What Is the UK Government Feed In Tariff Scheme?
Most homeowners in the UK would truly love to find a way to significantly reduce the amount of money they pay each and every month on the rising cost of electricity, but short of keeping their homes in total darkness and eating only cold meals, there doesn’t seem to be much which can be done. Actually, this isn’t true because the government Feed in Tariff scheme now makes renewable energy such as solar PV panel systems affordable to the average household. The key is in understanding what it takes to qualify for the UK government Feed in Tariff scheme.
What Can I Do to Qualify for the UK Government Feed In Tariff Scheme?
The first thing you need to know about the UK government Feed in Tariff scheme is that only systems installed after April 2009 by MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) accredited installers will be eligible to take part in the Feed in Tariff. As well, Feed in Tariff legislation is quite precise on the fact that only MCS solar equipment will qualify as well. Because the Microgeneration Certification Scheme is owned by the Secretary of State for Energy, Feed in Tariff legislation is strictly observed. Sometimes the Feed in Tariff is also referred to as the ‘Microgeneration Feed in Tariff’ but this also applies to wind and water microgeneration as well. The newest phase of the Microgeneration Feed in Tariff scheme is set to commence in April of 2012 when the Renewable Heat Incentive will begin compensating those with solar thermal air and ground source heat pumps installed on or after April 2011.
Why Did the Government Begin a Feed-in Tariff for Microgeneration?
There are actually a few good reasons why the Feed-in Tariff for Microgeneration was instituted. Amidst growing concerns over the amount of CO2 emissions that are threatening to destroy our world as we know it there is a focus on providing clean energy that is devoid of greenhouse gases. Secondly, with geopolitical concerns it is never certain that we will have a sufficient supply of fossil fuels to continue producing electricity in the conventional way. Once it became clear that the way to promote cleaner renewable energy was to make microgeneration (small scale generation) of power available to a greater number of households, businesses and public entities. However, since the initial cost is higher than many people can afford for an installation, government set up a grant system to help offset the cost.
If you are interested in learning more about the Microgeneration Feed in Tariff and how you can take part in the programme, New Energy Futures has a wealth of information online that you can browse through as a sort of ‘mini education.’ Once you are ready to have a solar PV system installed or a solar thermal ground or air heat pump, it is as easy as making a quick phone call to 0844 774 1407 to speak with one of our knowledgeable representatives. We can schedule an onsite no obligation consultation to determine the best system or systems for your needs.
