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12 May 2011 / Malcolm Dowden
Issue: 7465 / Categories: Features , LexisPSL
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Green-eyed monster

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Feed-in tariffs: thinking big, or redefining small, asks Malcolm Dowden

Feed-tariffs (FiTs) were introduced in April 2010 to promote investment in and uptake of “small-scale” renewable and low carbon electricity generation technologies. The scheme requires licensed electricity suppliers (FiT licensees) to pay a generation tariff to small-scale low-carbon generators for:

  • electricity generated (whether or not that electricity is exported to the national grid); and
  • an export tariff to them where electricity is also exported to the national grid.

The scheme is applicable to a number of technologies up to a maximum capacity of 5MW. However, the Coalition government has proposed amendments, due to take effect on 1 August 2011, limiting full payments under the scheme in respect of solar photovoltaic (solar pv) installations to 50kW, with significantly reduced incentives for installations between 250kW and 5MW. The Coalition government’s decision was preceded by a series of announcements by minister of state Greg Barker characterising use of FiTs for commercial-scale solar pv installations as “abuse” of a scheme designed for small-scale domestic installations. Chris Huhne adopted similar

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

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Sponsored by
Forbes Solicitors—Stephen Barnfield

Forbes Solicitors—Stephen Barnfield

Regulatory team boosted by partner hire amid rising health and safety demand

Arc Pensions Law—Kris Weber

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Legal director promoted to partner at specialist pensions firm

Clarke Willmott—Jonathan Cree

Clarke Willmott—Jonathan Cree

Residential development capability expands with partner hire in Birmingham

NEWS
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NLJ this week: Mazur and more—inside the litigation frontline

From blockbuster judgments to procedural shake-ups, the courts are busy reshaping litigation practice. Writing in NLJ this week, Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School hails the Court of Appeal's 'exquisite judgment’ in Mazur restoring the role of supervised non-qualified staff, and highlights a ‘mammoth’ damages ruling likened to War and Peace, alongside guidance on medical reporting fees, where a pragmatic 25% uplift was imposed

NLJ this week: Social media bans for children spark legal dilemmas
Momentum is building behind proposals to restrict children’s access to social media—but the legal and practical challenges are formidable. In NLJ this week, Nick Smallwood of Mills & Reeve examines global moves, including Australia’s under-16 ban and the UK's consultation
NLJ this week: Leasehold reform risks creating ‘forgotten freeholders’
Reforms designed to rebalance landlord-tenant relations may instead penalise leaseholders themselves. In this week's NLJ, Mike Somekh of The Freehold Collective warns that the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024 risks creating an ‘underclass’ of resident-controlled freehold companies
NLJ this week: Court of Appeal clarifies when a claim truly begins
Timing is everything—and the Court of Appeal has delivered clarity on when proceedings are ‘brought’. In his latest 'Civil way' column for NLJ, Stephen Gold explains that a claim is issued for limitation purposes when the claim form is delivered to the court, even if fees are underpaid
NLJ this week: Split FDRs could ease pressure—and boost settlements
The traditional ‘single, intensive day’ of financial dispute resolution (FDR) may be due for a rethink. Writing in NLJ this week, Rachel Frost-Smith and Lauren Guiler of Birketts propose a ‘split FDR’ model, separating judicial evaluation from negotiation
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