In November 2009 the Government announced dramatic changes to their renewable policy, particularly in relation to solar electricity/photovoltaics. Instead of a capped capital grant scheme, they introduced a feed-in tariff, similar to the model that has been so successful in Germany over the last 10 years. The tariff pays homeowners who install a solar electric array on their house an amount of 41.3p per kilowatt hour generated by the system, and beyond that the customer can enjoy the benefit of the actual electricity generated for free, or sell it back to their electricity supplier. This results in a payback of around 10 years on the installation, and since the rate is index linked and guaranteed for 25 years, tax free, is a compelling financial vehicle for those who can afford the capital outlay. Despite the Government’s pronouncements at the launch, the availability of zero or low interest loans to help finance the installations remains poor. Nevertheless, since the tariff went live in April 2010, substantial capacity has been installed in the UK, which is a major achievement in what is an embryonic business. It would be good news if this helped create the platform for a long term viable renewable energy business in the UK which could generate significant employment, as well as extending the benefits of renewable energy to large numbers of householders in the UK.