A contractor has pulled out of a deal to install solar panels on thousands of Norwich homes.
Deal for free electricity for thousands of Norwich homes scuppered, despite government High Court defeat over solar panels
Dan Grimmer
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
3:45 PM
Council bosses will have to go back to the drawing board over plans to place solar panels on thousands of homes around Norwich.
The government today lost its bid to overturn a High Court ruling that its plans to cut subsidies for solar panels on homes are unlawful.
But that came too late for Norwich City Council, with the company picked to install panels on council homes - at no cost to the city council - having already pulled out.
The council had hoped to “lease” out the roofs of suitable council homes to the supplier, which would install and maintain the photovoltaic panels for 25 years.
In return, the company would have received the feed in tariff – a guaranteed payment made to the owner of the system for energy produced.
The tenants would have got free electricity at certain times of the day, while the city council would get money for selling excess energy into the national grid.
But with uncertainty over whether the tariffs would be reduced, the contractor the council had chosen, dropped out, so council officers will have to re-tender in the hope of finding another company to step in.
Victoria MacDonald, cabinet member for housing at City Hall, said: “The government has completely screwed up and that has affected the Norwich contract.
“I am sure officers at City Hall will do everything they can to see whether the scheme can be rescued or if another company can be found.
“At the end of the day this is about easing fuel poverty and saving money for thousands of people in Norwich.”
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6 comments
It might not be the system that's stupid.. Cold.
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nrg
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Yet again this stupid system said I was logged out so I sent it again. When will EEN24 fix this?
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COLD
Thursday, January 26, 2012
The main problem is all the dumb people concerned with solar power who don't have a clue what they are talking about, government and council included. I having been running a home made solar power system for about 12 years now, which is currently powering the computer I am using, and to-boot also works at night. More effort should be put into micro solar systems, rather than larger instillations, for one simple reason. Every house in the country can become involved, rather just a few thousand. As with wind power much of this grant money is basically just been wasted because so few can get involved, but try getting the local council or the government to understand this and you quickly hit a brick wall. Biggest is not always best.
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COLD
Thursday, January 26, 2012
The main problem is all the dumb people concerned with solar power who don't have a clue what they are talking about, government and council included. I having been running a home made solar power system for about 12 years now, which is currently powering the computer I am using, and to-boot also works at night. More effort should be put into micro solar systems, rather than larger instillations, for one simple reason. Every house in the country can become involved, rather just a few thousand. As with wind power much of this grant money is basically just been wasted because so few can get involved, but try getting the local council or the government to understand this and you quickly hit a brick wall. Biggest is not always best.
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COLD
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Tenants would've only benefited if they HAD the panels fitted, those other thousands of tenants who didn't, wouldn't benefit whatsoever. Much fairer scheme could be accomplished by insulating all roof space to a higher spec, all doors to be upvc and with double glazed windows along with cavity wall insulation. Wood burners with a back boiler to heat the water, would give all peeps far greater savings, than the £90 from useless and unfair sun power.......simples, even for Brenda and chums.
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nrg
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Quote. Victoria MacDonald, cabinet member for housing at City Hall, said: “The government has completely screwed up and that has affected the Norwich contract. So Victoria Norwich City Council never screw up, ConnaughtFountains spring to mind. Another council member so out of touch. Victoria I suggest as your council will not benefit financially, is to look at Fountain workers who have no income and now have to seek benefits for the mistakes your own council makes !!!
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chebram71
Wednesday, January 25, 2012