Intelligent Energy Solutions news feed

Solar PV FIT to reduction in July 2012

Wed, 15 Feb 2012

The Government has released it's latest consultation document on the Solar PV Feed in Tariff.

This document has outlined that the Government wants to reduce the Feed in Tariff in July 2012 to somewhere between 13.6p - 16.5p, depending on the solar uptake up to this date.

The government wishes to reduce the feed in tariff so that investors receive a tax free return of around 4.5%. This rate reflects the simple deployment and reliability of generation that investors should expect.

More information can be found here:-
http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/Consultations/fits-review/4309-feedin-tariffs-scheme-phase-2a-consultation-paper.pdf

Exhibiting at Franchise Exhibition 24/25th February 2012

Wed, 08 Feb 2012

Intelligent Energy Solutions will officially be launching their franchise opportunity to the public at the Franchise Show held at ExCel London on the 24th and 25th February.

Renewable Energy Franchise

With extensive interest towards the end of 2011 and one franchisee already signed up, the Intelligent Energy Solutions franchise offers a great way to enter a rapidly growing renewable energy market with unparalleled knowledge of solar panels, heat pumps, rainwater harvesting and heating solutions. IES offer high quality products, MCS approved installations and a commitment to excellent customer service.

If you are looking for a management franchise we would recommend you come and talk to our team on the 24th (Friday) or the 25th (Saturday) of February.

Alternatively, we run regular Franchise Discovery Days where you can find out more. The next dates being 20th February, 9th March and 20th March 2012. Attendees should look to arrive at 10am with things drawing to a close shortly after lunch.

For free tickets to The Franchise Show please visit www.thefranchiseshow.co.uk .

Please contact us for more information.

Intelligent Energy Solutions is a leading UK provider of solar panels and heat pumps.

DECC FIT Clarification - 3rd March 2012

Sun, 22 Jan 2012

3rd March FIT Cut Off Date

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has provided vital clarification about the Feed in Tariff available to solar PV installations with an eligibility date that is after 12th December 2011.

DECC have confirmed that installations with eligibility date on or after 3rd March 2012 will be subject to the new Feed in Tariff of 21p/kWh (<=4kWp retrofit).

Installations with eligibility date before the 3rd March 2012 and after 12th December 2011 will receive at the very least the 21p/kWh (<=4kWp retrofit).

We would encourage all solar PV customers to order their systems in time to make this deadline (and submit paperwork to the electricity supplier). If the government loses the pending legal appeal these installations are very likely be eligible for the 43.3p/kWh high feed in tariff (guaranteed for 25 years).

The eligibility date is the date that your electricity supplier acknowledges receipt of your FIT application. This date is vital and is NOT the commissioning date of the PV installation.

Further details can be found here:-

http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/meeting_energy/renewable_ener/feedin_tariff/fits_review/fits_review.aspx

Intelligent Energy Solutions is a leading UK provider of solar panels and heat pumps.

DECC Appeal drags on

Sun, 15 Jan 2012

Following a day in court on the 13th January (last Friday), DECC's appeal still hasn't reached a sensible conclusion. The following statement is on the DECC website:-

"The Court of Appeal has not yet decided whether to give permission for an appeal or made a judgement on the FITs case. The Court will wrap up the decision on permission for an appeal and a possible judgement if an appeal is allowed in the next few weeks. Once the outcome is known we will consider our options and make an announcement on the way forward to provide clarity to consumers and industry."

This lack of decision is advantageous to the Government given that their recent moves have already been deemed to be 'legally flawed'. The longer the Government can draw out this process, the less time there will be for home and business owners to have installations completed before 31st of March 2012 if the original dates are reinstated.

We would encourage anyone who wishes to proceed with a solar PV system this year to make sure the installation is completed and registered before the 31st March 2012. This will give the client the best chance of receiving the original feed in tariff, guaranteed for 25 years, when the governments legal wranglings have been resolved.

Intelligent Energy Solutions is a leading UK provider of solar panels and heat pumps.

DECC Appeals

Fri, 06 Jan 2012

DECC have appealed against the court ruling that stated the premature reduction in Feed in Tariff was 'legally flawed'. The results of the appeal will be available soon but in the mean time DECC have issued the following statement.

"Customers and potential customers need to be aware of the continuing uncertainty over the rates that will apply after 1 April to installations completed between 12 December and 1 April (NB they will receive 43p in any case until 1 April):

If the Government wins on appeal, we are where we were before legal action began, ie the Government will consider all responses to its consultation proposals, including the proposal that a domestic system (up to 4 kWh) can expect to earn 21p from 1st April 2012.
If the Government does not win on appeal, then the 43p tariff remains in place for all registered installations until the Parliamentary process has concluded (expected to be 1st April 2012, possibly earlier).

