Mipower to deliver the benefits of the Feed in Tariff to homeowners and businesses via solar PV systems

From the 1st of April 2010, the Government has made the Feed in Tariff (FIT) available that pays the owners of domestic and commercial buildings up to maximum of 41.3 pence for every unit (kWh) of electricity generated from their solar PV systems.

A group of Midlands-based businessmen - led by former Shrewsbury and Atcham Borough Council chief executive, Robin Hooper - have launched a nationally-focussed company to deliver the benefits of the FIT to homeowners and businesses via solar PV systems. Called Mipower Ltd, the company is solely focussing on the installation of solar photovoltaic (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 generation tariff."

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 UK.

"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."

Mipower has been awarded the all-important MCS accreditation (Microgeneration Certification Scheme), which is the 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."

Related categories:  Environmental technologies for Residential and Green homes   Solar power and photovoltaics 

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