Grants Dry Up – Solar Industry “in limbo”
A recent Financial Times article reminded me how for many years now people have been trying to use energy in an efficient way and to also develop renewable sources of energy. Many ideas have been used and some of them are now working out pretty well. But the manufacturers of renewable energy have expressed their frustration many times. They feel that the government is not listening to their needs and that the government is not supporting their tasks.
One association that represents the interest of the companies that are not installing solar panels is called UK PV Association. They are very worried about the fact that the Low Carbon Building Program Phase 2 has been shut down to solar applications right this week. This was a £50m scheme that had £18m for hospitals, public places, schools and others. They meant to install many photovoltaic panels on the roofs. But due to some unprecedented demand, this being the official reason, the program was closed. But the industry is now expecting a real motivation and maybe the beginning of the program.
“We are not in some kind of limbo land,” says one member of the association. Andrew Lee from Sharp UK, also explains that the industry will have to endure these problems and that it will be difficult for them to reinvest and create more business.
The decision of closing this program is most awkward since there are talks on climate being taken in Copenhagen. Britain is the last country in EU using renewable solar power. There are green campaigners and associations complaining about this. They want to receive grants and this seems to be very difficult.
“We are concerned about all these uncertainties,” told Ray Noble from the Renewable Energy Association. The government has closed Phase 2 but is keeping opened the Pahse 1 for households. For that the government is offering grants.
Dave Sowden, one executive from Micropower Council, told that removing the grants for companies will only jeopardize the situation and will get renewable energy companies out of business. He says that tariffs will only go up again and fewer and fewer people will be able to afford it.
