or not the lifetime of the FiT scheme should be reduced from 25 years to 20.

After deliberating since January 13^th, the Court of Appeal has today denied the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) a hearing for its appeal against the High Court’s December ruling on UK solar feed-in tariffs. This, in theory, means the feed-in tariff will now go back to 43.3p for sub-4kW systems installed until March 3^rd 2012.

The three Lords Justices of Appeal announced their reserved judgment this morning following a hearing on January 13.

The court judgement means all those who have installed solar since December 12^th, and those who intend to install systems before the March 3^rd cut-off point, will receive the higher feed-in tariff rates for the full 25 years. Customers who register on or after March 3^rd will qualify for the current higher rate until April 1^st, when the rates will drop to the lower rates, as set out in the October 31^st announcement.

Commenting on the decision, Daniel Green, CEO of HomeSun, said: “Four judges, including three in the Court of Appeal, have now called the Government’s actions illegal. That’s a four-nil victory and a decisive ruling that Government may not make retrospective changes to the FiT because, as Lord Justice Moses concludes, to do so “would be to take away an existing entitlement without statutory authority.”

“Both this appeal and the Judicial Review in The High Court would not have been required had DECC simply followed its own process and allowed the industry, that it claims to support, time to prepare for a lower feed-in tariff,” continued Green.

Tweeting post judgement, Greg Barker, Minister of State for Energy and Climate Change, said, “Win, lose or draw today, important we move forward together, drive down costs and step up deployment.”

Clare King, a renewable energy lawyer at Osborne Clarke, said: “This decision will be a surprise to many observers. We, like many others, will be studying the judgment closely so as to fully understand the implications for the UK solar industry.”

It is currently unclear whether Government will appeal to the Supreme Court.

Further comment and analysis of the decision will be posted on Solar Power Portal later today.

The Court of Appeal decision on whether to allow the Government’s legal bid to overturn a ruling that it’s cuts to the Feed-in Tariff was unlawful is to be announced on Wednesday, January 25^th.

The ruling of the three appeal court judges will be delivered a week after the Department of Energy and Climate Change confirmed a contingency date of March 3^rd for the retrospective introduction of the revised 21p tariff rate should its appeal fail.

A spokesman for Friends of the Earth told ClickGreen today: “Our solicitors were informed late on Friday evening that a decision would be delivered next Wednesday, we have been told no further hearing will be held.”

Energy Minister Greg Barker earlier this week said the new March 3^rd contingency date was brought in should the Government fail in its appeal bid in an attempt to provide clarity and certainty for the solar industry.

In a statement, he said: “I know this is a difficult time for the sector and I want to do as much as I can to end the current uncertainty created by his department’s legal appeal.”

“We must reduce the level of FiTs for Solar panels as quickly as possible, to protect consumer bills and to avoid bust in the whole Feed-in Tariff budget. We’re appealing against the court ruling that’s challenged our proposal for a December reference date.”

“This remains our aim, and we are waiting for the judgment of the Court of Appeal. But this is too important for us to sit and do nothing while we wait. Today we’re putting in place a contingency that will bring a 21p rate into effect from April for installations from 3^rd March.”

“However, we are still pressing ahead with our appeal and if successful, we retain the option of introducing a December reference date. In the circumstances we believe this gives the industry as much certainty as is possible. And it puts us in a better position to protect the budget for everyone involved.”

Earlier today, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) put to parliament its proposals for the future of the UK Solar Feed in Tariff (FiT).

Early indications are that the 21 pence per unit for sub 4Kw systems will be locked in from the 3rd March if DECC loses the current court case, and from 12th December if it wins.

Following Friends of the Earth’s calls to publish a ‘Plan B’, Government has outlined its intentions for the FiT if it loses its appeal against the High Court’s ruling that its December 12 solar installation deadline was “unlawful”.

Today’s announcement is expected to place some much-needed certainty back into the industry.

The document, which is expected to be publically revealed this afternoon, is said to outline DECC’s plan to confirm the 21p rate for 4kW systems from December 12 to March 31 if the case is won – sticking to its proposals outlined in Phase 1 of the consultation process. If the case is lost however, DECC states its intention to initiate 21p from March 3 – which is exactly 40 days from today – until March 31.

Rates post April 1 are currently unclear, yet the annual degression rates for the next four years – until the end of the current spending envelope, will be outlined in Phase 2 of the feed-in tariff consultation, which is expected to be published by January 31.

However, if DECC does decide to cut the tariffs again after April 1 it will have to go through another parliamentary procedure, meaning any further reductions can not take place until the summer.

EZsolar are now proud to announce a flexible payment finance option in association with Ideal4Finance.

For a free quotation simply complete the form on the EZsolar Finance page.

Here at EZsolar we are always looking at new renewable technologies to help our customers achieve the best possible savings using our bespoke solutions. The latest addition to our repertoire are Hybrid PVT Solar Collectors.

The PVT Solar collector is a hybrid technology that combines Monocrystalline Photovoltaics with a high efficiency Solar Thermal collector. This, in essence, provides a “total Solar energy system” for both electrical and thermal energy generation. Aside from the obvious area and installation savings made by utilising this system, a higher efficiency is achieved at a much lower cost when compared to separate PV and Thermal systems due to the cooling effect applied to the PV module.

For more information please visit www.newformenergy.com

If DECC loses this appeal then this once more opens up a short window whereby customers can continue to reach the high feed in tariff rates, and will start another gold rush to complete installations before the next deadline.  Whilst this does open up new short term opportunities the longer term level of feed in tariff is likely to be even lower. If DECC lose the case they may appeal to the supreme court as the implications of the principle of consultation periods is far wider reaching than just the PV situation and could set a precedent. Fortunately, at EZSolar we are constantly striving to bring excellent value to our customers without compromising on our very high quality standards to provide long term economic and environmentally attractive solutions.