In what is probably the most shocking turn of events since the launch of the FiT review, Joju Solar has today announced that it has been awarded the contract to carry out a major solar installation on the House of Commons. This news comes exactly one year to the day after the introduction of the feed-in tariff, also known as All Fools' Day.
Joju Solar this morning sent me its light-hearted view of the current feed-in tariff situation, read on to brighten your day.
The system, which will be 100kWp, will be the largest PV installation on any legislative building in the world and will be considerably larger than the solar system installed by President Obama on the White House in 2010.
Announcing the decision this morning, Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne said, “This project once again demonstrates our commitment not only to meeting our national renewables targets but to giving the solar industry our fullest support in these times of extraordinary policy uncertainty.”
The announcement has been delayed by the current fast-track review, as discussions have been taking place aiming to ensure that the project will still be able to benefit from the higher FiT rates. However, since the installation can only take place during the Parliamentary recess it is unlikely that the system will be commissioned before the 1 August deadline.
A DECC spokesman said, “There’s absolutely no question of any tariff changes affecting this particular project. The FIT income from this project forms a key part of our departmental budget for the next 25 years and we absolutely can’t afford to lose it. It would be hugely damaging to morale and public confidence if we were to scrap a project of this size and importance at such a late stage in its planning.”
Explaining why Joju had been chosen for the project, the Secretary of State said, “They are a locally based company. But even more importantly, they have a ‘U’ in their name which we think accurately reflects the Government’s policy approach to solar.”
Joe Michaels, Joju Solar’s Commercial Director said, “This is obviously a great story for Joju Solar and the wider PV industry, especially coming on such an auspicious date.”
To view the kind of installation Joju is planning please click here.
All quotations used within the article have been fabricated by Joju Solar for comic purposes.