In China it is illegal to be without a solar panel on a certain-sized home. It’s the type of policy that works better in a totalitarian state, so here in Britain we are to be enticed to turn houses into energy-generating hubs courtesy of the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) system.
For every watt you generate you are paid a guaranteed sum – on a £12,500 photovoltaic (PV) solar panel system generating 2.5kW, this adds up to 41.3p per kWh generated. On top of that, you can export all unused energy back to the grid. Voilà – a house that generates power and income. Wall-mounted turbines in urban areas have been roundly rubbished as “eco bling” but still qualify under the FITs – be prepared for rigorous feasibility studies on wind speeds. You’ve got more chance in Orkney than Notting Hill.
It’s not quite all systems go. Hydroelectric and anaerobic digestion also qualify, but the former only works if you happen to own the rights to a fast-flowing river nearby (with the requisite drop), and the latter if you keep livestock. For most of us, micro-generation means solar PV – so you need a south-facing, non-shaded roof. You also need a lot of cash for the initial outlay.
Original Source: The Guardian
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Tags: clean energy cashback scheme, feed in tariffs, how green, pv, solar panels
