The British Photovoltaic Association (BPVA) belatedly released a statement last Friday evening (January 26) in response to Solarcentury quitting its association.

The statement says the on-going legal fight is creating uncertainty in the market while higher Feed-In Tariffs (FITs) are depleting the budget and neither are in the long term interests of the solar industry.

Solarcentury quit after energy minister, Chris Huhne, praised the organisation in the House of Commons.

The stance on controversial cuts to Feed-In Tariffs (FITs) was too much for London-based Solarcentry.

In a statement issued late last Friday the BPVA said the majority of its members accepted cuts to FITs and wanted ‘clarity’ in the market as ‘soon as possible.’

A statement issued by the BPVA said: “We believe that Solarcentury has made their statement not knowing the above position of the BPVA, since then we have spoken to Solarcentury and the situation has been clarified.”

Solarcentury said it was aware of the BPVA’s statement but wouldn’t be able to comment further until today (January 30).

The BPVA went on to say its position with regards to the court case has always been that the reference date of December 12 and the retrospective changes to law through secondary legislation are illegal.

The statement continued: “The majority of our members feel tariff levels should be reduced, and they wish there to be clarity and stability of FITs as soon as possible.

“The longer the higher tariff levels persist, the more rapidly the budget will be depleted.

“This would not be in the long term interests of the solar industry or the other technologies supported by the FITs.”

Luke Walsh

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