Environment & Energy

muriel_volestrangler

(101,355 posts) Mon Oct 7, 2013, 07:10 AM Oct 2013

Spain’s sunshine toll: Row over proposed solar tax

They would pay a backup toll for the power from their solar panels, in addition to the access toll paid by everyone who consumes electricity from the conventional grid.

Although the tolls vary, if you pay an access toll of 0.053 euros per kWh, you could face a backup toll of 0.068 euros per kWh.

The new tax would extend the average time it would take for solar panels to pay for themselves from eight to 25 years, according to the solar lobby.

The government says that with increasing "self-consumption", the income for conventional energy systems will decrease, but grid maintenance will cost the same.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-24272061

This seems a quick way to sabotage solar power in a country ideally suited to it. I can see limiting a feed-in tariff - while that may have needed to be generous at first to encourage installation, the falling cost of panels may have meant it's not needed now. But this just looks like a way of discouraging solar.

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Spain’s sunshine toll: Row over proposed solar tax (Original Post) muriel_volestrangler Oct 2013 OP

Feed in tariff was lowered in the UK too dipsydoodle Oct 2013 #1

Such an approach is extremely short sighted on the part of the utilities. kristopher Oct 2013 #2

dipsydoodle

(42,239 posts)

1. Feed in tariff was lowered in the UK too

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)

Mon Oct 7, 2013, 07:34 AM

Oct 2013

and in Germany the economics of operating the grid in certain areas was mooted months ago.

I'm not sure how vat is treated on the feed-in tariff ?

As an aside I've no doubt that in the future, just as we now get spam call re. "were you mis-sold whatever" , we'll get were
" were mis-sold solar energy." calls. I've no doubt there's some scamming going on and that the commission on sales is very high. Must confess the current Ikea offer seems fair though.

kristopher

(29,798 posts)

2. Such an approach is extremely short sighted on the part of the utilities.

Reply to muriel_volestrangler (Original post)

Tue Oct 8, 2013, 11:42 AM

Oct 2013

There are two futures for utilities compared to today: small or smaller.

IF the utilities make themselves relevant by adding value to a network of microgrids, they can preserve and expand their transmission and distribution role. If they choose to try and obstruct the potential of grid tied solar, then there are going to see the consequence in accelerated adoption of emerging peripheral technologies like EV scale battery storage or affordable stationary fuel cells powered by local wind or solar.

Grid tied renewables are better for them than renewable micro-grids that are totally off the utilities' systems.

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