Green Building Forum - Update - Feed In Tariffs (story in GBM Spring 2010)

Update - Feed In Tariffs (story in GBM Spring 2010)

gavindjharper — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 12:07:52 +0000

Further to my article in the last issue of green building magazine; I have since discovered that the "export" tariff has been reduced from 5p/kWh as mentioned in the article to 3p/kWh.

When I heard, I had a "FiT"...

"A DECC spokesman defended the decision, telling BusinessGreen.com that the cuts in the export bonus were justified as they would be more than offset by the introduction of the feed-in tariffs. He added that businesses were still free to negotiate higher rates for the renewable energy they sell to the grid."
http://www.businessgreen.com/business-green/news/2257085/feed-tariffs-unveiled-mixed

Update - Feed In Tariffs (story in GBM Spring 2010)

GBP-Keith — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 13:26:57 +0000

Thanks for updating us Gavin

Regards, keith

Update - Feed In Tariffs (story in GBM Spring 2010)

YouGen-Cathy — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:00:56 +0000

While the export rate went down to 3p from the proposed 5p, the generation rate went up from the rates that were consulted on. So instead of the 36p proposed, PV installations of less than 4KWp will get 41.3p for every kWh generated; for 4-10kWp installations the rate is now 36.1p (compared with 31p in the consultation document).
For wind the rates are now: <1.5kW 36.1p (was 30.5p); 1.5 - 15kW 26.7p (was 23p).

Update - Feed In Tariffs (story in GBM Spring 2010)

Dominic Cooney — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 19:56:54 +0000

Probably means even less for existing installations (early adopters that is, those of us that broke the planners and sustained the fledgling industries).

Update - Feed In Tariffs (story in GBM Spring 2010)

arnyj — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 11:32:46 +0000

I have just read the article, most interesting it was I am even more pleased I do not have the money to be able to afford PV.

at the end of article is para. about a charge Â£5 plus Vat or registering for subscribers to mag..
to post on the forum.

So i thought I would try to post.

I've not had to do anything different

arny

Update - Feed In Tariffs (story in GBM Spring 2010)

brig001 — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 22:51:00 +0100

Interesting program on FITs on radio 4 this week: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00rdxm5#synopsis
Available as a podcast too.

Update - Feed In Tariffs (story in GBM Spring 2010)

Jeff B — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 23:09:25 +0100

Just read this article on the Internet:

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-03-29/spain-negotiating-with-solar-power-producers-for-cut-in-tariffs.html

Admittedly the FIT was excessive in this case but maybe just a hint of what might be to come in the UK!

Update - Feed In Tariffs (story in GBM Spring 2010)

wookey — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 00:25:07 +0100

Gavin - good article, but I did think you were a bit misleading on the export tarif: "the tariff has been cleverly structured to promote energy efficiency, by offering an additional bonus for energy that is exported to the grid."

Thing is that you effectively get paid 12-14p for using a unit (that's what you save by not buying it from the grid), and 3p for exporting a unit. i.e much more for using than exporting. That doesn't look like much of an incentive to save energy to me. Such an incentive would require you to get paid more for exporting than you'd get for local usage. The more energy you export, the lower your overall monetary benefit. Your benefit is always somewhere between 41.3+3p (All expoerted) and 41.3+13p (all locally used).

Personally I'd have prefered a lower generation rate and a higher export rate, but that's not what we've got.

Update - Feed In Tariffs (story in GBM Spring 2010)

Dominic Cooney — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 21:34:34 +0100

It seems to be more about promoting renewable energy installers/manufacturers than generating renewable energy for the grid.

Update - Feed In Tariffs (story in GBM Spring 2010)

delboy — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 23:09:19 +0100

Went to a seminar today and one bloke was saying that Germany are pulling out of their version of the FiT.

Does anyone know:

1. Is this true? If so, why?
2. What are they replacing it with?

Update - Feed In Tariffs (story in GBM Spring 2010)

MartinH — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 23:28:55 +0100

I agree entirely with Wookey that the 3p is a paltry incentive to export. We have reduced our power consumption such that we export a significant amount of power from our wind turbine - which, as I see it, is the way it should be. Our excess power benefits the fight against global warming and helps in a tiny way to reduce fuel imports (and our balance of trade is appalling). With the reduction in export payments - I now have to think about using all the power myself - and I don't (currently) need it. However, it could heat the thermal store or go into a battery bank - perhaps to charge an electric car..... Coolpower in Ireland now produce a gadget for grid linked systems which can send surplus power to useful additional loads instead of exporting it, so may need to invest in one of those.