Renewable Energy Funding through Feed-in Tariffs

Since April 2010 Feed-in Tariffs have been available in the UK for electricity generated by the following renewable energy technologies:

• Solar electricity (Photovoltaic)
• Wind turbines
• Hydroelectricity
• Anaerobic digestion
• Micro combined heat and power (pilot project only)

These feed-in tariffs replace the previous grant funding available through the Low Carbon Buildings Programme.

They are designed to encourage early adopting of renewable energy technologies by providing the following financial incentives:

1. Generation tariff - a fixed rate paid by the energy supplier for each unit of electricity you generate, fixed for 20 or 25 years and set at a higher rate for those who install the technology early.

2. Savings on your bills from generating electricity rather than purchasing from your energy supplier.

3. Export tariff - a further 3p/kWh from your energy supplier for each unit of electricity that you don't use, that is exported back onto the grid (for all technologies).

There are also plans to introduce a Renewable heating Incentive in April 2011, to provide a similar financial inducement for the installation of renewable technologies that generate heat rather than electricity, although the full details have not yet been finalised.

For full details of feed in tariffs, please visit the Department of Energy and Climate Change or Energy Saving Trust websites.