The number of feed-in tariff accredited solar installations topped 750,000 for the first time last month, Department of Energy and Climate Change figures have revealed.
And installation figures for September soared 27% year-on-year to more than 18,000 as people rushed to have solar fitted before its most recent degression on 1 October and prior to controversial proposals to cut the FiT by up to 87%, providing yet more evidence of a ‘boom and bust’ culture towards renewables deployment.
DECC’s FiT deployment figures showed there were 18,346 installations throughout September, 84% of which were 4kW in size or below, the standard size of a residential rooftop system.
Proposals to cut the feed-in tariff significantly were first published on 27 August, leading to many at the time to predict a significant rush from consumers to have solar installed while it is still more profitable.
Former energy secretary Greg Barker spoke of DECC needing to avoid a boom and bust cycle of renewables deployment when in office, but the department’s steep degressions – and current policy proposals – have been accused of achieving exactly that.
DECC’s most recent figures also continue to show strong deployment of solar PV in the south west and north east, with comparatively weak deployment in London – backing up criticism from the Greater London Authority published earlier today.