The Feed-in Tariff was a UK government scheme that paid renewable energy generators for electricity produced and exported, closed to new applications in 2019.
The Feed-in Tariff (FIT) was a UK government scheme that paid owners of small-scale renewable energy systems for the electricity they generated and exported. The scheme closed to new applications on 31 March 2019.
FIT provided two types of payment:
Rates declined over the scheme's lifetime:
| Year | Solar PV Rate (example) |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 43.3p/kWh |
| 2012 | 21p/kWh |
| 2016 | 4.39p/kWh |
| 2019 | 3.79p/kWh (final) |
| Aspect | FIT | SEG |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Closed | Open |
| Generation payment | Yes | No |
| Export payment | Yes | Yes |
| Rate guarantee | Yes (20-25 yrs) | No |
| Government set rates | Yes | No |
Installations registered before closure continue receiving:
FIT's closure shifted the industry to:
The Smart Export Guarantee requires licensed electricity suppliers to offer payment for exported renewable electricity from small-scale generators like solar PV.
Solar photovoltaic systems convert sunlight directly into electricity using semiconductor cells, enabling homes and businesses to generate their own renewable power.
Microgeneration Certification Scheme certification is required for installers to provide renewable energy systems that qualify for government incentives and feed-in tariffs.