Anyone got a solar panel grant?

[monkeytrousers]

Do they really exist?

Have they actually dropped it yet? I got a heads up from the energy saving trust to say they were consulting about it, didn't know it was finalised yet. Not that it affects me, my panels have been running since April and are making & saving lots of money for us (they did cost all our savings though).
The in-laws are getting a 16 panel PV system fitted, it will take longer to pay back, but it's tax free income and low maintenance.

It drops on the 12 December but to be sure you get the higher tariff rate you must be installed and registered by then, so need to move fast.

Also need to move fast if you want the free solar products as these will probably disappear when the tariff drops - tough on social housing and low income families.

inmysparetime it is a consultation but they are not going to change it. The deadline for getting installed is 12 december, as BTB says - although the consultation doesn't end until 23 december. so Govt has definitely made up its mind on this one!

Grants are bugger all use to anyone except people who could afford to do the work anyway. Really winds me up. Even with a grant we could never have afforded solar panels in a month of Sundays.

Sour grapes aside, I couldn't believe it when this "greenest Government ever" stuck the knife in and effectively wiped out the market. What is wrong with these people? They're only interested in renewables when there's a gravy train involved AKA highly inefficient and destructive wind farms.

Sadly it isn't the first time they've done it either. They killed off large scale solar earlier this year, and also the CRC (carbon reduction commitment) for companies, initially it was set up so it would reward companies who were pushing hard to reduce their emissions, but then they decided to scrap the financial reward side of things (a recent post about it is here www.freshbusinessthinking.com/news.php?NID=10906).

Now the next thing.. ground/air source heat pumps will be part of the FiT next October due to the RHI, lets see what they do with that!