UK Gears Up For Feed In Tariff

 

The UK's Clean Energy Cashback, what the UK Government is calling the nation's feed in tariff, was announced back in 2008, but won't officially kick off until April this year.
   
The program will pay homes, businesses and communities for all the electricity generated by small scale renewable energy systems up to 5 megawatts. While the scheme will pay the equivalent of AUD 65c per kilowatt hour (current exchange rates) for electricity produced by grid connect solar power systems and system caps are far more generous than those in Australia's various feed in tariff programs,  Friends of the Earth, the Renewable Energy Association and the Cooperative Group say that the scheme lacks ambition. 
   
The coalition says that higher payments and other incentives are needed to ensure that more people install small scale green energy systems and help the UK slash greenhouse gas emissions, create new green jobs and reduce the nation's dependence on fossil fuels.
    
A survey of more than 2,000 people conducted last week for the three groups strongly supports the call for a more ambitious feed-in tariff. 
  
70% of those surveyed said that they would be prepared to pay an extra 10 pence on their electricity bills each month, in addition to the already proposed annual increase of £1.17 until 2013 when the scheme is due to be reviewed, to enable the Government to introduce a more ambitious scheme from the outset. Friends Of The Earth say the additional money could put the UK on track to deliver three times more green electricity in 2020 than currently planned.
   
71% per cent of home owners surveyed  said that they would consider fitting renewable energy systems if feed-in tariffs were generous enough.
   
Final details of the Clean Energy Cashback will be announced in the next few days.

Suntech Announces U.S. Solar Panel Plant Location

 

Suntech Power Holdings Co., Ltd. today announced the company's first U.S. manufacturing plant will be located in the City of Goodyear, Arizona. The move makes Suntech the first clean-tech company to bring manufacturing employment to the United States.
  
The solar panel factory will employ over 70 local residents initially and will feature the company's latest-generation solar electricity manufacturing technologies and equipment. Its location will also allow for more efficient collaboration with Arizona State University. 
  
The plant will commence operations with a production capacity of 30 MW, but the company says it has the potential to expand to over 120 MW. Suntech says having a facility in the USA will accelerate innovation, allowing it to more rapidly deploy new products designed to meet the burgeoning U.S. solar market and will also reduce costs and greenhouse gas emissions associated with shipping its solar panels from overseas.
  
Suntech selected Goodyear from many possible locations based on the State of Arizona's renewable energy friendly standards and solar policies for both utility-scale solar farms and rooftop solar power systems, the Greater Phoenix Area's supportive business climate and the availability of local facilities ready for manufacturing to the scale Suntech requires.
  
The factory won't just create Suntech solar panels, but utilise them to help provide power to its own facilities. Plans include the construction of solar parking structures on the site that will also provide shaded parking for company employees.
  

News for Wednesday 27 January, 2010

 

• Greens Tout Renewable Energy Certificate Value Fix
  

View all news for Wednesday 27 January, 2010 on one page

Recent News

 

• Tuesday 26 January, 2010
  


• Monday 25 January, 2010
  


• Friday 22 January, 2010
  


• Thursday 21 January, 2010
  


• Wednesday 20 January, 2010
  

News archive