News Article
Government Stance Encourages
Scheme details still sketchy
Britain's fastest growing installer of domestic solar arrays welcomed the announcement from the Climate Change Minister that solar panels and other renewable power generation systems may be included with government schemes for householders.
“All contributions to Britain's low-carbon future are to be applauded,” said Lee Summers, director of EOS Energy, “but householders will have to wait for details of the scheme before they can assess its viability.”
The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has said that 14 million households will qualify for complete energy-saving overhaul in the next 10 years. Government already supports the installation of energy saving measures such as cavity wall and loft insulation but this scheme will include solar water heating, wood burning stoves and biomass boilers. It is hoped that the scheme will be extended to include renewable electricity generation technologies.
"We are leaving the window open for micro generation technologies. It could happen in the future," said Climate Change Minister Greg Barker.
“This is a revolution that will ricochet around the world. This is the most ambitious energy-saving programme anywhere since the second world war,” said Mr Barker.
“There is still a lot to be sorted out,” said Mr Summers. “Householders may well be reluctant to sign up for government supported solar arrays if the repayment levels are at commercial rates - that has been suggested.”
EOS Energy announced a £20-million scheme to put small solar arrays on private homes and community buildings that could otherwise not afford them.
“Our scheme includes free fitting, maintenance and insurance of the rooftop PV system, with the building occupants receiving all the electricity generated by the system free of charge for the duration of the 25 year period of operation. The occupants also receive a ‘roof rental' payment if the yield is suitable,” said Mr Summers.
The ‘free' scheme is funded by the Government's Feed in Tariff (FiT). Those who purchase their own PV system would normally receive the FiT (44p per kilowatt) themselves, but by taking advantage of the free scheme the building occupants forfeit the FiT to the funder, although they will receive the electricity generated for free.
Mr Summers stressed that EOS Energy would not be receiving the Feed in Tariff itself - this would be harvested by the funder of the scheme.
“We are merely trying to help people that can't afford a PV system to protect themselves from the anticipated increases in electricity prices, and, of course, to encourage the use of renewable energy,” he said.
“We are delighted to be able to offer this exceptional deal, which is not only generating clean energy and saving people a great deal of money, but also means we are expanding our workforce, providing at least 50 more jobs, in order to cope with demand,” said Mr Summers.
The EOS scheme could offset 3600 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year, which is equivalent to burning 347,208 gallons of petrol!
