Ofgem has confirmed the feed-in tariff rates (FiT) for solar photovoltaic technology for the period starting 1 July 2013 until 1 October 2013.

The new FiT rates for installations with an eligibility date on or after 1 July 2013 are as follows:

Description

FiT rate p/kWh

0-4kW

14.90

>4-10kW

13.50

>10-50kW

12.57

>50-100kW

11.10

>100-150kW

11.10

>150-250kW

10.62

>250kW-5MW

6.85

Stand-alone

6.85

Export tariff

4.64

Despite installations in the 0-50kW range falling short of the stated capacity triggers, the 0-4kW, >4-10kW, >10-50kW will all degress by 3.5% as a result of the controversial automatic degression model that the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) included as part of the revised feed-in tariff.

Industry had been expecting the feed-in tariff rates to be changed from 1 August in line with the regular quarterly reviews, however, DECC moved the reference date forward one month to 1 July. Industry reacted angrily to the changing of reference dates due to the lack of warning or formal announcement.

All tariff bands >50kW will remain the same as last quarter as the rates for all >50kW bands were reduced by 3.5% across the board on 1 May. The 3.5% reduction in <50kW bands, although modest, hits the feed-in tariffs most popular capacities — for the week ending 21 April, there was 7.9MW of solar capacity installed within the <50kW bands.