You could almost hear the screech of brakes throughout the UK's solar sector as the UK secretary of state for energy and climate change, Chris Huhne, said on 7 February, 'I am today announcing the start of the first review of the feed-in tariffs (FiTs) scheme for small-scale low carbon electricity generation.' This was the third 'warning light' to come on during the short lifetime of the UK's FiT. First had been the change of government just a few weeks after the FiT's introduction. Next, the run-up to the government's Comprehensive Spending Review in October had put the nascent solar business on alert.Having survived these potential crises, the sector continued with relative confidence into 2011, albeit aware that a FiT review scheduled for 2012 might come early. That it came as early as February 2011 was a shock to many, leaving industry players in a state of confusion and - often - anger. While there are government assurances that the FiT for microgeneration (schemes up to 50 kW) will continue, the big uncertainty is the future of tariffs for schemes above 50 kW - it will be months before that becomes clear.
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