Wind industry calls for FiT overhaul

RenewableUK has called for the Department of Energy and Climate Change to increase the degression capabilities of the Feed-In Tariff for the sub-500kW wind sector to support domestic turbine manufacturers.

Under the scheme, a 10% degression is triggered on reaching a pre-determined level of capacity. It is widely suspected that the level is set at a low level so that degression is almost guaranteed.

The report also calls for the Department to acknowledge that not all pre-accredited projects will be installed and make amendments to the preliminary accreditation policy process.

A FiT review is anticipated for later in the summer. R-UK small and medium wind development manager has said:

“It is anyone guess as to when the outcomes of the review will be implemented. It may be the autumn but it may not be until spring 2016.” R-UK noted that 2014 was a successful year for medium wind (100kW to 500 kW) with installed capacity rising 60% year on year to 69.78MW. However small wind has been limited in progression. Annual installation of 1.5kW to 15kW wind was 2.31MW last year, a decline from 2.39MW in 2013.

As such RenewableUK has called for the DECC to reinstate the 15kW FiT bracket as a matter of importance.