MPs Back Feed-in Tariffs for Solar PV Ahead of Energy Bill Debate
Ahead of tomorrow's Lords Energy Bill Feed-in tariff debate, the UK PV manufacturers Group (Sharp UK, Romag Ltd and Solarcentury) has welcomed a show of Parliamentary support for a UK Solar PV Feed-in tariff.
Welcoming the launch of a new campaign to promote solar PV ("We Support Solar" www.wesupportsolar.net), MPs have called for the Government to set meaningful Feed-in tariff levels for solar PV and other small-scale renewable electricity technologies:
Greg Barker MP (Con Bexhill & Battle and Shadow Climate Change Minister) said:
"11 years of Labour Government have been 11 wasted years as far as solar PV and other small-scale renewable electricity technologies are concerned. Last year the UK installed just 0.3% of the solar PV installed in Germany. But very belatedly the Government has decided to steal one of our policies and introduce a feed-in tariff. We will now be watching very carefully to see whether the policy sets tariff levels that will really make a difference to the uptake of solar PV, or just proves to be a cosmetic rebranding of a failed policy rather than the genuine change we urgently need."
Steve Webb MP (Lib Dem Northavon and Shadow Secretary of State for Climate Change and Energy) said
"We've been calling for greater urgency from Government on promoting renewable energy technologies such as solar PV for many years. Solar PV is a proven technology in the UK and one that can play a big role in making our towns and cities greener. That's why we're urging the Government to set appropriate feed-in tariff levels for solar PV, to encourage investment in the UK industry, to boost green jobs in British solar PV manufacturing, and to maximise the contribution that this technology can make to the 2020 target."
Colin Challen MP (Lab Morley & Rothwell and Chairman of the All Party Climate Change Group) said:
"As the UK gears up to delivering our 2020 target of 15 % renewable energy, we will need big contributions from all renewable energy technologies. Solar PV was the forgotten technology in the Government's renewable energy strategy consultation, but it has immense potential in the UK. The Government's welcome decision to introduce a feed-in tariff for solar PV and other renewable electricity technologies now needs to be followed with tariff levels that can actually drive forward these technologies quickly in the UK market."