Feed-In Tariffs Scheme: Common Weal Consultation Response
Consultation Response
Credits — Gordon Morgan
Overview
Common Weal opposes the UK government’s proposal to close the Feed-In Tariffs scheme, which was introduced in 2010 to support the adoption of small-scale, low-carbon electricity generating technologies.
This paper forms Common Weal’s response the government’s consultation on the proposed closure and argues that the scheme should be retained for a further five years.
The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has undertaken a consultation on the UK government’s proposal to close the Feed-In Tariffs (FIT) scheme on 31st March 2019. The FIT scheme was introduced in 2010 and provides subsidies to encourage the deployment of small-scale, low-carbon electricity generation installations. This paper forms Common Weal’s response to the consultation and argues that the scheme must be retained.
Common Weal believes that the installation of solar panels should be encouraged for all suitable new domestic buildings and the FIT scheme has played an important role in this regard. Closure of the scheme will reduce the take up of solar energy, undermining efforts to reduce energy demand and cut carbon emissions. Moreover, the proposal could lead to job losses and make it harder for the UK to maintain a viable domestic solar deployment industry.
Instead, Common Weal’s urges the UK Government to retain the FIT schemes for a further five years and proposes measures which can be taken to improve it. As we strongly disagree with the proposal to end the scheme, our response only addresses the first question in the government’s consultation paper. The other questions which relate to the process for closing the scheme are included here for reference.
Key Points
Common Weal strongly disagrees with the proposal to end export and generation tariffs for renewable energy on 31st March 2019.
Doing so will be irrevocably harmful to the renewable industry with the solar industry likely to be badly affected.
It will slow progress on carbon emission reduction, particularly in England.
Eliminating the tariffs will not significantly reduce energy costs for consumers who don’t directly benefit from them – research has shown they only contribute to bills by approximately £1 per household per year.
In light of our fundamental disagreement with this proposal, Common Weal will make no comment on further questions in the consultation.