It is not yet clear if the Government will be granted leave to appeal, and if so what date the appeal would be heard."

It would appear that there is a reasonable chance that installations up to end of end March will be eligible for the higher FIT rate.

Intelligent Energy Solutions is a leading UK provider of solar panels and heat pumps.

Christmas Opening Times

Fri, 23 Dec 2011

Intelligent Energy Solutions will be closed over the Christmas period from 24th December until 3rd January 2012.

Administrative staff will still be answering the phone over the break but no sales or technical staff will be available. For urgent matters please contact the office and leave a message explaining the urgency. A member of staff will then return your call.

Contact: 0800 7797710

Intelligent Energy Solutions is a leading UK provider of solar panels and heat pumps.

Solar Feed in Tariff Reduction - Legally Flawed

Thu, 22 Dec 2011

The government 's attempt to halve the solar feed in tariff from December 12th 2011 has been ruled legally flawed by the high court.
This could mean that the 12th December deadline will be put back allowing another mass of installations to take place and still be eligible for the high rate of 43.3p/kWh.

We would encourage anyone who has considered having a PV installation done to order their system and have it installed ideally before 31st January 2012. Alternatively there is a possibility that the old rate will still apply until the end of March 2012. Given the time scales involved and massive expected demand, home owners, businesses and public sector bodies should place their orders without delay.

Intelligent Energy Solutions is a leading UK provider of solar panels and heat pumps.

Solar PV Current FIT Deadline

Thu, 08 Dec 2011

We are urging all recent solar PV customers to make sure that their FIT application forms have been accepted by their energy supplier.
All forms must be with the customer's supplier before the 12th December (Monday). This means that many people will need to email there applications as many offices will not receive post over the weekend.
One customer contacted their supplier today only to discover that their application had been returned (with no eligibility date) due to an error on the form. Beware as your supplier may be looking for excuses not to pay you the current FIT rate.

Intelligent Energy Solutions is a leading UK provider of solar panels and heat pumps.

IES Workload Update - Business as usual

Fri, 11 Nov 2011

Since the government announcements at the beginning of this month IES consultant team has received unprecedented enquiries and orders.

Business as usual

Our installation teams are running at near full capacity but our administrative and sales operations for all products have now returned to normal.

Taking orders

We are now taking orders for Solar PV installations (and other products) towards the end of December and into the new year. With the new Feed in Tariff from 12th December the returns are still very attractive with up to 8% tax free per annum. Given the potential court action against the government for reducing the feed in tariffs with such short notice there is even a chance that the government dates will push back another few weeks. This means that that there is a small chance that installations completed after the 12th of December could still be eligible for the more generous rates. Please follow us on twitter, facebook or RSS from this news page to be kept fully upto date.

For installations after the 2nd week of December to avoid disappointment please place your orders now or contact 0800 7797710 for more information.

Intelligent Energy Solutions is a leading UK provider of solar panels and heat pumps.

Reduced Solar Feed in Tariff to be Challenged in Court

Fri, 11 Nov 2011

UK solar companies plan to take legal action against the government for reducing the Feed in Tariff at such short notice.

The lawyers acting for the solar companies argue that the 12 December deadline is unlawful because it prejudges the consultation process and is being implemented without adherence to the correct procedures. The lawyers also argue that the deadline is "unreasonable" because of its impact on the industry and on groups which have spent time and money developing projects that will have to be cancelled if they can't be completed by 12 December.

It certainly seems incredibly strange that a consultation process can consult about changing the rules on dates that have already passed, ie the consultation process is planned to end on the 23rd December.

You can read more about this current action here.

Providing more time will enable all the companies within the industry to plan more effectively, ensuring customers expectations can be met, manage workload, manage employment requirements and investment plans.

Intelligent Energy Solutions is a leading UK provider of solar panels and heat pumps.

IES Workload Update - Solar PV

Sun, 06 Nov 2011

Government announcements this week have led to a highly unusual few days which has certainly put the IES operation under some strain. We would like to thank our customer for their patience during this demanding time and also provide some information as to how things currently stand.

Prioritising Solar PV

We are currently prioritising Solar PV works over all other product lines at this time. This will enable us to install as many solar PV systems before the government deadline of 12th December as possible. We appreciate that many of our customer are not directly interested in photovoltaics but would ask them for their patience while we ensure more urgent requirements are met. Over the next 6 weeks our priorities will return to normal, ie first come first served.

