ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at the investment case for solar photovoltaics (PV), and the support and advice available in the UK. Drivers to incentivise the implementation of PV power include the urgency of climate change, legislative drivers, European finance availability, the continued lowering price of modules, other investment budgets, drivers arising from the 2012 Earth Summit, and even requirements from some insurance policy providers that their clients take steps to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Since April 2008, PV is classed as 'permitted development' under the Town and Country Planning Order 1995, and permission does not need to be sought. This category includes most domestic microgeneration in England, including solar PV, solar thermal, ground and water source heat pumps. Even so, planning law treats as 'development' all external installations, including solar panels, and the local Planning Authority should be informed.
