Feed-in Tariffs
Since the 1 April 2010 qualifying installations producing electricity and connected to the National Grid receive feed-in tariff (FiTs) payments.
The FiTs vary according to the microgeneration technology being used and are designed to encourage early adoption of these technologies.
For each kWh of electricity you generate no matter whether you use it or export it to the Grid you receive a payment as shown in the table below. If you export electricity you will receive a further 3p per kWh presently.
The FiTs considerably foreshorten the payback period of all the different microgeneration systems and make solar electricity quite attractive. The payments will continue for 25 years which is well beyond the average 10 year payback period for solar PV systems.
Feed-in Tariffs for Solar Electricity
| Technology | Scale | Tariff level (p/kWh) | Tariff Lifetime (years) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solar electricity (PV) | ≤4 kW (retro fit) | 43.3 | 25 |
| Solar electricity (PV) | ≤4 kW (new build) | 37.8 | 25 |
As of 1 April 2011 which take into account rise in Retail Price Index (RPI) which was 4.8%.
Tariff levels vary depending on the scale of the installation. The FiTs quoted above are for domestic sized arrays of up to 4kWp (Kilowatt Power). Above this level the FiTs drops off.
The tariff levels shown in the table above apply to installations completed from 15th July 2009 to 31st March 2012 for the lifetime of the tariff. After this date, the rates decrease each year for new entrants into the scheme.
All generation and export tariffs will be linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI) which ensures that each year they follow the rate of inflation.
