A decision on the Department for Energy and Climate Change’s (DECC) appeal against last December’s High Court ruling that cuts to Feed-In Tariffs (FITs) were illegal is expected early this morning.

DECC has made its application for an appeal, and made the case for the appeal itself, at an earlier hearing.

The hearing is the latest instalment in what has been a long running battle between industry leaders Friends of the Earth (Foe) and DECC.

According to FoE and two solar firms, Solarcentury and HomeSun, DECC’s plans as it stands has put 29,000 jobs at risk.

Less publicised elements in the new look FITs will, if DECC gets its way, from April see businesses needing to demonstrate a building has a level C or above in the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) system.

And, according to DECC, where this cannot be shown the FIT rate will be reduced from 21p/kWh to a rather less substantial 9p/kWh.

The Court of Appeal will rule whether or not to allow the Government appeal – and if it does, will give judgement on it.

During the court case plans to cut subsidies to community groups were also highlighted as ‘short sighted’.

Luke Walsh

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