Comments on: UK feed-in tariffs: buy your hectare of woodland now http://www.carboncommentary.com/2010/02/01/1354 A critical appraisal of issues in the move to a low-carbon economy Tue, 27 Jul 2010 21:59:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Vedha http://www.carboncommentary.com/2010/02/01/1354/comment-page-1#comment-3080 Vedha Thu, 08 Apr 2010 12:15:37 +0000 http://www.carboncommentary.com/?p=1354#comment-3080 Chris, I agree with Mike, Ground source heat pumps don’t have much of an edge over air source heat pumps. Air source heat pumps work well in windy places where the air is humid, such as a damp UK Autumn. Chris, I agree with Mike, Ground source heat pumps don’t have much of an edge over air source heat pumps. Air source heat pumps work well in windy places where the air is humid, such as a damp UK Autumn.

]]> By: Carbon Commentary · Are the proposed UK feed-in tariffs high enough to stimulate investment in small-scale generation? http://www.carboncommentary.com/2010/02/01/1354/comment-page-1#comment-2974 Carbon Commentary · Are the proposed UK feed-in tariffs high enough to stimulate investment in small-scale generation? Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:52:22 +0000 http://www.carboncommentary.com/?p=1354#comment-2974 [...] This article refers to the UK proposals made in July 2009. The actual feed-in tariffs will be more generous and the new rates are discussed in a follow up article here. [...] [...] This article refers to the UK proposals made in July 2009. The actual feed-in tariffs will be more generous and the new rates are discussed in a follow up article here. [...]

]]> By: Wookey http://www.carboncommentary.com/2010/02/01/1354/comment-page-1#comment-2965 Wookey Mon, 22 Feb 2010 13:37:53 +0000 http://www.carboncommentary.com/?p=1354#comment-2965 Chris. Yes existing (pre july 2009) PV installations will get 9p/kWh if they registered for ROCs. However that's quite a lot less than many people were getting as they were on the Scottish and Southern/Ebico tariff of 28p/kWh exported, or Good Energy's 15p/kWh generated. Now it is possible that companies such as these will still offer a premium over the FIT rates, but none have yet said they will, and thus many existing PV owners are very unhappy about the way they have been treated. The anti-DIY aspect of all this is also a serious problem. Before FITs, installation just had to be legally correct (G83/1 electrical regs, notify the DNO). Now that's not good enough, and if you try to save £3000-odd by self-installing (that's how much cheaper a typical domestic DIY install is over a professional MCS one, despite their VAT advantages) then the govt will insist that your installation does not exist and will get no incentives, despite the fact that its output is measured by an approved meter so there is absolutely no argument about how well it performs. It will no doubt be the same story for solar thermal next year (where DIY can be <£1000 total cost vs £2500 minimum for a MCS-approved install). The govt seems primarily interested in generating an installation industry, not in maximising installations, or carbon savings. I find this very depressing. Don't get me wrong; I'm very glad that a FIT scheme has been introduced, I just find it outrageous that it has been made impossible to DIY and qualify. Anyone who has installed their own stuff will know that DIYers generally do a much more careful and neater job than professionals, who are always in a tearing hurry, because the econmics require it. The MCS requirement is particularly daft in micro-hydro, as Francis pointed out, because there _are_ no MCS certified installers currently. You can comment on these things (for the heat incentives) on the consultation: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/rhi/rhi.aspx Chris. Yes existing (pre july 2009) PV installations will get 9p/kWh if they registered for ROCs. However that’s quite a lot less than many people were getting as they were on the Scottish and Southern/Ebico tariff of 28p/kWh exported, or Good Energy’s 15p/kWh generated. Now it is possible that companies such as these will still offer a premium over the FIT rates, but none have yet said they will, and thus many existing PV owners are very unhappy about the way they have been treated.

The anti-DIY aspect of all this is also a serious problem. Before FITs, installation just had to be legally correct (G83/1 electrical regs, notify the DNO). Now that’s not good enough, and if you try to save £3000-odd by self-installing (that’s how much cheaper a typical domestic DIY install is over a professional MCS one, despite their VAT advantages) then the govt will insist that your installation does not exist and will get no incentives, despite the fact that its output is measured by an approved meter so there is absolutely no argument about how well it performs.

It will no doubt be the same story for solar thermal next year (where DIY can be <£1000 total cost vs £2500 minimum for a MCS-approved install). The govt seems primarily interested in generating an installation industry, not in maximising installations, or carbon savings. I find this very depressing.

Don't get me wrong; I'm very glad that a FIT scheme has been introduced, I just find it outrageous that it has been made impossible to DIY and qualify. Anyone who has installed their own stuff will know that DIYers generally do a much more careful and neater job than professionals, who are always in a tearing hurry, because the econmics require it.

The MCS requirement is particularly daft in micro-hydro, as Francis pointed out, because there _are_ no MCS certified installers currently.

You can comment on these things (for the heat incentives) on the consultation: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/rhi/rhi.aspx

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