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Leeds Solar are now taking bookings for March installations, with slots available for solar PV installations before any changes to the FIT schemes that may apply from the end of March.

We understand DECC are due to make an announcement about these changes on 9th February, and will update our website with an analysis of these changes as soon as we can.

We have good availability of all stock.

We currently have 100KWp of PV scheduled for installation in February and all our February installation slots are now filled.

To get an idea of our average prices, please check our solar PV Price Guide section. For more information about each system range and energy outputs and rates of return please see the system range pages for Value, High Spec, and Ultra Efficient ranges.

*update 10/2/2012*

Leeds Solar have now filled all our installation slots for February and are now taking bookings for March installations only.

In the wake of the Court of Appeal's decision to throw out the Government's appeal about the Feed In Tariff cut date, there has been a considerable upsurge in demand for Solar PV installations before 3rd March from customers hoping to benefit from the potential return to the previous 43.3p FIT rate that would apply IF the Government appeal is also rejected by the Supreme Court.

This has led to significant supply problems for some makes and models of panels and inverters.

DECC have announced their plan B for the Feed In Tariff scheme if, as seems likely, they lose their current High Court appeal against the ruling before Christmas that the original 12th December cut off date for the 43.3p FIT rate for solar PV to be changed to 21p was illegal.

A brief overview of the situation as Leeds Solar see it

*UPDATE 5/02/12*

As we predicted, the government lost it's appeal in the High Court, however the Government has since announced it's intention to appeal again to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court have stated that they are unlikely to be able to rule on this appeal for several months, certainly not until after 3rd March.

30th June 2012 is the next proposed date for further Feed In Tariff cuts;

Book now for pre 30th June installations

The government has proposed a further cut to the Feed In Tariff rates for solar PV from 30th June 2012, with the level of this cut being dependant upon the volume of installations that were registered in March and April.

Our analysis of these installation figures shows that it's likely that these cuts will mean the current 21p/kWh FIT rate for below 4kW solar PV installations could fall to 16.5p/kWh with similar cuts for larger installations.

*03/05/12 update*

It looks like we misinterpreted th figures, and DECC proposed to reference only the installation figures from 4th March-end of April 2012 to determine the FIT cuts, so the installations up to the 3rd March FIT cut shouldn't count. If this is the case, then the figures should be well into the lowest band, and the proposed 1st July FIT cut should be the smaller of the 3 proposed options for the cuts with <4kW installations moving from 21p to 16.8p per kWh.

In the phase 2a consultation document DECC laid out their plans for a further cut in the Feed In Tariff rate from 1st July 2012, with the level of that cut being based upon the capacity of solar PV with eligibility dates in 4th March to end of April 2012.

DECC gave 3 bands for the installation rates in that period that would lead to different FIT reductions as follows;

Option A = over 200MW installed, 

Option B = 150-200MW installed, 

Option C = under 150MW installed

Leeds Solar summarise the decisions DECC announced today resulting from the Feed In Tariff consultation started in October 2011.

Feed In Tariff rates for solar PV

FIT rates from 3rd March-30th June will definitely be those proposed in the consultation, as set out below.

The Government today released a guide to their take on the current situation with the Feed In Tariff levels, the court decisions and what their decision to apply for permission to appeal to the Supreme court means.

Leeds Solar have reproduced it in 2 parts. This is part 2, part 1 is available at this link

Please note that as DECCs actions have currently been found to have been illegal by 2 of the highest courts in the UK, we're publishing this for information purposes only, but recommend that anything DECC say here be treated with caution as it is likely to be heavily spun. We will attempt to analyse this and respond asap.

BRIEFING ON OUTCOME OF FITS JR APPEAL

Overview

The Government today released a guide to their take on the current situation with the Feed In Tariff levels, the court decisions and what their decision to apply for permission to appeal to the Supreme court means.

Leeds Solar have reproduced it in 2 parts. This is part 1, part 2 is available at this link

DECC briefing on the Feed In Tariff Appeal 26/01/12 part 1

KEY FACTS:

GB Feed in Tariffs Scheme | Key Facts