Stocks

Stocks of panels will be under continual strain for the duration of November and into December. We have identified significant stock shortfalls with both Sungrid 260M6 and Sungrid 215M6 solar modules. Under certain circumstances we have been forced to ask customers to switch to carefully selected alternate products, please be assured such a request will only be made if it is truly necessary to complete the installation before the 12th December. In circumstances where customers feel they must receive the exact ordered specification we may not be able to complete the installation until after the December 12th deadline.

Solar Edge inverters are also in short supply and we may recommend alternatives if the 12th December deadline is to be met.

Email enquires and call backs

We are currently not in a position to prioritise email enquiries, website enquiries and website call back requests, this is due to the extremely high volume of telephone enquiries/queries. If you need urgent assistance we would recommend you call our head office telephone line (0800 7797710).

Over the course of the next few weeks sales support will return to normal but our scheduling, installation and administrative functions will still be under massive strain.

New Solar PV Orders

We do anticipate taking further installation orders before the end of November for completion before Friday the 9th December, however for the moment new orders are being put onto a waiting list. Over the next 2 weeks we will reassess the installation capacity and stocking position and contact customers from the waiting list as appropriate. We would ask any customer on the waiting list, if contacted, to make a decision promptly and be able to make a deposit payment on a debit card to avoid losing their slot.

Beyond 12th December 2011

After the deadline sales and installation process will return to normal. We expect demand for solar PV to remain strong into the new year given the still highly attractive reduced Feed in Tariff of 21p/kWh. Into the new year we also expect to be offering attractive deals to achieve returns on investments of between 6 and 10%. Please contact us for more details.

We thank all our customers for their patience and support during these unusual times.

Intelligent Energy Solutions is a leading UK provider of solar panels and heat pumps.

Offical Announcement for Feed in Tariff

Mon, 31 Oct 2011

After a weekend of speculation it has been confirmed that the government is consulting about the current feed in tariff of 43.3p/kWh (for sub 4kW retrofit installations) being to reduced to 21p/kWh for new entrants after the 11th December.
To be eligible for the current rate the system owner will need an eligibility date of the 11th December or earlier. The eligibility date is provided by your electricity supplier once your new installation submission has been accepted. We advise all customers to send this information to their supplier by recorded delivery.
Curiously the consultation period ends on the 23rd of December which is actually after the 11th December cut off date.

Installations after the cut off date will receive the new tariff which will still provide an attractive return on investment of between 4 and 8% tax free.

Intelligent Energy Solutions are a leading UK installer of green energy products from solar panels to heat pumps.

Latest: Feed in Tariff will drop to 21p after 11th December 2011

Sun, 30 Oct 2011

The feed in tariff for solar PV will drop to 21p/kWh from 12th December 2011. Some 4 months earlier than expected.

The change will be announced by the government on Monday 31st October and will frustrate endless numbers of consumers who planned to have solar installations completed before April 2012. The timings of this latest government u-turn will ensure that there is virtually no time for members of the public to have their systems installed before the 12th December and receive the currently generous rates.

While the reduced rate of 21p/kWh will still provide an attractive investment for many people (vs other investment/saving opportunities) it will be a shadow of the current rate of 43.3p. This will almost double the pay back period from around 7 to 13 years.

However with increasing electricity prices this return will certainly improve.

Intelligent Energy Solutions are a leading UK installer of green energy products from solar panels to heat pumps.

20p Feed in Tariff Rates from April 2012

Thu, 27 Oct 2011

Article in the Financial Times this morning...

The nascent solar industry is about to be thrown a lifeline by Greg Barker, climate change minister, who is poised to cut subsidies to small-scale generators by less than some operators had feared.
The Department of Energy and Climate Change is expected within days to announce a cut in the “feed-in tariff” (FiT) from its current 43p per kWh to about 20p per kWh, the Financial Times has learnt.

The move is likely to prompt a pre-Christmas rush by families to install solar panels on their roofs before the current generous subsidies are halved.
The new figure is high enough to maintain investment in the industry in the coming years but will stop what officials see as an overwhelming take-up by households.
Solar companies had been afraid that the FiT could be reduced to 9p per kWh, as had been urged by some within DECC. At that level it was feared that the industry would be decimated.
“There has been a big tug of war over this,” said one Whitehall source.

