The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has announced today its proposal for the future of the solar PV Feed-in Tariff.

The announcement includes confirmation that to qualify for the full FiT payment rate solar panels installed on or after 1^st April 2012 must be installed on properties with an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) with a rating of D or above. DECC estimates that half of all properties are currently eligible for a ‘D’ rating but to receive the full FiT payment they will need to provide an EPC to this end.

DECC have also confirmed that the consultation on the Phase 2 FiT review closes on 3^rd April 2012. The consultation document considers whether to reduce the period for which the solar PV tariff is paid from 25 years to 20 years. It also considers reducing the FiT payment rate for systems installed on or after 1st July 2012. DECC consultation paper proposes three alternative tariff tables, the choice of which will be dependent on the number of solar PV installations in March and April 2012.

Full tariff proposal table:

System size (kW)	1 April tariff	Option A	Option B	Option C
<4kW	21p	13.6p	15.7p	16.5p
>4kW-10kW	16.8p	10.9p	12.6p	13.2p
>10-50kW	15.2p	9.9p	11.4p	11.9p
>50-150kW	12.9p	7.7p	9.7p	10.1p
>150-250kW	12.9p	5.8p	8.0p	10.1p
>250-5000kW	8.9p	4.7p	6.8p	7.1p

Making the most of FiT

If your home does not have an Energy Performance Certificate or does not currently meet with a rating of D or above you have two options to receive the full FiT payment rate:

Install your solar PV system before 31^st March 2012
Improve your homes energy efficiency to achieve a D or above rating

If your home achieves a ‘D’ rating:

Install your system now to secure the 21p tariff payment rate

Ecofirst can still install a solar PV system for you if your EPC rating is E or below. Your FiT rate in this instance would be 8.9p per kWh.

What does this mean for me? (<4kW systems)

My system was installed on or before 12^th December 2011: your FiT payment rate is 43.3p per kWh Retail Price Index linked (RPI) for 25 years from the date of your installation.

My system will be installed before 3^rd March 2012: your FiT payment rate is currently 43.3p per kWh RPI linked for 25 years from the date of your installation. Please note this is the current situation and is subject to the DECC not appealing/winning an appeal via the Supreme High Court

My system will be installed between 3^rd March – 31^st March 2012: your FiT payment rate will be 43.3p per kWh until 31^st March 2012 and 21p per kWh RPI linked from 1^st April 2012 onwards for the duration of your 25 year support.

My system will be installed on or after 1^st April 2012: you will require an Energy Performance Certificate rated D or above to receive the full FiT support rate of 21p per kWh RPI linked for 25 years from the date of your installation.

FiT Phase 2 consultation ends on 3^rd April 2012. Ecofirst will keep you up to date on the latest developments as they happen.

Read the full DECC consultation paper.