The Feed-in Tariff (FIT)

Solar Powering UK Homes!

The new UK Feed-in Tariff allows UK home-owners to claim an attractive rate for the green electricity generated by their PV system. Below we have summarised the need to know info and the nice to know info on the Feed-in Tariff available for PV installer in the UK (not Ireland).

Feed-in Tariff - need to knows:

1. From April 1st 2010 a home installed PV system can earn a whopping 43.3p/kWh. As a comparison UK homes typically buy electricity from suppliers at around 12p/kWh.
2. In addition to the Feed-in Tariff, savings are made to your home electricity bills.
3. There is also a Feed-in Tariff Export bonus of 3p/kWh available from the government.
4. A 4kW(peak) PV system in the UK, costing £16,000 to install, could earn over £1,600 a year.
5. The Feed-in Tariff is guaranteed for 25 years at 43.3p/kWh
6. The Feed-in-Tariff (and export bonus) is linked to inflation (RPI)
7. The Feed-in Tariff income is Tax free
8. All new systems on existing homes will qualify ('new build' homes with PV installed before occupation get 36.1p/kWh)
9. Limit of 4kW(peak) to claim for the highest payment of 43.3p/kWh. A 4 kW(peak) system could be twenty 200W panels covering 30m2 of your roof and cost around £16,000).
10. The scheme favours early adopters - this high rate is guaranteed for 25 years only if claimed before 31/3/2013 - to encourage a good take up in the first two years of the scheme. (It then falls to 37.8 p/kWh over 25 years).