The UK's new feed-in tariff
On the 1st of April 2010, the UK activated Statutory Instrument 678 that guarantees generators of photovoltaic electricity a minimum electricity price. In this way, the UK has followed early adopter countries such as Germany, Spain and Italy where similar guaranteed tariffs resulted in nationally significant quantities of new generation being installed with private money.
Lower photovoltaic costs
Driven by the massive installation programmes in other countries, the global manufacturing capacity for photovoltaics has ballooned. Coupled with a notable growth in design and installation capability, the installed cost of photovoltaics has halved in the last 5-years and the product quality has markedly improved. So now it can make economic sense to install photovoltaics even in the UK.
Conditions are finally right for photovoltaics in the UK
The nation requires ever more electricity to enable the country to function competitively, and it needs to replace ageing power stations. Photovoltaics can be co-located on factories, car parks and on less productive farm land making it easier to install new capacity than a few massive power stations. And without emissions or noise, photovoltaic power stations are more discrete neighbours.
Conditions are finally right for photovoltaics in the UK.
