A SEMINAR demonstrating to local authorities and housing associations how they can make the most of “feed-in tariffs” in solar panel projects will be held at York Racecourse on Thursday.
Speaking at the event, which is being organised by the Northern Housing Consortium, will be solicitor Jackie Gray, director with northern law firm Dickinson Dees, which is based in York.
She believes that the Government’s Feed-in Tariff (FIT) scheme still remains attractive, despite recent cuts in some of its rates following a fast-track review of the scheme.
The FIT scheme was launched in April 2010 to encourage small-scale generation of electricity from renewable sources. It then makes payments for each unit of electricity generated with different tariffs for different technologies.
These technologies include solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, wind turbines, combined heat and power systems, hydro power and anaerobic digestion.
A Government review will see a substantial reduction in FIT rates on orders from August 1 on large-scale installations. Smaller projects remain unaffected.
Ms Gray believes the scheme still presents excellent opportunities for residential schemes and smaller public-sector and commercial property projects, with solar PV accounting for 95 per cent of the technologies registered under the scheme.
She said: “A number of ‘rent a roof’ schemes are available for those with no capital to purchase equipment themselves, which are proving attractive investments for venture capital trusts and other funders, particularly in relation to residential properties where the FIT rates are the highest.”
There is also a lot of activity in the social-housing sector, with local authorities and housing associations seeking to capitalise on the opportunity to fit solar PV on to existing housing stock, either themselves to take advantage of income from the FIT scheme, or through joint venture or roof rental models with solar PV companies.
In many cases, she said, these projects will also provide free electricity for tenants to use.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here