“I look forward to working with the industry to enable further deployment across the UK in particular on domestic rooftops and larger roof spaces – for example, on commercial and industrial buildings”, said Leadson.
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It is the latest in an ongoing attack by the UK government on the renewable energy industry, which has seen Chancellor George Osborne scrap the “out-dated” climate change levy, which was introduced in 2001 with the aim of improving energy efficiency and increase demand for renewable energy.
“We’re also anxious about the knock-on effect this could have on innovation in the battery storage market, which is led by solar”. Following the government’s consultation in December, biomass conversions and co-firing projects will no longer receive a guaranteed level of subsidy under the renewable obligation scheme. Leonie Greene, head of external relations at STA, pointed out that solar only makes up just 6% of the Renewables Obligation budget.
Headquartered in the Bronx, NY, Green Street Solar Power is a solar financing and installation company that provides solar solutions to residential, commercial and government customers across the Northeast region.
Referring to the huge 100GW by 2022 solar target the report said: “Technically this is achievable – if administrators are willing to put enough support behind it. Realistically, challenges of weak financials of distribution companies and grid constraints need to be addressed”.
The solar subsidies add around £3 to bills, she said: “It all adds up doesn’t it?”
“There is no pledge in the Conservative manifesto about cutting support for solar, so we are disappointed by this move”, the Association said.
It concludes that, under current projected retail and wholesale prices, solar PV is starting to become an attractive investment without direct subsidy incentives within the next five years or so, at all scales.
Also recommended is the establishment of a “national energy strategy” to include a comprehensive overview of the national grid and the importance of storage technologies alongside solar, and the need to investigate the potential of alternative ways to support the solar industry financially.
‘While the Government continues to subsidise fossil fuels and nuclear, it’s undermining investor confidence in clean, renewable energy generation.
The UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has announced new measures to cut subsidies of the solar and biomass power plants, to lower energy bills.
The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Amber Rudd also came under fire from Keith Taylor, Green MEP for South East England.
Rudd in her statement said the costs for renewable energy projects were down “significantly” thanks in part to government support.
Keith Taylor, Green MEP for South East England, added: “Amber Rudd’s incoherence in blindly supporting nuclear subsidies whilst cutting renewable funding is breathtaking”.
“Nuclear has an expensive history the government seems incapable of learning lessons from, while renewables offer sustainable cleaner energy with thousands of jobs”.
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Rudd said the changes were “protecting existing investment”.
