Spending Review: solar feed-in tariffs safe – for now

Terrylw1

Jon_Tiffany wrote: »

My point is still correct - the money does not come from central government funds. Dont forget that the energy companies get some cheap electric as a result - 3p per kWh which they sell immediately to the house next door at 11p.

Using your logic Tescos make their profits from taypayers:rotfl:

The energy generated is fed back into the grid, hence the Distributor sells it on at whatever their standard price is, to any Supplier.

The generation probably allows the Supplier to obtain a settlement reduction based on energy generatat over a 12 month period I guess.

They don't get some cheap energy to sell on, since you can't isolate it to that level. It's more likely they reduce their outgoing settlement bill, which has a balancing effect on the customers MPAN who is both buying & generating energy.

Gorgeous_George

Equaliser123 wrote: »

What does FIT have to do with people on "low wages and benefits"? They can have it too. Not sure what point you are trying to make? Sounds a bit like inverted snobbery to me but please feel free to correct.

Ignoring the personal abuse, how many people on low wages and benefits do you think have £16,000 to invest in a PV system?

Everybody who pays an energy bill is funding the FIT scheme. The money doesn't appear from thin air for goodness sake. It is either a good investment because it makes a profit (paid for by those who choose or cannot afford the initial outlay) or it is eco-bling. Which is it?

Equaliser123 wrote: »

Your suggestion about the "most likely change" is backed up by what? On a debate like this, it is useful if you can actually quote facts rather than speculation.

It is my considered opinion that since the FIT is funded by energy users the government are unlikely to abolish it. It is also only my opinion that the most likely change from the government would be remove the tax free status of the profits. Why should the rest of us taxpayers pay tax on our profits but eco-blingers do not?


I am considering investing £16K on blinging my house. Not because I think it will save the planet but because I can see that (if the guarantee holds up - which I doubt) it will make a profit. £16K on bling is likely to be better than £16K in a pension fund.

Strange how we can subsidise (predominantly) Chinese PV systems but couldn't see a way to help out Sheffield Forgemasters, Teesside Corus etc.

GG

Equaliser123

Gorgeous_George wrote: »

Ignoring the personal abuse, how many people on low wages and benefits do you think have £16,000 to invest in a PV system?

Everybody who pays an energy bill is funding the FIT scheme. The money doesn't appear from thin air for goodness sake. It is either a good investment because it makes a profit (paid for by those who choose or cannot afford the initial outlay) or it is eco-bling. Which is it?



It is my considered opinion that since the FIT is funded by energy users the government are unlikely to abolish it. It is also only my opinion that the most likely change from the government would be remove the tax free status of the profits. Why should the rest of us taxpayers pay tax on our profits but eco-blingers do not?


I am considering investing £16K on blinging my house. Not because I think it will save the planet but because I can see that (if the guarantee holds up - which I doubt) it will make a profit. £16K on bling is likely to be better than £16K in a pension fund.

Strange how we can subsidise (predominantly) Chinese PV systems but couldn't see a way to help out Sheffield Forgemasters, Teesside Corus etc.

GG

If you think that was "personal abuse" you would seem to be a senstitive soul.

Doubt many on benefits would have £16k to spend on a PV system. If they do, then benefits are too generous, clearly.

Your "considered view" is not backed up by anything resembling fact.

Your argument regarding subsidising Chinese PV "systems" is not borne out by facts. The system I have been quoted for is Sharp panels, an inverter made in Germany and installation (and mark up) for a British company.

Not sure where steel making comes into the equation. Sounds like a totally different situation to my mind.

chattychappy

Gizmosmum wrote: »

I've done a small bit ... I've assessed the risk and I'm happy with it. My fit will be paid into an Isa each year.

Yeah, but the taxpayer has had to do a small bit too. What you've assessed is a risk that is skewed in your favour resulting in payments into your ISA. I don't blame you for doing that - just don't think it's a good use of taxpayer's money.

My old mother pays 5% VAT on gas. But if she buys an extra jumper to keep warm it's 17.5% VAT.

All nonsense IMHO.

anon_ymous

To those that are saying that China/India are propping up coal mines everywhere; most of their coal needs to be imported ie: a dependancy. Currently, we depend on the arab states to sell us oil. We depend on Russia to supply us with gas. We also depend on Australia to supply us with coal. Though we have coal here, its not economical to mine here, considering we use so little of it and clean coal is a relatively new thing(ie: so if China does prop up coal mines, then they may use clean coal to downsize their carbon emissions) If we can generate our own electricity here, we are not as dependent on other nations to supply us with power. We are dependant on them to manufacture the thing, but at least we can generate our own electricity.

