HomeSun states: “The FiT was due to reduce in April 2012, and the industry had proposed a reduction of 30%. Suddenly on 31st October, government announced a ‘consultation’ running to 23rd December, and a proposed cut of 50% from 12th December 2011. This announcement created chaos: thousands of people trying to get installed when there weren’t enough people or kits to do the job; thousands of businesses going to the wall because they had committed stock which wouldn’t be arriving until 2012; thousands of people put on notice of losing their jobs.”

A report commissioned by Friends of the Earth states that: “DECC’s plans will have dramatic, negative impacts on the solar industry and on the deployment of solar PV in the UK. DECC’s own Impact Assessment concedes that PV installations will fall 50-95%.The rate of new installations forecast by DECC in its proposals would support only around one-third of the jobs currently in the sector, placing at least 18,000 jobs at risk.”

The Government has now announced that no matter what the outcome of this latest appeal, they will implement the cuts on the 3rd March. The fear is that this will generate another rush on installations that the industry simply won’t be able to fit in time.

SolarCentury hosted a web-based Q&A session with Which? magazine to try to answer questions from the general public about the current status and the future of solar. By far and away the most common question was “Should I gamble on achieving a March installation?” Clearly the drive is still there to install panels and reap the rewards of clean energy, but even companies whose business is solar are advising caution until this final appeal is resolved.

In the face of depleting fossil fuels and the need to find alternative sources of energy these new millionnaires have spotted enormous potential in the green energy market. The list gives a flavour as to which green sectors are commercially evolved in Britain today and flags those technologies likely to continue to grow in the short to medium term future.

Wind energy players take 1st, 11th and 16th places, whilst solar companies take 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th and 20th places. The wind energy sector, despite a near term slow down in growth is expected to grow by 20% per year between 2009 and 2015. The solar sector is growing at a huge 30% per year thanks in part to reduced production costs. Other green millionnaires have made their money from home efficiency technologies, green infrastructure provision, low carbon fuel manufacturers and green consultancy.

Taking the number 1 spot wind energy producer and retailer Ecotricity has been making money from renewable electricity since 1996. Ecotricity’s 48 year old owner Dale Vince is estimated by the Times as being worth £85 million (US $136m).

At second place, Andrew Owens and partner Alex Lewis are worth £50m (US $80m) thanks to their rapeseed oil mixed car fuel company. Lee Cottingham of the £45m (US $72m) Mark Group made his money on insulating homes.

The Times also ran an international green rich list back in March with the US’s Warren Buffit taking the number one spot being worth £27billion thanks to wind energy. Bill Gates was a close second with £26billion from renewable fuel.

China now holds second place jointly with Germany further to moves by the Chinese Government to support national solar PV generation.

China now has a whopping 9GW target for solar power. According to Ernst & Young, the impact of this substatial demand in the country may start to stabilize the recent global decline in solar module prices. Wind energy has also dramatically increased in China with targets of 100GW by 2020 announced earlier this year and more attractive feed in tariffs now being offered in some regions.

The US continues to hold the number 1 spot with investors encouraged by the passing of American Clean Energy and Security Act. Under the Act greenhouse gases will be reduced 83% by 2050 from, 2005 levels and utilities will be required to produce at least 12% of their power from renewables.

The Renewable Energy Attractiveness league table gives countries scores for their renewable energy markets, renewable energy infrastructure and their suitability for individual technologies.

The UK comes in at number 7 with recognition being given to the Government’s moves to put in place the new Renewable Energy Strategy and Low Carbon Transport and Industrial strategies. A hint of UK sceptism is however noted in the report with a reference to concerns about whether these strategies have the focus to deliver the required results.

The initiative is designed to help energy generating businesses and was introduced via the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 2009. The scheme was set up partly because of the nose-diving investor demand for tax credits. The tax credit system has to date been the US government favoured incentive for renewable energy projects.

