Dr Kevin Ley considers the current status of government incentives and what they mean for the PV sector.
Underlying all legislation relating to micro-generation is the Government’s overall commitment to reducing the country’s carbon dioxide emissions by 80% by 2050. In addition to this is the Renewable Obligation: a commitment to generate a stated percentage of our energy requirements from renewable energy technologies each year.
These legally binding commitments provide the background to all the legislative and financial incentives that have impacted on the PV industry over recent years.
Most dramatic in its effect was the Feed In Tariff (FIT). Although the implementation and subsequent alterations to the Tariff caused huge disruption to the industry it could be argued that the programme actually achieved its objective: the cost of PVdid come down and the technology did become a familiar and mainstream offer for home owners.
The Feed In Tariff still exists (albeit at a dramatically reduced level) and figures released by the FIT register suggest that installation numbers have settled to a consistent level – and are currently showing an increase, despite the most recent FIT reductions in July.
More interesting, perhaps, is the re-stated commitment to Zero Carbon Homes. In the most recent budget this year the Chancellor repeated the commitment for new houses to reach the zero carbon target by 2016.
It is difficult to imagine how this will be achieved without the integration of micro-generation into all new build developments. Indeed, in its advice on how to build to Code Level 4 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, the Energy Savings Trust explicitly states that solar PV should be included in any new build house that uses a gas boiler.
However, PV systems will only be readily accepted if they are properly integrated within the roof system. The NHBC is not alone in drawing attention to problems caused by badly designed PV systems and Redland, as a provider of pitched roof systems, has a particular interest in ensuring that PV can be installed without compromising the performance of the roof as a whole.
To meet this significant market opportunity, Redland provides two distinct solar PV offers. The Solar PV Tile is the premium offer and is designed to work alongside specific tile ranges. Totally integrated within the roof system, the Solar PV Tile is unobtrusive and is most likely to be specified as part of a new roof.
Redland also recognised the need for a competitively-priced product that is appropriate for both new build and retrofit projects. It has therefore launched InDax. Also integrated within the roof, InDax is supplied as a package complete with fixings and flashing in individual modules. The minimal number of parts and low weight makes for quick and easy installation.InDax is also an ideal retrofit solution as it can simply be installed in place of existing roof tile courses. It avoids many of the installation problems associated with on-top PV systems and is also up to 70% lighter.
The development of these products reflects Redland’s confidence in the market for renewable energy solutions. Providing the legally binding commitments remain, the various means by which they will be delivered will change, but whatever the chosen incentives we believe that there is secure future for solar PV technology in the UK