This consultation invites comments on the Government’s proposals for the tariff levels available for renewable electricity generation from solar PV installations of 250kW or below under the Feed-in Tariffs scheme (FITs). This consultation applies to England, Wales and Scotland only.

FITs was introduced on 1 April 2010, under powers in the Energy Act 2008. Through the use of FITs DECC hopes to encourage deployment of additional small scale (less than 5MW) low carbon electricity generation, particularly by organisations, businesses, communities and individuals who have not traditionally engaged in the electricity market.
This will allow many people to invest in small scale low carbon electricity, in return for a guaranteed payment for the electricity they generate and export.

Deployment of PV, has, in recent months, accelerated rapidly. Combined with falling installed costs (by at least 30%) and a number of other factors including rising electricity prices, this means that returns available to new generators are higher than envisaged.This is not sustainable and the tariffs proposed reflect these developments. 

We also propose prioritising energy efficiency by linking PV tariffs to specified minimum energy efficiency requirements from 1 April 2012. We are also proposing new multi-installation tariff rates for aggregated solar PV schemes, applying to new installations with an eligibility date after 1 April 2012.

The consultation closing date is 23rd December 2011.

Documents

• Feed-in Tariffs scheme: consultation on Comprehensive Review Phase 1 – tariffs for solar PV [filetype:pdf filesize: 777.42Kb]
• Consultation response via DECC e-Consultations hub [External link]
• Response form [filetype:doc filesize: 49.5Kb]
• Draft Impact Assessment: Comprehensive Review Phase 1 – consultation on Feed-in Tariffs for solar PV [filetype:pdf filesize: 5632.97Kb]

How to respond

Online responses are preferred and can be submitted via DECC’s consultation hub. If you are unable to submit your response online please send this in an email to fits@decc.gsi.gov.uk.

Please use the response form template below to record your response. Alternatively, hard copy replies should be sent to the address below.

Feed-in Tariffs team
Department of Energy and Climate Change
3 Whitehall Place
London
SW1A2AW