The Supreme Court last week rejected government attempts to appeal against the outcome of January's solar feed-in tariff (FiT) court case.

January's court case ruled that the government's attempt to reduce the solar feed-in tariff payments before the end of a consultation period over the proposed cuts was illegal. This latest ruling means that, between 21 December 2011 and 4 March this year, the government will have to pay homeowners the original, higher rate of 43p/kwh, guaranteed for 25 years.

The industry has reacted positively to the news.

Friends of the Earth – which brought the original case to court along with several other organisations, welcomed the news. Executive director Andy Atkins said: "This is the third court that’s ruled that botched government solar plans are illegal – a landmark decision which will prevent Ministers causing industry chaos with similar subsidy cuts in future. The Coalition must now get on with the urgent task of restoring confidence in UK solar power. The Government recently pledged a huge increase in solar by the end of the decade; it must now spell out how it is going to achieve this."