We invite you to:

• Join in the first stage of an exciting ethical investment community.
• Support community centres, private home owners, and businesses in your local community by allowing them to source free/subsidised green energy from the solar PV systems on their roofs.
• Earn up to a projected 6 percent return on your investment (with potential for up up to 50 percent SEIS/EIS tax relief).

When the UK Government officials justify their actions on the proposed FIT cuts with reference to "similar" cuts currently being applied to similar schemes in more mature solar PV markets, what does this actually mean?

In this blog we explore the potential repercussions of the manic rush for solar PV that we experienced over the past month and a half.

The Feed in Tariff (FIT), the key Government scheme put in place to incentivise the uptake of solar photovoltaic (PV) installations (amongst other renewable electricity generating technologies) on domestic properties appears to be about to receive yet another radical hair cut from the Coalition Government, the third one this year. Leaked FIT review results appear to indicate that the proposed cut to FIT rates could be as high as 50%. However, at S&G we would advocate that this should not deter from the continuing investment potential that the FIT still represents. Read here why we think so.

Documents prematurely published on the EST website give an indication of what's to come from the Government's review of the FIT. Our Coalition have seemingly decided to bring forward the review implementation date to December 8th and slash the rates for Domestic Solar PV (<4kW) by over 50% (from 43.3p to 21p/kWh). It's a slap in the face, it's a idiotic u-turn by a gutless government displaying complete ignorance of the effect of uncertainty on an industry BUT there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Save & Generate have produced a series of Fact Sheets aimed at providing a clear summary of topics affecting the renewable energy microgeneration sector. The S&G Fact Sheet on the Feed in Tariff (FIT) provides an overview of this key Government incentive to promote the uptake of small scale renewable electricity generating systems by the domestic and commercial. sector.

If you are confused regarding what to do about your energy systems you are not alone. Solar panels, insulation, heat pump heating systems, heat recovery, smart metering.... the list of products to help against rising energy costs is ever growing. Deciding which is the best for your situation is a increasingly difficult task especially when faced with bold claims by manufacturers and installers. The Save & Generate Energy Assessment is the best way to independently get advice and clear direction on what is best solution for your energy systems.

Closely mirroring the German market trend from the early 2010s (see Figure 1), the UK is now firmly on track for meeting its 2014 target of 350,000 microgeneration installations.

The Save and Generate map has data on over 1,000 installations!

To those who own a range cooker (Aga, Esse, Rayburn, Everhot etc) they almost become part of the family: day in day-out providing heating, cooking and something to lean on when you're telling a joke in the kitchen. However, spiralling fuel costs (range cookers usually run on oil) are threatening this beloved position as owners start to feel the pinch of what can seem like an expensive method of heating and cooking. Research by Save & Generate, looking at the running costs of cast iron range cookers and stoves, is investigating how solar power and intelligent control systems can help reduce running costs.

Large multinational companies have joined the solar party with the launch of a number of summer time 'special' offers. One of which is a 'limited time only 20% off solar panels'. Don't be fooled by the advertising just ask yourself these important questions: What is the actual market value of the equipment they will install? Is it the best value for money? Who exactly will be doing the installation works? The answers to these questions highlight some serious issues with offers such as these.

A domestic solar PV system has been monitored over its first year and has generated 23% more than predicted and yielded a whopping 13% return on investment! The property located in South Wales that found an installer of Solar PV through Save and Generate has completed 1 year of generation. The system has out-performed expectations. Here we summarise the results and economics of what is a fairly standard solar PV installation. The conclusion? NOW is a good time to invest in a solar PV.

This blog forms the last in a 3-part series of accounts dedicated to capturing our experiences with getting solar PV installed on the Save and Generate Headquarters.

After all the bad news about the increases in energy prices from the big six (e.g. British Gas will increase their tariffs for gas by 18% and for electricity by 16% after 18 August 2011), and especially after reading many badly documented news articles which either promote solar energy or talked really badly about it, we thought it was about time to show you some values and how these energy price hikes are set to affect us all. At the same time we wanted to show you what opportunities exist by 'going green' and installing a renewable energy system at your house.

Solar photovoltaics, finally something worth investing in, both from a financial and a sustainability perspective, and sure enough, the financial advice media gets it completely wrong yet again. You can't help but wonder why journalists dash into writing these articles that are so blatantly misinformed, can it really be that they simply haven't done their home work?

Follow Save and Generate Director Mike Soldner's experiences with getting solar PV installed on the company's headquarters. Take a virtual tour of the first stages of the installation works.

One year after publishing the shocking findings of its first consumer research report on the solar industry, slating the sales tactics used in the solar thermal (solar hot water) industry, a second consumer study comes up with the same findings for the solar photovoltaics (solar electricity) industry. This time Which? not only name and shame specific companies, but also highlight the fact that a striking contradiction in Government rules enforced through the MCS may have a role to play in this as well. To S&G these findings come as no surprise and we have long been developing consumer guidance to help overcome these issues.

Follow Save and Generate Director Mike Soldner's experiences with getting solar PV installed on the company's headquarters. A visual first-hand guide through the minefield of selecting the best installer and system for a given situation.

For all of you who haven't seen it, here is the factsheet from Ofgem with the Feed-in Tariffs adjusted rates for all the different clean energy technology types. These are the new generation and export tariff rates that will be paid to whoever install a clean energy technology system from 1 April 2011 until 31 March 2012.

The news that the governments renewable energy installation support mechanism, the Feed In Tariff (FIT) will come under premature review has generated an angry retort from the sector saying that the uncertainty is scaring off much needed investment. The good news is that there is no indication that the review will threaten the FIT rate for small domestic systems. This secures the excellent investment opportunity that is domestic scale solar PV that can give a guaranteed return of 5-12% on an investment for the next 25 years.