HARLOW MP Robert Halfon has called on Energy Secretary Chris Huhne to take action to make the Harlow solar panel scheme more viable, following the changes to legislation.

During Energy Questions in the House of Commons today (Thursday) Mr Halfon asked Mr Huhne whether there was anything that could be done to to introduce a "community" tariff for schemes which would be more generous and would allow projects, such as one involving Kier and Harlow Council, to go ahead.

Mr Halfon told Mr Huhne there are "hundreds of Harlow residents in social housing who were promised solar power panels, but the new rate is too low for the scheme to be viable".

Mr Huhne replied: "The absolute key to what is happening with solar panels is the collapse in the cost. The idea that something might not be attractive commercially today does not mean that it will not be so in pretty short order.
"What has been happening over the past 18 months is an enormous increase in the production capacity of China.
"Essentially, what has happened is that the Henry Ford of solar panels - who happens to be Chinese these days - has introduced the Model T, and we are getting an enormous reduction in costs as a result of economies of scale."
Mr Huhne added it was disappointing that separate support could not be offered to community schemes, but he said this was not possible because of legislation passed by the previous Labour government.
However he added: "The continued fall in the cost of solar panels will make more and more schemes viable."

Mr Halfon said: "I will continue to do what I can to urge the Government to look at this again. However, there has also been a legal challenge that may give the Harlow scheme some hope."