Create your own energy – Feed-In Tariffs explained

How to introduce new generating technologies into your home, and make it work for you.

Are you interested in becoming more environmentally friendly, but are not sure where to start?  Do you often wonder if there is more you can do on an individual basis other than your normal waste recycling? The team at ‘What do I do with this?’ have been wondering the same thing!

As well as the ‘Reuse Recycle Reclaim’ service we provide for all your home DIY needs, we would like to encourage a greener approach to your home as a whole.

Below there is up-to-date information on how the government intends to help and support the British public as they introduce the new ‘Feed-In Tariffs’ (FITs). This type of scheme has never been put into place before, and it’s a really exciting time – and a great incentive for all.

We have collected news from the Department of Energy and Climate Change explaining what the ‘Feed-In Tariff’ is, and what this means for the British public. To help, we have linked up with other eco-conscious companies who produce generating technologies, so if you decide this is something you want to get on board with, we can easily guide you in the direction of the companies and businesses that can help get you set up.

We want to help save time,  and help inform the UK on how to become more eco-friendly, and save ourselves a little bit of money along the way!

1 February 2010 – Press Release – Cash Rewards for Low Carbon Electricity and Heating

• Feed-in tariff for small scale low carbon electricity finalised for 1 April introduction
• Power from solar panels could earn £900, on top of £140 reduction on household energy bill
• Blueprint published for world first incentive scheme for renewable heat

Households and communities who install generating technologies such as small wind turbines and solar panels will from April be entitled to claim payments for the low carbon electricity they produce.

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Miliband today announced the feed-in tariff (FITs) levels and also published a blueprint for a similar scheme to be introduced in April 2011 to incentivise low carbon heating technologies. The renewable heat incentive (RHI) will be a world first.

The schemes are designed to bring about a significant increase in the amount of locally produced green energy, as a contribution to the wider shift of the energy mix to low carbon.

Ed Miliband said:

“The guarantee of getting an income on top of saving on energy bills will be an incentive to householders and communities wanting to make the move to low carbon living.

“The feed-in tariff will change the way householders and communities think about their future energy needs, making the payback for investment far shorter than in the past.

“It will also change the outlook for a range of industries, in particular those in the business of producing and installing small scale low carbon technology.”

From 1 April householders and communities who install low carbon electricity technology such as solar photovoltaic (pv) panels and wind turbines up to 5 megawatts will be paid for the electricity they generate, even if they use it themselves. The level of payment depends on the technology and is linked to inflation.

They will get a further payment for any electricity they feed into the grid. These payments will be in addition to benefiting from reduced bills as they reduce the need to buy electricity. The scheme will also apply to installations commissioned since July 2009 when the policy was announced.

A typical 2.5kW well sited solar pv installation could offer a homeowner a reward of up to £900 and save them £140 a year on their electricity bill.

Mr Miliband was speaking as he visited low income homes in Dagenham being helped by eaga’s Clean Energy for Social Housing project to make the move to microgeneration. The scheme offers free clean energy technology to tenants in social housing which will lower their electricity bills and carbon emissions.

John Swinney, eaga Director of Strategy and Corporate Services, said:

“By utilising the feed-in tariff initiative and installing free solar technology this programme can cut energy bills for those most in need. We are also recruiting and training renewable energy engineers directly from the local communities where the green technology is being installed.

“This innovative development can be offered right across the UK. We expect thousands of households to benefit in the first few years and up to 300 additional green energy jobs could be created as part of this programme.”

Future Heat Generation

The Department of Energy and Climate Change also published today plans for a scheme to incentivise renewable heat generation at all scales. This will come into effect in April 2011 and guarantee payments for those who install technologies such as ground source heat pumps, biomass boilers and air source heat pumps.

Under the proposed tariffs the installation of a ground source heat pump in an average semi-detached house with adequate insulation levels could be rewarded with £1,000 a year and lead to savings of £200 per year if used instead of heating oil.

The heat incentive could help thousands of consumers who are off the gas network lower their fuel bills and gain a cash reward for greening their heating supply.

Details of funding for the scheme will be published in the Budget 2010.

Above content via http://www.decc.gov.uk/