Now Homeowners can sell Electricity back to the National Grid

Midlands, UK, 19th July 2010 – Following the UK Government’s new initiative to boost the uptake of renewable power generation; a group of Midlands-based businessmen have launched a new national company to enable homeowners and businesses to take advantage of a generous package of financial incentives that have become available – and sell electricity back to the supply network. Called Mipower Ltd, the company is solely focussing on the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, a technology that generates electricity from daylight. From the 1st of April 2010, the Government has made available a new ‘Feed in Tariff’ (FIT) that pays homeowners a guaranteed 41.3 pence for every unit (kWh) of electricity generated from their solar PV systems. Robin Hooper, chairman of Mipower said: “This new Feed in Tariff (FIT) is a great incentive for individuals and businesses to start generating their own, clean, carbon-free electricity. “They can not only save significant sums on their electricity bills by using less power, but they will also generate a Government-guaranteed, index-linked income that will be paid to them for the next 25 years. “If they are not using all of the solar power that they generate, it will feed back into the local electricity network and they will get paid an additional sum that will be a minimum of 3 pence per kilowatt hour (kWh). This is on top of the 41.3 pence!” Robin went on to explain that during the last few years, he has been involved in a number of renewable power projects; working as a consultant, advising clients on a raft of legal, commercial and environmental issues. “The FIT model has proven to be successful across Europe, particularly in Germany.” “Clearly it is going to be a real benefit to homeowners and businesses here in the UK and this has given us the stimuli to launch a business and create much-needed employment here in the Midlands. “In May 2010, I installed my own system and have been absolutely delighted with it. “Solar PV will save me around £500 per annum on my home electricity bills, plus generate an income of somewhere between: £1,300 to £1,400 - a sum that that will quickly pay for the cost of the system. “I’ve actually witnessed my electricity meter running backwards as the electricity we’re generating feeds back out into the grid, where I know I am getting an extra 3 pence more for each kilowatt I produce. “I’m able to see what’s being generated on an hourly basis and this is changing the way my family and I consume electricity. Where we once used to run the dishwasher and washing machine at night, we now run them during daylight hours to use as much of the free solar energy as we can. This is maximising our savings.” Since the launch of the company, it has been inundated with enquiries from prospective clients throughout the UK. Mipower has been awarded the all-important MCS accreditation (Microgeneration Certification Scheme), which is an independent scheme that certifies microgeneration products and installers in accordance with quality and performance standards. “The systems that we were assessed on passed with flying colours.” explained Mark Jones, managing director of Mipower Ltd: “Normally, they’d expect to have some minor faults, but our installation team had got it absolutely spot on. “One thing that does set our company apart from our competitors is that Mipower is a specialist company that only does solar PV projects. We are experts in the technology, rather than, say, a roofer or an electrician installing projects as a sideline. “The technology will work with pretty much any building, whether it’s domestic, commercial or industrial, the principle is much the same. “Factors such as the direction a roof faces, its pitch and where in the country it is located will influence the amount of daylight it can usefully capture. Note that I use the word ‘daylight’, as it does not need to be sunshine and blue skies to generate electricity – which is just as well with our wonderfully unpredictable British weather.” For further information, please visit http://www.mipower.co.uk ENDS

Tags: