The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) is the latest of a growing number of organisations to express concerns over the proposals to cut solar feed-in tariffs (FiTs) in half.
CAT experts believe that the speed and unpredictability of the cuts send out a damaging message for the green economy.
Information Officer Tobi Kellner said: “There is a history of schemes running out of funds (the Low Carbon Buildings Programme), being delayed for years (the Renewable Heat Incentive) or being very suddenly and dramatically cut (FiTs). This damages the growth of any green industry in the UK. Commitment to new sustainable technologies means significant investments, especially for small or medium- sized companies. Businesses can't afford to have the rug pulled out from under them.”
The current scheme allows any household to install and benefit from solar PV; however under the new proposals, as well as reducing the FiT rates by more than 50 percent and brining the deadline forward to December, all new UK solar installations will only be considered on housing with an energy efficiency rating of C or above – a measure that is estimated to exclude up to two thirds of Britain’s housing stock.
“Linking FiTs to energy efficiency is a good idea but the government must also back that up by making energy efficiency measures financially viable for the majority of UK households,” says Tobi Kellner.
