Solar industry considering legal action over FITs

Solar industry leaders gave an impassioned defence of the sector following news of massive cuts in subsidies at edie's Sustainable Leaders Forum.


Speaking yesterday (November 3) Solar Trade Association chairman, Howard Johns, denied the sector had been over subsidised and said he was losing business as he’d been forced to scrap contracts he had in place due to the changes.

Mr Johns says members of the solar industry will also lobby MPs on November 22 at the House of Parliament over this week’s announcement of a consultation into cutting the rates of Feed-In Tariffs (FITs).

Cuts to the industry were announced on Monday and an angry Mr Johns called the cuts ‘illegal and exceptionally damaging’.

The cuts mean have a potential FITs scheme needs to be installed before the December 12 to qualify for a subsidy rate of 43.3p for the next 25 years.

If the system is registered for the FIT between December 12 and before April 1 next year you will get the rate of 43.3p until April when you will move to the lower FITs rate of 21p.

Mr Johns said: “We’re considering legal action but the example of the Building Schools for the Future, indicates we are unlikely to win.

“But, the fact the changes to the rates comes in on December 12 and the consultation doesn’t close until after that gives us ground for legal challenge.”

The event also heard from co-founder of residential solar firm Engensa, Toby Ferenczi, and Elementus head of service development, Greg Davies.

For more information go to oursolarfuture.com.

Luke Walsh

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