Energy specialist criticises government decision on ‘green’ incentives

A Halsall-based energy specialist has criticised a government scheme to encourage people to use green technology.

Despite expectations, the government’s Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme – expected to go live in June – has now been pushed back. It will not be applied to homes until October 2012, which renders solar thermal and heat pump systems economically unviable.

Peter Bladen director of energy and solar panel firm BSOLAR said: “There were high expectations that the new Renewable Heat Incentive would lead to an increase in the use of new green technology. However the government has now announced that the domestic version of the “RHI” scheme won’t come in until 2012. This means that renewable technologies like solar thermal and heat pumps are still not cost effective.”

According to Peter this decision will slow the movement towards green technologies in the home. He said: “This is effectively putting the brakes on the use of some green technologies in the home. Solar PV panels and wind power remain the only renewable that pay for themselves and provide an income.”

He added: “Solar panels in particular represent the best green investment you can make at the moment.”

The government is currently running a Clean Energy Cash Back scheme which guarantees you 43.3p per KWh of energy you generate through your solar panels, this is guaranteed for 25 years once you’ve made the installation and the tariff will rise with inflation.

Peter said: “It pays to be green. An average solar panel system costs around £10,000 and under the government scheme this will pay for itself in less than 10 years, then continue to give you a guaranteed income of around £1000 a year.

“The income is also on energy generated, irrelevant of its use in the home. This means that the homeowner will also get free electricity during the day when the solar panels are generating power.”

Peter added: “The government are talking about reviewing the current scheme and my advice to anyone considering purchasing solar panels is to make hay while the sun shines! If you get panels installed in the near future you will still qualify for the generous feed in tariff rate which is guaranteed for 25 years.”

For more information call BSOLAR on 0845 009 8642 or visit www.bsolar.co.uk

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