Future of Solar and incentives in US

There seems to be a bit of a dichotomy around solar energy in the marketplace at the moment. On the one hand, research suggests that consumers want more solar solutions with a recent YouGov survey saying that 72% of respondents still favoured solar power.  But on the other hand, deployment figures seem to suggest that people aren’t opting for solar.

Let’s take a look at the last 12 months. There is no doubt that the market has taken a heavy hit with deployment of solar PV at an all time low.  At the beginning of 2012 we saw solar PV deployment peak at an unprecedented 120,000 KW per week. By June 2012 this was tracking at under 20,000 KW per week and by w/c 25 November 2012 solar PV installations had fallen to a mere 3.8 MW (1130 installations) per week.  (Source: STA)

Energy Bill introduced to UK parliament

Described as a “once in a generation opportunity” to drive low-carbon economic growth by Energy Secretary, Ed Davey, the Energy Bill has been introduced to parliament today after repeated delays.

In a statement to the House of Commons, Davey said: “The Energy Bill will attract investment to bring about a transformation of our electricity market, moving from predominantly a fossil-fuel to a diverse low-carbon generation mix.”

New tax break strategy for green energy

If you can't beat Big Oil, join 'em. That's part of a pragmatic new green energy strategy that seeks tax breaks for renewable power that were once limited to fossil fuels and biofuels.

Energy experts view the effort as a realistic approach to Congress' partisan gridlock. Demands to kill all tax subsidies for oil, gas and coal are out. Attempts to extend those subsidies throughout the entire energy industry are in.

Japan panel head eyes incentive seen boosting solar power

The head of a Japanese panel suggested on Wednesday that utilities pay 52 cents per kilowatt-hour (kwh) for solar power supplies in a renewable energy incentive scheme, a rate that could encourage business investors to enter the budding market.

Japan will introduce in July a new feed-in tariff scheme, which was originally aimed to help cut fossil fuel consumption and has become a key policy as Japan tries to reduce its reliance on atomic power after last year's Fukushima disaster.