Since the introduction of feed-in tariffs at the beginning of last month, there have been a record number of inquiries about having solar panels installed. Energy provider Npower reported that over April there had been an 80% increase in the number of inquiries regarding solar panel installation and that record numbers of people were having them actually installed.

It is believed that the Government’s ‘Clean Energy Cashback’ scheme has stimulated the interest of homeowners who see solar power, other renewable energy sources and green home improvements such as double glazing as the perfect way to decrease their bills while doing their bit for the environment. In total, Npower installed 55 solar energy systems throughout April and received 200 requests for information.

The new feed-in tariffs pay homeowners and businesses for any electricity they generate through low-carbon means and any energy produced using these technologies can either be used to power the home or fed back into the national grid. The use of solar panels can create an income of 41.3p for every unit produced and the Government estimate than an average household could generate an income of anything up to £960 per year. On top of this the scheme is aimed at stimulating the low-carbon energy market and create new jobs as interest increases further.

Similar schemes have seen success in France, Germany and Spain and feed-in benefits also apply to other renewable energy generation methods such as wind and hydro power. Coupled with other energy saving technologies such as double glazing and improved insulation, energy cost savings for homeowners could be huge.

Author:  Thomas Davies

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