January 25th, 2012
Following the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) unsuccessful appeal against the High Court’s ruling on UK Feed in Tariffs, solar advocates predict that the Government is likely to pursue every legal avenue available to avoid another solar feeding frenzy.
Court officials announced on Wednesday 24th Jan that DECC were denied their hearing after previously ruling that their handling of the Feed in Tariff consultation was unlawful.
This recent development indicates that any customers who have solar PV systems (of 4kW or below) installed between 12th Dec 2011 – 3rd March 2012, will have access to the original Feed in Tariff subsidy at 43.3p per Kilowatt for the full 25 year period.
However, this declaration still brings a degree of uncertainty. If the Government chooses to appeal to the Supreme Court, clarification on the process will yet again be delayed resulting in tentative consumers.
Although solar campaigners seem to have won their battle against the Government in the first instance, solar customers and installers are still waiting for any concrete evidence of Feed in Tariff stability. Cynic’s predict that the Government will try everything they can to delay the process into late February to prevent another solar installation rush.
There is still no information on what rate the Feed in Tariff will reside at for customers who get systems installed after April 2012. There is a possibility that the rate could drop again following the end result of this legal battle.
Tags: Feed in Tariff, Feed In Tariff Reduction, Feed In Tariff Reveiw, Renewable Energy, Solar Panels, Solar PV
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January 16th, 2012
Landlords across Leeds should act now and apply for free insulation on the Wrap Up Leeds scheme.
Run by energy experts Yorkshire Energy Services on behalf of Leeds City Council, Wrap Up Leeds is offering free cavity wall insulation and loft insulation to Leeds homeowners and those living in privately rented accommodation.
The offer is open until September 2012 for 15,000 homes, subject to survey. The scheme works on a first-come, first-served basis and hundreds of residents eager to save money and energy have already contacted the helpline to arrange their free survey. Tenants can apply to Wrap Up Leeds directly, but landlords will be contacted by the Wrap Up Team to seek their permission.
Despite big energy companies recently announcing price cuts, paying for energy is still a key consideration for many tenants. Wrap Up Leeds could be the lifeline many householders are searching for. Landlords can help their tenants reduce their fuel bills and cut their carbon emissions while improving the energy efficiency ratings of their properties.
If you’re a landlord in the Leeds City Council area, don’t miss the opportunity to wrap up for free. Please call, or encourage your tenants to call 0800 052 0071 or visit www.wrapupleeds.co.uk
Tags: Cavity Wall Insulation, Energy Saving, free home insulation, Loft Insulation, save energy Leeds, Wrap Up Leeds
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January 11th, 2012
Solar PV campaigners will find out on Friday 13th Jan whether the rates of the renewable energy cash back incentive ‘the feed in tariff’ (FIT) will be changed after the high court announced that the Government’s handling of the case was unlawful.
The proposed changes in the FIT have startled the industry, especially as the planned reduction was set in place two weeks prior to the completion of a consultation on the matter. A number of solar installers including environmentalists ‘Friends of the Earth’ complained to the Government and requested a fair and comprehensive review of the programme.
The solar industry has seen tremendous growth following the launch of the FITs scheme and thousands of householders have invested in renewable energy, signing up for 25 years of tax free income. The Government reported that if demand continues at the current rate, the FIT scheme will be unsustainable and the funding will run out sooner than anticipated.
Solar campaigners are worried that any changes in Government subsidy will have an adverse affect on solar jobs and could bankrupt a number of start up businesses. Many organisation offering free solar panel installations rely on the FITs as their primary source of income.
Solar companies from up and down the UK are now waiting with baited breath to see if Friday the 13th lives up to its fateful reputation.
Tags: Feed In Tariff Reduction, Feed In Tariff Reveiw, FIT Reveiw, Solar Cash Back, Solar Panels, Solar PV
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January 3rd, 2012
Homeowners and private renters in Leeds can wrap up their homes for free and save up to £300 a year on their fuel bills. ‘Wrap up Leeds’ offers free cavity wall and loft insulation to homeowners and private renters in the Leeds City Council area.
Leeds City Council and Yorkshire Energy Services are working together on the scheme, which aims to reduce fuel poverty and the ill-health it can cause while also reducing the amount of harmful carbon dioxide produced in the city. Insulation is quick and easy to install, makes your home more comfortable and can save up to £300 in an average three bedroom semi-detached property.
Wrap up Leeds goes live today (3rd January 2012) and is available for 15,000 Leeds residents on a first-come, first-served basis until September 2012. The scheme is available across the city, and the Wrap Up Leeds team will be knocking on doors in some areas of the city where the available information on fuel poverty and the types of houses suggests that free insulation will have the highest impact.
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Tags: Cavity Wall Insulation, free home insulation, free home insulation Leeds, Loft Insulation, save energy Leeds
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December 15th, 2011
The Yorkshire and Humber Microgeneration Partnership have published their latest Newsletter. Find out what’s new in the world of renewable energy here:
http://www.yhmp.org/data/page/fck/newsletter/MANY%20issue%2020.pdf
Inside this issue:
- DECC consultation to halve the Feed in Tariff for solar PV, and how it is affecting the region
- The future of free Solar PV projects
- Dragons’ Deborah and Theo commit to solar industry
- Details on the University of Sheffield’s Solar Farm project
- Hull’s largest solar installation
- Green Deal Consultation
- The Launch of a clean energy plant using anaerobic digestion
- Solar installation Training
- Solar at night
- Red hot panels
- …and much more.
