Policy

The backlash to the U.K. Government’s decision to launch a comprehensive review of its feed-in tariff on Monday has begun. Dissenting voices are becoming increasingly audible, with ministers publically bemoaning the coalition’s decision and airing fears about its long-term impact on the solar industry.

Although analysis is still ongoing, the Italian energy office responsible for handling PV installation applications, GSE, has provided an update to installation figures for 2010. The total number of submissions that were received on time reached 54,106, providing a total power figure of 3,771MW.

The U.K. Government is to launch a review of its feed-in tariff (FiT) scheme amid fears that larger projects have been taking a disproportionate share of available subsidies.

A sudden rise in the number of solar power installations in Italy is being investigated by the government over fears of feed-in tariff (FiT) fraud, according to Industry Minister Paolo Romani.

Germany's cabinet has confirmed that it will cut solar power subsidies by up to 15% in July this year, ending the ongoing dispute between the economy and environment ministries.

Despite the confusion over the GSE’s PV installation figures for 2010, Barclays Capital PV analyst Vishal Shah said in an investors note that no matter what the actual installation figure will be for 2010, it is increasingly likely that the Italian government would have to pay for 6GW worth of subsidies at the 2010 FiT rate.

Due to the widespread disaster throughout Australia, caused by the country’s recent floods, several cutbacks will be made in order to fit the bill. One area which is expected to be hit hard by the fundraising is the renewable energy sector.

The Taiwanese government has reduced the feed-in tariffs for solar power for 2011 by approximately 30% from the levels in 2010 due to the falling cost of solar photovoltaics installation equipment.

Germany's Environment Ministry will not place a cap on solar power incentives, despite being warned by an advisory panel that the industry was growing too fast.

The Japanese government is considering cutting the rate that utilities pay for surplus solar power by 12.5% in April, according to financial newspaper Nikkei.