SOLAR BLOG

The latest energy provider to announce its fuel bill rises is Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE), whose gas and electricity customers will see increases of 18% and 11% respectively. With fuel bills likely to continue in this upward spiral, solar power is becoming increasingly popular.

SSE’s rises will come into effect at the start of September 2011, a month after similar hikes from British Gas and Scottish Power. The rise in wholesale prices is cited as the cause, but, with consumer prices up by 71% in little over five years, consumer groups are dismayed.

Consumer Focus recently claimed that more than 10% of the UK’s population will be in fuel poverty soon, and the latest news saw chief executive Mike O’Connor claiming:

...although wholesale prices have risen, they remain around a third lower than 2008 [so] consumers cannot tell whether these increases are justified.

He went on to suggest that the lack of trust in the energy providers is building as a result, which gives more reason for the increased popularity of home solar panel installations

As solar power technology has advanced, so to the cost of installing an array has fallen. The advances have also made the systems viable to increasing numbers of homes, whilst the feed in tariff scheme (FIT) helps families achieve lower fuel bills.

Under the scheme, energy providers are required to pay those producing energy through solar panel installations. This is whether the electricity produced is used by the family, or directed back into the national grid.

With lower bills and an income possible through FIT, more and more households are realising just how effective the solution could be.

New figures released by the government have revealed that more than a fifth of all UK households were in fuel poverty in 2009. With energy bills rising all the time, this figure could be set to soar over coming years.

A household is said to be in fuel poverty if more than 10% of its income goes on heating the home. With electricity bills rising by 75% between 2004 and 2009 and gas up by 122% in the same period, the DECC figures could be construed as not being much of a surprise.

However, it is a surprise when realised that fuel poverty in the UK was falling steadily up until 2003. Indeed, it is a major cause for concern, with an ageing population and all energy suppliers likely to replicate the hikes announced recently by British Gas and Scottish Power.

There are initiatives in place to help households become more energy efficient though, whilst installing viable renewable energy supplies such as solar panel installations could also have a significant positive effect.

One such initiative which also promotes the use of renewable energies is the feed in tariff scheme. Administered by the government, it allows homes to produce their own energy which can be used at source, and any surplus sold back into the grid.

Under the scheme, households can expect the solar panels to pay for themselves within 10 years, whilst fuel bills will be cut drastically. Interested parties should research solar panel suppliers carefully of course, but for thousands of homes, they are proving to be an economical and environmentally friendly solution.

As the news sinks in that their gas and electricity bills are to rise, many of the nine million British Gas (BG) customers could well start to embrace solar power.

The supplier will apply the increases in August 2011. Claiming the rises come as a result of rising wholesale prices and following several months that the company has effectively been operating at a loss for its consumer supply, this move follows similar increases from Scottish Power.

However, many are saying the BG rises, which will equate to an additional average annual expense of £190, are simply unfair at a time when households are feeling the pinch from every direction.

The instant reaction to the news is leading most households to comparison websites to seek out better fixed price deals. However, there is also a move seeing greater consideration for the benefits of a solar power installation in the home.

The cost of installation in itself is coming down all the time, whilst with improved technology it is becoming ever more viable throughout the UK.

Most beneficial of all though is the long term financial aspect, through lower bills and the money it will generate through the government’s feed in tariff scheme, which sees those producing renewable energy entitled to payment from suppliers.

Even without suppliers upping their bills, fossil fuel bills are on course for constant rises, as supplies are depleted and carbon emission taxes imposed. Alongside attitudes to living a greener lifestyle increasing too, solar panel installations in homes throughout the country could well become a standard sight.

Coventry Cathedral is set to become the country’s first cathedral to embrace the power of the sun, with a solar panel installation on its roof.

The array will be made up of up to 178 solar panels, which could produce up to 50 kilowatts of power. Covering an area of 200 square metres though, the move is still subject to planning permission being received for the Grade I listed building.

If installed there will be significant savings made on electricity bills, whilst income could also be generated under the government’s feed in tariff. But it is also as a beacon for society’s need to increase the use of renewable energies and help the environment, the project is intended.

The installation of a digital display will show visitors to the iconic building just how effective the solar panels are. Further than this, the diocese in which the cathedral sits, has also launched a “solar roof club”, to encourage local households to install their own solar panels.

It is hoped that the project will be underway in order that the Queen’s planned visit in 2012 could commemorate the opening of the installation. There is still a long way to go though as, not only is planning permission required, but consent also needs to be granted from the Cathedral Fabric Commission of England.

With support already received from both the Archbishop of Canterbury and The Church of England though, the signs are looking good. Solar panel suppliers could well be celebrating too, if a fraction of the 42 million Christians in the country pay heed to this latest sermon.