Solar firm makes PV viable despite FIT cut

Out of the ashes

Tariff cut leaves solar plans on the scrapheap

The sun set on landlords’ solar ambitions this week as an unexpectedly savage cut to a subsidy payment for solar photovoltaic panels left the majority of social housing PV schemes unviable.

Landlords get option of free solar panels

A contractor and supplier have developed the first model to allow social landlords to install photovoltaic panels on their tenants’ roofs for free under the government’s reformed solar subsidy system.

Contract renegotiations put solar deals at risk

Housing associations are facing the prospect of eleventh-hour renegotiations over photovoltaic panel ‘rent-a-roof’ deals worth hundreds of millions of pounds, following guidance published this week.

FIT ruling ‘too late’ for sector

Most abandoned social housing solar photovoltaic schemes are unlikely to be revived even if a legal battle leads to government solar subsidy cuts being reversed until April.

Window of opportunity

Last month’s court ruling means landlords may have a few weeks to claim the pre-cut feed-in tariff rate, says Rob Beiley, partner at Trowers & Hamlins

Panel priorities

Landlords must act fast to salvage what they can from photovoltaic deals before the feed-in tariff is cut, says Rob Beiley

Up on the roof

Councils must consider the impact of photovoltaic panels on right to buy sales, says Linda Storey

Sun block

New guidance issued to lenders will make rent-a-roof schemes much more complicated for landlords, warns Richard Brooks

Beating the solar deadline

Landlords have a limited time to cash in as subsidy switches from big to small-scale solar panel schemes. Laurence Lacey, associate at Clarke Willmott, explains