Energy generators have to start construction on their projects during 2009 or 2010 to be eligible. Technology likely to recieve funding include small and large wind energy, biomass, geothermal, landfill gas, waste to energy, hydro-electric, marine energy, solar energy, fuel cells, CHP and geothermal heat pumps.

It is hoped that by providing this direct cash injection, the near term goal of creating and retaining green jobs is achieved, as well as the long-term benefit of expanding the use of renewable energy in the US. No direct injection of cash is proposed in the UK for such a wide range of commercial scale renewable energy projects.

Already – renewable electricity has doubled in the UK in five years, however this has mainly been thanks to large scale commercial renewable energy – in particular wind energy which has doubled in the UK in five years. We already have more offshore wind energy in the UK than any other country.

However what does the Government’s new Renewable Energy Strategy have in store for small-scale renewable energy?

The Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) want to see 2% of our electricity supply from small-scale renewable generation. In order to encourage householders to buy and install renewable energy technology the main UK political parties have agreed that fixed prices for surplus electricity generated will help. The idea is that fixed prices for small scale energy generators will encourage more people to make a renewable energy investment as they can gain a better idea of what the financial returns will be.

DECC have said that a new fixed price system or “Feed in Tariff” will be activiated in April 2010. It is expected to provide guaranteed, long term support payments to renewable electricity projects of up to 5 megawatts (MW) – for example up to two wind turbines. In addition, from April 2011, a new Renewable Heat Incentive will provide similar incentives for individuals, community groups and businesses to install renewable heat technologies at all scales.

Shadow Energy Minister Greg Clark said the existing Labour Government should “make it clear that technologies that would benefit from the feed in tariff will qualify even if they are installed before the feed in tariff commences, providing they have not already been financed from public funds. A Conservative government would offer such a guarantee and I call on this Government to do the same”.

In response to the Conservative committment Derry Newman Chief Executive of Solarcentury said;

“This is a very significant renewable energy announcement from Greg Clark. It will be well received by solar PV customers, investors and the 1,600 skilled staff working today in the UK solar PV industry. In guaranteeing the feed-in tariff in this way under a possible future Conservative government, Greg Clark has acted quickly to provide much needed clarity for our industry. Solar PV in the UK can deliver a significant contribution to the UKs 2020 renewable energy target but investors in our sector require above all else predictability and certainty of policy.”

Only yesterday, the UK government pledged £45m support for decentralised small-scale and community low-carbon electricity. In the US President Obama has pledged billions for renewable energy projects saying the $129bn that has been allocated for environmental plans is off limits to Congress.

A range of technologies are available to both existing and new communities including wind energy, solar energy, biomass or combined heat and power and hydro- electric.

Green Energy Web Conferences are holding a series of online conferences to facilitate the provision of information about green energy solutions. The first is a 2-day community wind energy webconference comprising live presentations by more than 25 community wind specialists.

Wind energy professionals, farmers, school boards, government officials, project managers, investors, energy companies, engineers, suppliers of wind technology, scientists and consultants will all join this very focused event on community wind energy.

The conference is designed for people looking for information on:
- up to date technology costs
- return on investment
- funding, grant and green credits
- consenting processes
- how to estimate power generation
- how to sell the project’s electricity output and who to

Experts presenting include representatives from the American Wind Energy Association, the World Wind Energy Association, U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Energy, Atlantic County Utilities Authority and Citibank.

In many parts of the world, the solar industry is making giant size steps alongside wind energy. Norwegian silicon ingot and wafer manufacturer Norsun recently secured US $180m for its expansion plans. Meanwhile Chinese solar company Astronergy hit an annual generation figure of 100MW from its thin PV film technology last year and has attracted deals from two Chinese private equity investors worth US $50m to expand its manufacturing base.

