The Solar Trade Association (STA) has welcomed aspects of Government's new Feed-in Tariff (FiT) cost control framework for solar photovoltaics (PV), but it remains concerned about the state of the UK solar market in the recession.
The new framework shows how tariffs will be reduced in line with reductions in technology cost and in order to keep the scheme within the Department of Energy and Climate Change's (DECC's) budget. The STA said: 'The framework means both industry and consumers can have better forward visibility about when adjustments to tariffs will be made, and what they are likely to be.'

STA Chief Executive Paul Barwell added: 'This now provides the industry with the security of guaranteed tariffs to 2015 allowing it to build for the future. The STA is pleased to have won its ask for quarterly reviews with more responsiveness to market size, and less emphasis on automatic tariff cuts.'

The DECC has provided the resources to achieve around 800 to 1,000MW of solar installations each year to 2015. 'This,' said the STA, 'is more per annum than the original FiT scheme anticipated over five years, which reflects the great achievements the UK industry has made in increasing efficiency and bringing down costs.'

Mr Barwell said: 'Last year STA published its Solar Revolution Strategy arguing for a minimum 1GW per annum industry. [The Government announcement] proves that the STA has won its case for proper recognition for the role of solar and the development of a mature solar market in the UK.'

The tariff for a (sub-4kW) domestic system from 1 August will be 16p, slightly lower than the STA wanted. However, investor income will be further boosted by the increase in the export bonus to 4.5p (from 3.2p today).

Mr Barwell said: 'We remain very concerned that the market has stalled, and the recession certainly hasn't helped. However, today's announcement means we can now be confident that even when tariffs are adjusted on 1 August, solar will still offer attractive returns to consumers - certainly when compared to other investments currently available.

'It is vital consumers understand tariffs can come down because the costs of solar
have come down - there is a faulty perception out there that cuts mean solar doesn't pay. In fact, solar offers similar returns today as when the FIT scheme began because the industry has been so successful at reducing technology and installation costs.

'Furthermore, the relative income from a PV system is likely to be better than DECC suggests today because energy bills are set for another significant increase this year. So we expect to see more and more people turning to solar to save money, not just the planet. [The Government's] announcement should help restore confidence about the stability of the industry and Government's commitment to the growth of this sector.'

Features of the new cost control framework welcomed by the STA include:

* A less complex degression management model than previously proposed, with smaller quarterly degressions linked to market deployment, and less emphasis on automatic degression.
* Around 800MW FIT market in 2012/13 (400MW possible before further 0.5p tariff reduction).
* Safeguarding of different sub-sectors of solar market. Market for different applications of solar (domestic, community and commercial scale) will be protected by distinct deployment thresholds before tariff cuts are triggered.
* A higher export bonus of 4.5p to better reflect the true value of locally generated power.
* Better treatment for aggregated schemes; 90% of the tariff will be paid for schemes of over 25 installations (rather than 80% originally proposed);
maintenance of RPI-linking tariff payments meaning consumers retain the value of tariffs in future.

However, the STA does have concerns about features of the new cost control framework:

* It wanted allowance for around 300MW of installations at current tariff rates (21p for sub-4kW) before the new tariff reduction would be introduced to enable full market recovery.
* There is no 'reverse gear' on tariffs if the market continues to stall.
* The STA disagrees with DECC's methodology for the calculation of long-term returns on investment.

STA chairman Alan Aldridge concluded:'The fact is solar is one of the best investments in town for householders. We need Government now to work with us in this very difficult economic climate to get the message out that this tremendous technology is a great investment.'