Solar Energy PV Arrays and Feed in Tariff

I am not a "greenie" but do think that we could all make better use of the free energy from the sun.


I was alerted to the Feed in Tariff (FIT) for Solar Photovoltaic Microgeneration units by an article in the Howden Matters magazine. Photovoltaic panels convert light into electricity. The figures quoted seemed to be too good to be true and so made further enquiries. To my surprise the data was absolutley correct and a "domestic" i.e. less than 4kW system connected to the mains supply allows the owner to claim 41.3 pence per unit for every unit generated. This electricity is yours to use in your property for free during the period it is being generated (daylight)! If you do not use it the energy is exported to the mains and you receive an additional 3 pence per unit.


There is no need to make any provision for storage such as batteries as the grid becomes the store. During dark periods when you are not generating, your system takes electricity back from the grid at the normal rates, typically around 11 pence a unit or less for E6 off-peak.


The equipment is not cheap although there are options such as allowing a company to mount panels on your roof at their expense. Under this arrangement the company gets the FIT and you get the free daytime electricity. However if it is worth it to them it should be worth it to you!


For a normal domestic situation the cost of the installation should achieve a payback period in the order of ten years and as the price of electricity rises the payback period will reduce. The FIT is guaranteed for 25 years which will give 15 years of profit once the system has paid for itself.



If you have a suitable light and sunny area such as your roof, I thoroughly recommend you look into this for yourselves. Once the payback is achieved all the energy produced in the following 15 or so years is free AND you are paid to produce it.