In order to get more people using solar power the government is offering a number incentives to keep up with EU targets
. To combat global warming all member states will be expected to use 15% of their energy from renewable sources by 2020. At present in the UK this figure is only 1%.
In Spring next year the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is being established by the Department of Energy and Climate Change. The scheme has been implemented to encourage the population to use natural resources for power and avoid damaging the planet with fossil fuels. On top of making savings on your bills you will also be paid for the energy you produce.
Anyone can qualify for the campaign from private households to large businesses as long as they are in England, Scotland or Wales. The solar installation you own must have been fitted after July 15th 2009 in order to qualify for the scheme. With the expected price fall of solar equipment people who take part in the RHI from the beginning will profit best from it. With those joining standing to be paid a maximum of 18p for every kilowatt hour (kWh) of energy generated, even if it isn't used.
Feed-in tariffs, which have been on offer from April this year, are for households which pay for energy collected through solar or wind power. Individuals can receive up to 36p/kWh but this can rise by 5p if the power is sent back to the national grid, when the home owner is on holiday for example. The levies are worth an average of 900 per year and are free from Income Tax which will save families paying basic rate 180 a year.
Despite these measures it is still very expensive to convert to solar power with some installations costing 10,000. They are, however, expected reduce the payback time from 14 years to ten.