The turf war over small-scale solar did not involve the Treasury but was instead fought within DECC over the £860m allocation for the current spending round for feed-in tariffs in general.
The money does not come directly from government, but via a small charge added to electricity customers’ bills.

One Tory MP said that Mr Barker, who played a key role in setting up the FiT scheme while in opposition, had “fought tenaciously” to keep it on track.
While the FiT system exists to encourage all forms of renewables, some 97 per cent has gone into the solar industry, prompting ministers and officials to seek to put a brake on the spending.
The number of solar installations has almost doubled since June to just under 80,000 in September.
Labour, which introduced the subsidy in April 2010, had predicted 137MW of solar power in the first two years. Now, 18 months into the period, some 260MW is being produced – with more rapidly coming on stream.

This summer the tariff for large and medium-sized projects was slashed to 8.5 and 17p per kWh respectively, causing consternation among producers.

There will be widespread relief that the new level for small-scale projects is significantly higher. Even some solar power advocates recognise that sharp falls in the cost of solar panels since the introduction of the tariff mean there is less need for the subsidy.
Mr Barker will make a speech on Thursday to the renewables industry’s annual conference in Birmingham.

The minister is likely to tell companies they need to realise that in the current financial climate they cannot expect as generous subsidies as before. But the minister is understood to recognise that solar does still need substantial support for the next few years until it can stand on its own feet.
The news comes amid a cabinet spat between Chris Huhne, Liberal Democrat energy secretary, and George Osborne, Tory chancellor. Mr Huhne used a speech on Wednesday to attack “green economy deniers” in what was widely seen as an attack on Mr Osborne.

Intelligent Energy Solutions are a leading UK installer of green energy products from solar panels to heat pumps.

Mitsubishi Ecodan FTC3 - Now Available

Sat, 15 Oct 2011

Intelligent Energy Solutions have installed one of the first new Ecodan FTC3 systems in UK. This latest domestic retrofit was to combat ever increasing oil prices near Penrith in the Lake District.

The FTC3 controls the flow temperature of the heating water that flows from the heat pump. This latest model not only compensates flow based on external weather conditions but also takes into account the internal temperature. This means that as the living area reaches temperature the system slowly reduces the flow temperature in the radiators or underfloor heating. This gives even better internal temperature control and maximizes the heat pumps efficiency.
Prior to the FTC3 this level of Ecodan control was only ever achievable with Intelligent Energy Solutions' exclusive 'Intelligent Heating' controller 2 (normally specified for large properties with multiple Ecodan heat pumps).

The system also utilises a high pressure 3.5bar stainless steel cylinder. The stainless steel cylinder is specially configured with an enormous heat transfer coil which enables the cylinder to operate with similar efficiency to the more commonly specified high pressure copper cylinder.

This is a great advancement and really helps IES and Mitsubishi lead the way with domestic heat pump installations.

Intelligent Energy Solutions are a leading UK installer of green energy products from solar panels to heat pumps.

New Permitted Development Rights

Mon, 19 Sep 2011

NEW PLANNING STANDARDS GIVES RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS THE GREEN LIGHT

Consumers wishing to make the switch to renewable energy technologies will now be able to without planning permission as a result of changes to legislation.

Under previous guidelines, homeowners had to have planning approval before installing any domestic heat pump and small wind systems however, under new standards issued by the Department for Communities and Local Government, these requirements will be lifted and will have a major effect on the renewable energy sector. The new legislation, approved by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) for quality assurance, most significantly impacts the installation of Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP) and wind turbines, which historically have been the most difficult to secure planning permission.

Peter Searancke, managing director of Intelligent Energy Solutions, the award-winning renewable energy specialists, believes the new standards will not only help raise awareness of the benefits of renewable energy systems but will also lead to the creation of jobs in the sector.

“The requirement for planning permission has always restricted the growth of air source heat pumps and wind turbines,” he commented, “so the introduction of new Permitted Development Rights is long overdue. In particular planning departments have struggled to differentiate between a commercial air conditioning system and a domestic heat pump, so the advent of new guidelines should ensure that suitability of an air source heat pump for domestic homes will no longer be in question.

“The freeing-up of planning legislation will not only help householders towards more efficient heating and hot water, it will also help underpin the growth of the renewable sector and create more positions for trained installers.” He concluded.

The changes to Permitted Development Rights in England and Scotland were approved by government on the 6^th September 2011.

For more details see link:-
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2011/2056/pdfs/uksi_20112056_en.pdf

Intelligent Energy Solutions are a leading UK installer of green energy products from solar panels to heat pumps.

