Feed In Tariffs
By becoming a Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) Accredited Installer with the support of Easy MCS Ltd you are Certified to offer consumers the Feed In Tariffs as long as MCS Accredited Solar PV equipment is used.
Feed-In Tariffs (also known as FITs) are the electricity part of what some people call Clean Energy Cashback, a scheme that pays people for creating their own "green electricity". The Feed In Tariffs have been hugely successful since their introduction with more than 100,000 households having taken advantage by November 2011.
The Feed in Tariffs were introduced by the Government to help increase the level of renewable energy in the UK towards our legally binding target of 15% of total energy from renewables by 2020 (up from under 2% in 2009).
How do the Feed-In Tariffs help?
The Feed in Tariffs give three financial benefits:
* A payment for all the electricity you produce, even if you use it yourself
* Additional bonus payments for electricity you export into the grid
* A reduction on your standard electricity bill, from using energy you produce yourself
Who are they for?
The FITs are for everyone, including households, landlords, businesses and even organisations such as schools and care homes. There are however different tariffs for commercial and residential customers with the focus of funding being on domestic installations.
What renewable energy systems are eligible?
Most forms of MCS Certified renewable electricity generation in all sizes up to 5 megawatts (enough for a large factory), which are supported by the Renewables Obligation.
Do they cover heating?
No; that will be covered by the Renewable Heat Incentive which also requires that installers and products have MCS Accreditation.
How much is currently available through the Feed In Tariffs?
Feed in Tariff Consultation Completed 23rd December 2011
A consultation was launched on Phase I and ran until 23 December 2011.
The proposals were subject to an eight-week consultation period. The proposals have been accepted and will see the proposed new Feed in Tariffs being introduced from April 2012 with installations on or after March 3rd 2012 taking this new tariff. The new tariffs may also be introduced for installations taking place after 12th December 2011 but this is currently subject to a supreme court case so may not be confirmed until 2013. The new rates to be introduced from April 2012 are shown above.
Future tariff reductions from April 2012 will be based on the number of installations that take place and are expected to be introduced on a 6 month basis.