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December 13th, 2011
Yorkshire Energy Services are proud to support the Governments forth coming Green Deal initiative and have started informing householders and businesses across the Yorkshire region about the intricacies of the scheme.
Set to launch in October 2012, Green Deal could dramatically change the way the sustainable energy industry operates and help thousands of people save energy economically.
The programme offers householders and small businesses the opportunity to install energy saving products, such as cavity wall insulation and condensing boilers, with no upfront installation costs. Green Deal applicants will pay for their installations over 25 years through the savings they make from their fuel bills.
The innovative programme aims to reduce UK carbon emission and tackle fuel poverty head on. Yorkshire Energy Services have started preregistering householders and businesses interested in Green Deal so they can be the first to benefit when the scheme is launched. These individuals will also be sent updates on the schemes progress as and when the Government release information.
To preregister and find out more information about Green Deal 2012 visit http://yorkshireenergyservices.co.uk/about_green_deal.html
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November 2nd, 2011
Government officials have released a consultation document detailing a reduction in the Feed in Tariff for all small scale low carbon technologies that generate household electricity. This change in policy will have a drastic impact on the solar PV industry.
The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) released a declaration on Monday 31st Oct outlining the proposed changes. It states that the current tariff is unsustainable following the rapid growth in the industry, the reduction in installation costs and rising electricity prices.
It is proposed that homeowners wanting to access the current Feed in Tariff ‘ring fenced’ for 25 years, have until December 12th 2011 to get their solar PV system installed and registered. Under the new guide lines the generation payment drops from 43.3p per unit to 21p per unit.
Although this may turn off many homeowners in the short term, Climate Change and Energy Minister Greg Barker feels that the new model is more realistic. He explained:
‘My priority is to put the solar industry on a firm footing so that it can remain a successful and prosperous part of the green economy, and so that it doesn’t fall victim to boom and bust. The plummeting costs of solar mean we’ve got no option but to act so that we stay within budget and not threaten the whole viability of the FITs scheme.’*
Yorkshire Energy Services’ solar installers - YES Renewables have already started making preparations for this change in events. The organisation was recently selected to partner with Barclays Finance to help householders spread the costs of solar PV installations. YES Renewables can now offer their customers intrest free and low intrest loans for solar PV systems that can be paid for in affordable installments.
With the proposed cut off date approaching, now is the ideal time to book a survey and get a system installed to access the higher Feed in Tariff. For a free no obligation survey and quote, contact YES Renewables on 0800 052 7496 today or enquire through the YES Renewables website.
*Source: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/news/pn11_091/pn11_091.aspx
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October 24th, 2011
SURVEY FINDS MORE THAN HALF OF US IN YORKSHIRE AND HUMBERSIDE WOULD BANK OUR ENERGY SAVINGS!
- A tenth of households in Yorkshire and Humberside would use money they’ve saved greening their home on further energy efficiency measures while more than half say they would pocket the cash instead!
- But if everyone in Yorkshire and Humberside spent around £400 greening their home they would collectively save £164m on their annual fuel bills – enough money to power Leeds for two and a half years.
- More than five times as many householders in Yorkshire and Humberside say they would bank the money saved from greening their home as would implement more energy saving measures.
That is the finding of a new study – released to mark the start of this year’s Energy Saving Week (24 to 28 October) – by the Energy Saving Trust, the independent body set up to help householders reduce their energy bills and combat climate change.
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June 3rd, 2011
As part of the first phase, the Government aim to launch the Renewable Heat Premium Payments for the domestic sector in July 2011.
In return for these direct payments, participants will be asked to provide some feedback on how the equipment works in practice and suppliers will be asked to provide a follow up service on any issues that are raised.
Up to 25,000 installations from July will be supported by a “RHI Premium Payment” (worth around £15m) to help people cover the purchase price of green heating systems. Those taking up the Premium will then be eligible for a RHI tariff from October next year when the Green Deal begins.
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May 9th, 2011
Wakefield Council’s pioneering Low Carbon Communities scheme is now active in North Elmsall, Upton, Ryhill and Havercroft. Homeowners and private tenants from these four villages now have a fantastic opportunity to improve their home energy efficiency, reduce their fuel bills and do their bit for the environment.
Wakefield Low Carbon Communities offers residents free cavity wall and loft insulation regardless of their age, household income and property size. There are also opportunities to link to other key public services including: home fire safety checks, free or discounted central heating schemes and benefits advice. The project works on a first come first served basis and will only run for as long as funding is available.
The Council is delivering Low Carbon Communities in partnership with energy conservation specialists, Yorkshire Energy Services who have already completed over 3000 installations in the first two years of the scheme.
Chris Hirst from Thornes signed up last year and now encourages other Wakefield residents to reap the benefits of a warmer home.
‘I would highly recommend this scheme. If anyone ever asks me I would just say go for it! The fact that it is available to everyone regardless of their circumstances means that people who would usually not be eligible can now benefit. Also from a green perspective, a lot of people will get insulation installed who probably wouldn’t have considered it. It’s a great idea and I feel privileged to have been involved.’
If you live in the North Elmsall, Upton, Ryhill or Havercroft and want to register for free home insulation, contact the Wakefield Low Carbon Communities helpline on freephone 0800 408 1578 or email enquiries@yorkshireenergyservices.co.uk
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