Lower Subsidies = Larger Solar Power Plants in UK?

June 26th, 2012 by Zachary Shahan

Interesting turn of events in the UK — cutting solar feed-in tariffs, strongly opposed by the solar energy industry there, seems to be leading to larger solar power plants.

“Solar-energy companies are applying to build the U.K.’s biggest projects, sidestepping a cut in state subsidies aimed at limiting new power plants by relying on a decade-old incentive program and tumbling panel prices,” Businessweek notes.

“The market for utility-scale projects, stymied since the U.K. lowered feed-in tariffs paid to generators in August, may as a result see as much as 600 megawatts of plants built through April, the Solar Trade Association said. That’s about four times the level of such installations now operating in the country.”

Very ironic turn of events.

For more on the story, check out: U.K. Solar Industry Sidesteps Tariff Cut to Build Biggest Plants.

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Tags: UK, uk solar energy, uk solar feed-in tariff cuts, uk solar feed-in tariffs, uk solar FiT, uk solar FIT cut, uk solar subsidies

About the Author

Zachary Shahan spends most of his time here on CleanTechnica as the director/chief editor. Otherwise, he's probably enthusiastically fulfilling his duties as the director/editor of Solar Love, EV Obsession, Planetsave, or Bikocity. Zach is recognized globally as a solar energy, electric car, and wind energy expert. If you would like him to speak at a related conference or event, connect with him via social media. You can connect with Zach on any popular social networking site you like. Links to all of his main social media profiles are on ZacharyShahan.com.