The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Public opinion against government proposal to abolish solar export tariff
The UK Government’s proposal to axe the solar export tariff has met with little public support, according to an opinion poll.
The data survey, carried out by YouGov for Climate Action, found that a clear majority of those asked were in favour of continuing the solar export tariff rather than abolishing it.
The government recently announced its intention to axe the export tariff – the UK mechanism by which rooftop solar panel owners are paid for surplus energy they export to the grid – for new solar installations after March 2019.
According to Climate Action, the new UK Government policy would mean civilians would no longer be paid for excess energy they generate and are unable to use.
Asked whether the public should “be paid” for generated energy not used and sold back to the grid, 71% were in favour of the current agreement.
The poll also asked whether, after Brexit, the UK Government should guarantee citizens receive compensation for surplus energy, which also received a 71% favour rating.
In August the Solar Trade Association (STA) called on UK energy minister Claire Perry to back urgently the continuation of the “export tariff ”.
The organisation published a letter asking Ms Perry to continue the tariff to “ensure small solar generators are paid at a fair market rate for the power they feed into the grid”.
The STA claims the export tariff is not a subsidy but works alongside the Feed-In Tariff to ensure fair payment to firms.