REI – the leading magazine for the renewables sector since 2008
Editorial panel members
Not FiT for purpose
A
s fate would have it, and to my eternal frustration, what
looks certain to be this year’s most far-reaching policy
announcement landed just hours after sending the last
edition of REI to print.
Riding roughshod over dire predictions of a sudden collapse in domestic demand
for solar PV, DECC’s proposals to cut the Feed-in Tariff by almost 90 percent from
January have unsurprisingly been rejected by the entire supply chain.
The formal consultation period runs until October 23, but the reality is that the
industry must prepare for the complete withdrawal of subsidy at least two years ahead
of schedule, as the remaining budget is exhausted by high demand before the New
Year cut off.
Subsidies have always been contentious, but the decision to effectively go for no
tariff rather than low tariff until at least grid parity has been achieved has taken most
people by surprise. The non-solar renewable community must now endure a nervy wait
until November’s Comprehensive Spending Review, where the RHI appears vulnerable.
Pain and consolidation will now follow, and the great hope has to be that the long-
term future of PV is secure as the commercial case continues to stand up strongly to
the new economics, and sales pitches adjust to the loss of subsidy.
On a happier note, REI was the official media partner of The Heating &
Renewables Roadshow which completed its inaugural five date tour of the UK in
September. For a full review please turn to p10.
The REI team will also be in attendance at SEUK at the NEC between Oct 13-15,
so please come along and say hello on stand P17.
Andy Buchan,
CEEC, Future
Renewable Energy Dave Sowden, SEA
Garry Broadbent,
Lifestyle Heating John Kellett,
Mitsubishi Electric
Paul Joyner,
SBS Liz McFarlane,
Zenex Solar
Tim Pollard,
Plumb Center Phyllis Boardman,
Green Deal
Consortia
Robert Burke,
HETAS Gideon Richards,
MCS
Contents
NEWS KNOWLEDGE
06 News
Industry blasts FiT cuts & ESOS deadline
approaches
08 Profile
What low oil prices mean for renewables
10 Analysis
Heating & Renewables Awards winners
revealed 22 Solar PV
BayWa r.e on the risks of buying DDP
25 Organisation profile
Woodfuel goes under the spotlight
27 Electric vehicles
30 Professional services
Plumb Center’s Energy Efficiency Installer+
33 Commercial section
36 Heat pumps
Reminder from Daikin UK on update to
installation standard MIS 3005 v4.3
42 My working week
Josh Wolfendale, Hero Renewables
OPINION
14 REI’s regular HETAS column
17 Q&A LG Solar
ISSN 2049-3525
Editor: Paul Stephen
Sales director: Jonathan Hibbert
Circulation manager: Sandra Curties
General manager Scott Masheder
Published by: Ashley & Dumville Publishing Ltd,
Caledonian House, Tatton Street,
Knutsford, Cheshire WA16 6AG
Advertising
Tel: 01565 626760
Email: [email protected]
Editorial/press releases
Tel: 01565 653283
Email:[email protected]
www.renewableenergyinstaller.co.uk
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