Solar power “should not be provided to the grid for free” according to energy and clean growth minister Claire Perry, potentially heralding a change of stance from the government as it plans the future of small scale renewables.
Perry was answering the first question of the day in the House of Commons from fellow Conservative Kevin Hollinrake, who asked if she believed that householders should expect some form of payment “rather than simply subsidising large energy companies”.
“I do completely agree that solar power should not be provided to the grid for free and that’s why I’ll shortly be announcing the next steps for small scale renewables,” the minister replied.
She later added in answer to a question from Richard Graham: “It would be wrong to have power provided to the grid for free.”
Perry continued to press the point when confronted with an accusation from shadow minister Alan Whitehead that she has “messed things up on this occasion” by putting the closures of the FiT and the export tariff together.
“I can’t think of a better way to discourage people from investing in solar in the future than telling them that they will be expected to give away to the national grid half of the electricity they generate from their investment. We’re not talking about a subsidy here when we talk about an export tariff, we’re talking about a payment for good supply,” he said.
In reply, the government minister said: “People who have gone through the installation process should not be essentially captive takers should someone want to buy their energy and I’m looking forward to announcing some further deliberations on this shortly.”
This marks the first sign from the Conservative front bench that it has reconsidered its previously stated position to close the export tariff at the same time as the feed-in tariff as set out in a consultation in July.
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