npower's solar division has applauded Michael Eavis's decision to install solar photovoltaic panels at Glastonbury, and has urged other festival organisers to follow his example.

While Mr Eavis was motivated by his ambitions for an eco-friendly festival, according to npower's solar expert James Morgan there's now a second incentive for festival organisers to go green.

He said: "From 1 April 2010, owners of solar photovoltaic panels will be paid for all the energy they generate – regardless of whether they use it themselves or sell it back to the grid.


"This means Eavis could earn in the region of £42,000 every year from his 193 kWp system. Once the payback period is complete, this sum will no doubt be a welcome contribution to the bank balance when trying to secure world-class musicians such as Jay-Z and Coldplay."

Feed-in-tariff levels – or FITs as they are more commonly known – will pay homeowners between 29.3p and 41.3p for every unit of energy generated depending on the size of their system.

Last month, Mr Eavis announced that he is to invest in 1,500 square metres of PV panels on the barns at Worthy Farm ahead of the 2010 festival. He estimated that they would produce annual savings of 100 tonnes of CO2.

Work will begin to install the panels on August 1, as long as planning permission is granted and surveys confirm that the barn roof is strong enough to hold the panels.

(CD/NS)