Why we want the judicial review to back the FiT reduction for schemes over 50kW

Much has been written and said about the accelerated feed in tariff review and the subsequent judicial review requested by a number of individuals and organisations.  Most of the comment has been from the perspective of the very same parties who are likely to miss out as a result of the reduction in feed in tariff for those solar PV projects larger than 50kW.  As a mostly small scale domestic installer, Norman Environmental feel that an important side to this argument is being ignored by both the press and the web's 'thought leaders' - who appear to us to be heavily weighed down by the financial returns of 50kW+ solar PV 'fields'.


We at Norman Environmental believe that to secure a low carbon future, the whole country has to undergo a culture-shift, and slowly we believe that this is beginning to happen.

We're backing Chris Huhne on FiT reductions over 50kW

Evidence of this can been seen all around us.  For example, cost cutting has meant in some counties refuse and recycling waste are picked up on alternate fortnights, forcing many people to recycle more waste and recycle more efficiently. Also, things we used to take for granted like petrol, diesel, electricity and gas are more expensive than ever, meaning that we are being more frugal in our energy usage.  

Meanwhile the term 'carbon footprint' has permeated our language to such an extent that we are more aware than ever that each and every one of our actions has the potential to impact the environment.

Solar fields will not create the cultural change we need in the UK

The question you may be asking is, where does micro generation fit into this?  And those of you who disagree with the thread we are developing are right to think that more solar panels equals less carbon output.  You may think that since that is our goal, solar fields are are a good, swift solution to our problem. 

Well no. That's not how we see things at all.  In fact we would argue that that attitude is (almost) as short sighted as the one that got modern western society in this mess in the first place. 

It is true that the quicker we install more solar panels and large scale renewable energy sources the quicker we will reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. But where then? How do we ensure that in the long term we treat energy with respect, thereby minimising waste? How do we ensure that we are not just putting the problem off until tomorrow? We believe that, in the minds of the subsequently ignorant population, a plethora of large solar fields are no better or worse than fossil-fuel-hungry power stations. However, should micro generation become part of UK culture - and everyone, or at least as many as possible, in the UK becomes more aware of the human, environmental and financial cost of harnessing energy for their own use - then we believe that we, as a nation, will create a culture of treating energy with respect.

The fact is that our carbon output has to be squeezed from both sides, minimising consumption AND maximising economy.  Encouraging small scale installations will allow solar PV to help reduce carbon output from both directions as individual homes monitor their energy generation and consumption. In our opinion too many solar fields will unbalance the equation toward haste and away from lasting change and that is why we want the judicial review to find that the Government are within their rights to make the tariff reduction on schemes above 50kW.

Our next blog will be part 2 of why we want the judicial review to support the Government giving our thoughts on the subsequent economic benefits.