The feed-in tariff rates for both the 0-10kW and 50kW-5MW capacity bands will degress by 3.5% from April 2015, according to the latest statistics published by the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).

The figures show that 124MW of capacity was deployed in Q4, 2014 in the 0-10kW band – just over the government’s deployment trigger value of 100MW. According to the Solar Trade Association (STA), this is the first time since 2012 that the residential sector has triggered a degression through growth as opposed to an automatic degression every nine months.

The commercial rooftop market saw 53MW of capacity deployed in the 50-5MW band, tipping it just over the 50MW deployment trigger. However, as the STA points out, the capacity band was due an automatic 3.5% degression anyway.

Commenting on the figures, David Pickup, business analyst for the STA, said: “These latest statistics show that the FiT solar PV market is seeing healthy growth with plenty of solar going up on domestic and commercial roofs as well as small solar farms.”

Pickup continued: “We are particularly pleased to see good levels of growth in the large rooftop market with 33MW of solar – 164 installations – installed in the last three months of 2014, more than double that in the previous quarter. But this isn’t enough – as we have shown in our model of the FiT budget, we need to see more solar going up on roofs and more gradual reductions in the tariff to get to the industry’s goal of subsidy-free solar. Our Solar Independence Plan sets out how we can restructure the FiT to get more solar for very little extra money and give a path to zero subsidy.”

There will be no change to the 10-50kW tariff in April after 38MW of capacity was deployed in Q4, some 12MW short of its deployment trigger. The changes are outlined in the table below:

0-10kW

Oct – Dec 2014

39,545

123,688

3.5% degression.

1st April to 30th June 2015

>10-50kW

Oct – Dec 2014

1,274

38,172

No degression.

1st April to 30th June 2015

> 50kW and Standalones

Oct – Dec 2014

175

52,774

3.5% degression.

1st April to 30th June 2015

The statistic published today also reveal that over 125,000 residential properties across the UK took advantage of the solar PV FiT in 2014. In total around 700MW of new generating capacity was added under the FiT scheme – enough to power over 200,000 homes.   

Read more about the STA’s Solar Independence Plan and the path to zero subsidy in Paul Barwell’s exclusive blog on Solar Power Portal.