Alumet lead the way in urging consumers not to shun solar panel installations despite announcements that feed-in-tariffs are to be reduced.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change yesterday declared feed-in-tariffs (FiTs) are to be lowered from 43.3p/kWh to 21p p/kWh in a bid to control boom and bust in the solar power industry.
Gary Summers, CEO of the renewable energy solutions manufacturer and service provider Alumet Group (incorporating EOS Energy), commented: “It’s no big surprise that the tariffs have been reduced, we had been preparing for the new rates to be in place from next April, however we now have just six weeks to put our plans in place instead of six months.
My Summers went on to defend government however, saying, “I believe that the Government has acted correctly in cutting the tariff to a sustainable level, its’ just the timescale that has taken the industry by surprise”
Alumet, the current Midlands Entrepreneur of the Year and a shortlisted winner at The Manufacturer of the Year Awards 2011, is guaranteeing that any orders placed by November 11 will be installed before the new cutoff date.
The new proposed tariffs apply to all new solar PV installations with an eligibility date on or after December 12. Such installations would receive the current tariff before moving to the lower tariffs on April 1 2012.
Despite the new rates, Mr Summers strongly believes it is still a good time to invest in solar PV, he said: “With ever increasing fuel prices it still makes perfect sense to invest in solar PV, through our Community Green scheme EOS Energy will pay 10p per watt purchased back into community schemes”
EOS Energy, one of the fastest growing renewable companies in the UK and recent winner of Commercial Installer and Project of the Year awards, have insisted that consumers should not lose sight of the bigger agenda. The firm says solar power is not just about Feed in Tariff revenue, but fuel poverty and carbon reduction also. EOS is seeking to remind consumers that the average payback period of ten years on a solar VP installation is relatively short term and is likely to decrease as energy prices continues to rise.