Also, Pakistan is close to India and there is a massive willingness to go green with companies, individuals and the government(This is what I saw when I went there-There were far more "adverts" supporting green technology/living than here in the UK). The trouble we have with developing nations, is that they are in the middle of a mini industrial revolution. To stop those efforts would be disastrous to the developing countries, and here in the West.

I believe there is also the Sahara project, where the project was undergone by UK/US scientists, who then rent the panels to the Arabs. Even if we are then dependant on the Arabs, this brings us money in two ways:
The arabs pay Western companies rent(ie: taxes for us)
They then also invest in the UK(like now, and it also means more taxes in the UK economy)

Gorgeous_George

chattychappy wrote: »

Yeah, but the taxpayer has had to do a small bit too. What you've assessed is a risk that is skewed in your favour resulting in payments into your ISA. I don't blame you for doing that - just don't think it's a good use of taxpayer's money.

My old mother pays 5% VAT on gas. But if she buys an extra jumper to keep warm it's 17.5% VAT.

All nonsense IMHO.

It's the energy companies that fund the FIT and their customers who will pay.

Your old mother will have a larger bill on which to pay that 5% VAT.

Sharp are Japanese so that's ok then (small factory in Wrexham).

GG

Gizmosmum_2

Gorgeous_George wrote: »

It's the energy companies that fund the FIT and their customers who will pay.

Your old mother will have a larger bill on which to pay that 5% VAT.

Sharp are Japanese so that's ok then (small factory in Wrexham).

GG

I bought Sharp, their not so small factory in Wrexham has made in excess of 1 million panels to date, they are produced in the uk, my inverter was also German and the company I used had local installers.

No system is perfect, maybe the Fit should only be available for kit made in Europe.

tobit

Thank you Gizmosmum and Equaliser 123 for your useful/informative posts. Everyone should be putting considered thought into how we are going to supply our energy needs in the future - and that future is very close at hand already.

I understand that every hour there's enough sun's energy reaching our Earth to satisfy everyone's needs for a whole year. Quite some thought, so it appears to me that we should be taking solar energy seriously. Solar collectors, PV panels, etc are still youthful stages of technology - and they will improve if we invest in their development - meanwhile, my thanks to everyone with the courage (and south-facing roofs:) to invest their savings into solar panels and solar heat collectors.

Gizmosmum - would you keep us posted on how your PV panels are performing, once they're fully installed? Good Luck!

csae

Gorgeous_George wrote: »

Ignoring the personal abuse, how many people on low wages and benefits do you think have £16,000 to invest in a PV system?

Everybody who pays an energy bill is funding the FIT scheme. The money doesn't appear from thin air for goodness sake. It is either a good investment because it makes a profit (paid for by those who choose or cannot afford the initial outlay) or it is eco-bling. Which is it?



It is my considered opinion that since the FIT is funded by energy users the government are unlikely to abolish it. It is also only my opinion that the most likely change from the government would be remove the tax free status of the profits. Why should the rest of us taxpayers pay tax on our profits but eco-blingers do not?


I am considering investing £16K on blinging my house. Not because I think it will save the planet but because I can see that (if the guarantee holds up - which I doubt) it will make a profit. £16K on bling is likely to be better than £16K in a pension fund.

Strange how we can subsidise (predominantly) Chinese PV systems but couldn't see a way to help out Sheffield Forgemasters, Teesside Corus etc.

GG

Perhaps because the Eco-blingers are helping towards reducing carbon targets for the UK, which in turn will prevent huge penalities.

Incentive for incentive...Simple as that.

pocketrocket1

Gizmosmum wrote: »

My 3.96kwp is currently being installed - I've taken the 15k installation costs out of my savings account that was generating 1.5%. Guys are doing a brill job installing and I feel as though I've done a small bit by cutting my co2 emissions to 2.5 tonnes. I've assessed the risk and I'm happy with it. My fit will be paid into an Isa each year.

It would appear that prices are droping quite well really. We have had three companies around over the last two weeks to quote for a similar size setup to yourself. 3.9something kwp and we are being quoted between £11,200 and £12,600 for sharpe pannels :j