UK energy minister against end of solar export tariffs

UK energy minister against end of solar export tariffs

Last week, UK energy minister Claire Perry made it clear that she disapproves of a possible end of the solar export tariffs. Industry bodies applaud her stance.

 

In July this year, the UK government were discussing the country‘s FIT scheme and the upcoming changes, among them the end of generation tariffs for solar by the end of March

  1. On this occasion, the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy BEIS) suggested also removing the export tariffs.

This would mean that homeowners who feed their self-generated energy into the grid will not receive any compensation. Almost immediately, the industry made their disapproval of this suggestion clear. Now it has transpired that energy minister Claire Perry shares the view of most industry bodies.

 

Perry to announce next steps shortly

 

During the Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Select Committee Oral Questions at the House of Commons earlier this week, Perry said that she does “completely agree that solar power should not be provided to the grid for free and that’s why I’ll shortly be announcing the next steps for small scale renewables.”

 

The UK Solar Trade Association (STA) also quoted her saying that “People who have gone through the installation process should not be essentially captive takers should someone want to buy their energy and I’m looking forward to announcing some further deliberations on this shortly.”

 

STA applauding stance

 

This statement has been received with much approval. STA chief executive Chris Hewett announced that STA are “delighted that Claire Perry has now stated clearly that future small solar generators should receive payment for their exported electricity … As ever the devil is in the detail, so we now need to see the proposals and make sure they are in place from April 2019, but this is a good day for solar installers and prospective rooftop solar owners.”

 

„The feed-in tariff has been a stand out success“

 

“It is hugely welcome that the Energy Minister has acknowledged the united calls from across industry and parliament that no-one should be expected to give away electricity for free,“ James Court, Policy and External Affairs Director at the Renewable Energy Association, said. “The feed-in tariff has been a stand out success, and has led to huge cost reductions. Cancelling the export tariff though would be a significant blow, for industry, for consumers, and for the UK if we are to meet our climate commitments.“