Department of Energy and Climate Change
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Move your solar panels and keep your tariff
Businesses can now take their solar panels with them when they relocate, allowing them to continue to reap the benefits of lower energy bills.
From summer 2019 medium and large building-mounted solar PV systems will be allowed to be moved between buildings without the loss of Feed-in Tariff (FIT) payments.
Previously, if a FIT accredited installation was moved it became ineligible for further support. Now, landlords and tenants who cannot guarantee having long-term ownership or lease of a building can move their solar PV and keep their tariff. This change will increase flexibility and make solar PV a much more attractive investment for businesses.
Announcing the changes, Minister for Energy and Climate Change Amber Rudd said:
“Solar PV is already used by thousands of businesses and by removing barriers more will be able to reap the benefits of lower energy bills.
“People have the power to generate their own electricity and now there is even more of an incentive. Not only will rooftop solar drive down bills and create jobs, it will help us deliver the clean, reliable energy supplies that the country needs.”
The UK has around 250,000 hectares of south facing commercial rooftops - the equivalent of 350,000 football pitches - so there is enormous potential to turn more of our buildings into power stations.
Solar increasingly offers efficient and cost effective onsite generation opportunities to both businesses and domestic consumers. More deployment of solar PV will help cut energy bills, reduce pressure on the national grid and create jobs.
The definition of building-mounted solar under the FIT will also be amended to require the building to use at least 10 per cent of the electricity generated. Further changes will mean transfers will now be allowed four years after the legislation comes into force and from then on at any point during the FIT payment period. Installations will not be required to remain the same size.
The government response to the consultation has been published.
The definition of building-mounted solar under the FIT will also be amended to require the building to use at least 10 per cent of the electricity generated. If a building uses less than 10 per cent of the electricity generated it will be classified as a standalone installation and will not be eligible for the higher rate FIT tariff. This will not affect the vast majority of building-mounted panels. Further changes will mean transfers will now be allowed four years after legislation comes into force, as sufficient time is needed to get various administrative measures into place. Transfers will be able to take place from then on and at any point during the 20 year FIT payment period. In addition installations will not be required to remain the same size which was deemed unnecessary during the consultation.