Solar energy has very similar barriers to deployment as wind energy. High capital costs mean current problems with securing finance to build. Earlier this month however Japan’s Mitsubishi Corporation, confirmed plans to purchase a 34% stake in AMPER Central Solar, the developer of Portugal´s Amareleja (Moura) PV solar plant, wholly owned by ACCIONA. According to solar energy website Solarbuzz, the 45.8MWp Amareleja (Moura) plant is the world´s largest grid-connected photovoltaic solar plant and required an investment of 261 million Euros. It has an estimated annual production of 93 million KWh, enough to supply 30,000 homes with electricity.

Also this month, UK based Foresight Group, an asset manager focused on environmental infrastructure investments signed two contracts worth €50 million for the construction of solar projects totalling 10MW in the Foggia and Lecce regions of Puglia, Southern Italy. Giovanni Terranova from Foresight said “The solar infrastructure market is experiencing rapid growth and continues to attract strong interest from investors and operators. We have been able to partner with market leaders in the construction and operation of solar PV plants which is an endorsement of Foresight’s growing reputation as a major player in the solar infrastructure market in Italy. We believe that having ready access to substantial equity capital through our European Solar Fund and an experienced Italian team with a very strong banking network significantly strengthens our market position in the current financial climate. We expect to announce several more deals in the coming months.”

In the US, The Huffington Post today reports that Sen. Dianne Feinstein is opposed to planning applications in California’s Mojave Desert by 19 companies to build solar or wind projects because in her view they would “violate the spirit of what conservationists has intended when they donated much of the land to the public“. Sen. Feinstein said she intends to push legislation that would give the land national monument status, which would allow existing uses to continue but prevent future development.

The latest concerns highlighted in the Mojave Desert include effects on the desert tortoise population. It seems that whatever renewable energy technology is proposed, a small and vocal group will find an obscure reason to object – although I am sure someone who has read the environmental reports will correct me if effects on the tortoise population are in fact likely.

In the 12 states, carbon caps are anticipated to result in the significant growth of green collar jobs. The map includes a range of businesses from solar and wind energy generation to a company growing fuel from algae.

Jackie Roberts, Director of Sustainable Technologies at EDF said “These maps tell the story of companies across the manufacturing heartland that will get new customers and create jobs with a cap on carbon.” EDF is asking businesses that contribute to climate solutions to expand the map by submitted details via the website.

The remit of EDF is wide ranging but includes scientific research and environmental policy advice. On the website it also has a personal carbon footprint calculator and some TV ads for raising awareness about climate change.

This video talks about the role of renewable energy and specifically wind energy in New York. It features first-hand accounts from people living near wind farms and also experts in the energy and the environment fields. For further questions and answers on wind energy visit the wind energy questions category. The video was produced by Chris McClure.

MSP Rob Gibson – a member of the Scottish Parliament’s Transport and Climate Change Committee welcomed Prof. Glover’s comments and said “Every penny wasted on new nuclear technology would be a penny less for the development of clean, green energy.

“Scotland is well on course to be the clean, green energy capital of Europe – we already have a greater installed capacity of renewable energy than nuclear. Developing this massive potential is the way forward for energy security and safety in Scotland.

We can achieve secure, clean, low carbon energy by harnessing Scotland’s vast green potential, tackling climate change without adding to the burden of toxic radioactive waste.”

Solar panels, biomass systems and ground and water source heat pumps are now counted as Permitted Development, meaning that planning permission is not needed, unless you live in a conservation area or other sensitive area where permitted development rights have been withdrawn.

Whitehall’s Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy has been criticised by the Scottish National Party for joining the “nuclear lobby’s marketing men”. Murphy in return accused the SNP administration of failing to make any sophisticated argument to support its opposition to nuclear power. It would miss out on billions of pounds in investment and thousands of jobs, he insisted.

The UK government has told the Calman Commission, which is reviewing the devolved administration’s powers, that Scotland’s position on nuclear could undermine its energy policy. This is despite Murphy’s statement last year that nuclear plant planning decisions would stay in Scottish hands.