1 - 87% FIT Cuts in January – We have long been aware of the standard 3% FIT rate drop scheduled for the 1st October but now the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is proposing to cut the feed-in tariff rates for solar PV installations by as much as 87%. Publishing the outcome of the long-awaited feed-in tariff review, the government is proposing deep cuts to all bands from 1 January 2016.
Below are the proposed generation tariffs for 1 January 2016:
Capacity Feed-in tariff rate (p/kWh)
0-10kW 1.63
10-50kW 3.69
50-250kW 2.64
250-1000kW 2.28
>1MW 1.03
Stand alone 1.03
In addition to the severe cuts to the tariff rate, DECC is also looking to enforce default degression each quarter which would see FiT support for some scales of solar end on 1 January 2019. DECC will still implement a contingent degression mechanism that could degress tariff rates by a further 10% depending on deployment. While this is just a proposal at the moment previous proposals have all gone through as suggested of close to it.
Obviously, this is going to have a huge impact on the industry, in the short term however we expect and are already seeing signs of a rush to install similar to the last massive FIT rate cut and are putting on extra installation teams to accommodate.
If you, friends or family intend to have a Solar PV system installed then we would suggest you start to make plans ASAP. We still have installation dates available and offer the £100 “Refer a Friend” Scheme.
2 – 4kw All Black PV System £4,999 - CTS Renewables has been able to secure package deals with the UK’s largest PV wholesaler and are able to offer 15/16 panel 4kw All Black PV systems using Seraphim 265 or Perlight Delta Black 250 along with a Solis / Zeversolar Inveter. These systems include a 10 year insurance backed warranty, VAT, scaffolding all fully fitted by our own installation teams. Please contact the office for further details.
3 - Manual Okofen Boiler Offer - Following the success of our 2014 autumn offer on the entry-level ÖkoFEN hand-fill wood pellet boiler, we are delighted to announce that we are able to bring you an even better deal in 2015. From September 1st - 30th November 2015, this beautifully designed Austrian boiler has been reduced by up to £2,500.
The Renewable Heat Incentive has been dropping over the past few months for Biomass Boilers because of its unexpected popularity, but following the next RHI drop on the 1st of October, we expect that to stabilise over the next few months. With the amazing reductions and the winter weather upon us, now is a great time to see if a biomass heating system is a good option for your home. And remember the domestic RHI for biomass currently pays 7.42p for every kwh required to heat your home for 7 years!
4 – Solar Thermal Deals – With much of the limelight over the years on Solar PV, Solar Thermal systems have seen a marked reduction in their popularity. That however, appears to be changing. In the last six months CTS Renewables has installed as many solar thermal systems than we have done in the previous four years. We attribute this partially to significant reductions in installation costs, partially to the introduction of the domestic RHI scheme, but mainly we find that our sales come from our satisfied Solar PV, Biomass and Heat Pump Customers who are looking to add to their energy saving portfolio of products.
Solar Thermal Panels are a great addition to any property with a non-combi boiler based heating system as they can reliably provide domestic hot water over the summer months, enabling customers to reduce running times for their boilers over these months and also supplement hot water generation in the colder months. For those customers already accessing the domestic RHI for their Biomass or Heat Pump systems, you are still able to access the RHI for solar thermal in addition to your current RHI payments. The same can be said for Feed in Tariff payments.
In addition a significant proportion of our installations are fitted to properties with Solar PV and Immersun/Iboost systems. These technologies can complement each other as the solar thermal preheats the incoming cold water before it reaches the immersion heater element. The combination of the two technologies mean that you are able to greatly extend the days of the year for which the sun can heat your hot water. The average amount of roof space required for solar thermal is 1m² per person and a solar thermal compatible hot water cylinder will need to be in place or installed by our plumbers.
5 – Tesla Battery Backup – One of the founding principles of CTS Renewables is that we do not install equipment we would not be happy to install into our own homes. This has been particularly pertinent for the installation of battery backup systems. Current solutions on the market are either too expensive, too small (storage capacity) or too unreliable (battery longevity). This is true even for some large household name products which have entered the market.
However here at CTS Renewables we are getting very excited about the upcoming Tesla Powerwall System. Tesla manufacture electric sports cars, and are about to complete construction of the world’s largest battery production facility. The Powerwall has all the hallmarks of a great product with suitable storage capacity, pricing and longevity. It can integrate into existing inverter systems, though Solaredge and Fronius are the only companies to officially partner with Tesla, oh and it looks great too!
We are in the process of becoming an authorised installer for Tesla so will keep you updated as it progresses towards the expected launch date in the new year.
Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter, more information on ouR products and serivices can be found at www.ctsrenewables.co.uk, or you can call our office on 01623 422254.
Kind Regards
Matthew Baxter
Sales & Marketing Director
