March 20, 2012 -
PRLog -- There has been much talk and uncertainty in recent months about the ongoing viability of domestic solar photovoltaic (electric) installations due to changes to the feed-in tariffs. Consumer website http://www.uk-
energy-saving.com has been keeping a close eye on what’s been happening and feels that it is now becoming clearer that homeowners still have much to gain from the use of solar energy.
The still-to-be-
confirmed drop in feed-in tariffs for installations from the 12th December 2011 resulted in a wave of solar installations during autumn 2011, but the uncertainty over the tariff rates has seen a significantly quieter start to 2012 for the solar industry. In February the government confirmed that, regardless of the court decision on the 12th December cut-off date, installations from the 3rd March 2012 would receive the new 21p tariff from the 1st April 2012. From the beginning of April homes will also need to meet certain energy performance requirements in order to be eligible for this rate of feed-in tariff.
All-in-all these changes have caused confusion and hesitance amongst consumers unsure of whether it is viable to install solar panels. But, as Hayley Jones, Web Marketing Director at UK Energy Saving, explains, there is still much to be positive about. “There’
s no doubt that the recent government changes to solar feed-in tariffs have caused understandable confusion for homeowners, but the picture is not as gloomy as was perhaps feared. Whilst a drop of over 50% in feed-in tariffs has sent consumers running for the hills, the return on investment in solar photovoltaic panels is actually still pretty good, not to mention the fantastic environmental benefits! A huge drop in the prices for panels means that installations at the new tariff will actually see a similar payback level to installations in the first half of 2011. It looks like tariff levels could drop again in June, however, so it is worth looking into installing sooner rather than later in order to get the best deal.”
UK Energy Saving has compiled a blog post looking at some of the most up-to-date information on solar energy, including details on the figures above. The blog can be visited at uk-energy-saving.blogspot.com. The main UK Energy Saving website also contains a great deal of information on solar power and can be visited at
http://www.uk-energy-saving.com.
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UK Energy Saving is a consumer website offering information on energy saving, renewable energy and green living, including green product reviews.
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