Installer of the Year 2011

Fri, 09 Sep 2011

Intelligent Energy Solutions have won their category at the Renewable Awards 2011.

Intelligent Energy Solutions, one of the East Midlands’ leading renewable energy companies, has been awarded the title of Energy Management Installer of the Year at the 2011 Renewables Awards.

The awards, held on the 8^th September at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry, formed part of the nationwide Renewables Roadshow, which toured the country to bring new technologies, products and training to the forefront of the construction industry. Judged by a panel of industry experts representing Green Heat, HHIC, HVCA, BRE and Wolseley UK, the Energy Management Installer of the Year category recognises businesses that supply and install a comprehensive range of renewable energy systems and provide sound, environmentally responsible advice and support pre and post-installation.

The judging panel commented that Intelligent Energy Solutions was selected because of its depth of knowledge and ambitious expansion plans, which include a franchise scheme to provide other likeminded individuals with the opportunity of starting their own business secure in the knowledge they will have expert back-up.

After accepting the award from TV presenter, Julia Bradbury, Intelligent Energy Solutions’ managing director, Peter Searancke said: “Winning this award is a fantastic achievement for our business and for the team. This type of recognition reflects our long term commitment to offer our customers a great service and the highest quality products. This national award not only supports our dedication to bring renewable energy from the margins to the mainstream, but also provides an excellent platform for the future development of the business.”

Intelligent Energy Solutions are a leading UK installer of green energy products from solar panels to heat pumps.

Moorgreen Show, Nottingham

Sun, 28 Aug 2011

Please come to see us at the Moorgreen Show this Bank Holiday weekend (28th and 29th August).

www.moorgreenshow.co.uk

Matt and David will be on hand to answer your questions on both Sunday and Monday. They have a sample solar pv panel, solar water heating panels and an air source heat pump for you to see.

We look forward to seeing you.

Intelligent Energy Solutions are a leading UK installer of green energy products from solar panels to heat pumps.

Leicestershire Company Shortlisted for Renewable Energy Award

Fri, 26 Aug 2011

One of the East Midlands’ most dynamic renewable energy companies, Intelligent Energy Solutions (IES), has been shortlisted in the 2011 Renewables Awards.

The Renewables Awards will be held at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena on 8^th September and form part of the nationwide Renewables Roadshow, which tours the country to bring new technologies, products and training to the forefront of the construction industry. IES is one of three businesses to be shortlisted in the Energy Management Installer of the Year category, which recognises companies that supply and install a comprehensive range of renewable energy systems and provide sound, environmentally responsible advice and support pre and post-installation.

Peter Searancke, managing director, IES commented: “The team is extremely pleased to have been shortlisted for this award. Winning would be a fantastic acknowledgement of our hard work over the past five years and serve as an excellent endorsement of our commitment towards a sustainable future for everyone.”

Founded in 2006, IES supplies and installs renewable energy solutions throughout the UK, including solar panels, air and ground source heat pumps and rainwater harvesting systems for residential and commercial properties.

Intelligent Energy Solutions are a leading UK installer of green energy products from solar panels to heat pumps.

IES to Speak at Retrofit Conference

Wed, 24 Aug 2011

Intelligent Energy Solutions' manging director, Peter Searancke, is to speak at the Sustainable Construction iNet's Retrofit Conference on September 22nd 2011.

The conference, held at Whittlebury Hall Hotel in Northampton, will allow attendees to quickly and clearly understand the key issues surrounding retrofit, from policy level through delivery and skills to customer needs and interaction.

Peter will be delivering real life case study examples of retrofit projects in the East Midlands, including Solar Panels and Heat Pumps installations.

Visit the BRE website for more information or to book your place.

This event is aimed at:

Private and social housing owners
Sustainability Directors / Managers
Stock Maintenance and Repair Directors / Managers
Maintenance Contractors
Architects , Designers and Consultants
Any SME working within the East Midlands construction industry

Intelligent Energy Solutions are a leading UK installer of green energy products from solar panels to heat pumps.

IES New Website Launched

Fri, 05 Aug 2011

Intelligent Energy Solution has launched it's new website.

The new website contains a wealth of information about solar panels, heat pumps and other renewable products. We have a new customer login to obtain more detailed information about our products.

The previous website had a well known and respected Product Journal. This has now been archived and future posts will be here or on our Twitter (IES_HomeUser) or Facebook feeds.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Intelligent Energy Solutions are a leading UK installer of green energy products from solar panels to heat pumps.