Green Streets - How-To Guides

About the Clean Energy Cashback Scheme

The Government’s Clean Energy Cashback Scheme (also known as the Feed-in Tariff) pays you for renewable electricity that you produce with technology such as wind turbines and solar PV panels. As of April 2010, you could get regular payments for the next 20-25 years for electricity you produce, as long as you meet the criteria.

The best thing is you get paid both for the electricity you produce and use, and for any excess energy you feed in to the National Grid.

What do I need to do to get on the Clean Energy Cashback Scheme?

You’ll need to speak to your energy supplier about the exact requirements, but you’ll probably need:

• A renewable energy system that produces 5MW or less per year
• Accreditation by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS)
• To be on the Ofgem central FIT register

How do I sign up?

If you’re not sure whether you qualify, or would like to sign up to the Clean Energy Cashback Scheme, you’ll need to speak to your energy supplier.

How much will I be paid, and when?

Payments depend on the size and energy output of your microgeneration system – the more you produce (up to the 5MW limit), the more you get paid. Also, the earlier you sign up, the more you’ll get paid each time.

You’ll need to provide a meter reading every three months, so if you sign up in April you’ll get your first payment in July.

Let’s say you have a 1.68 kilowatt peak (kWp) British Gas Standard PV system.

How much you could benefit from a Standard PV System*

How much you would pay

How long would it take to pay for itself

How much you would be helping the environment (per year)

Please note that this table is for guidance purposes only. Savings will vary according to level ofenergy usage. Our Energy Experts will help you forecast the savings for your home.

*Payments for Solar PV panels for the electricity you generate and use start from April 2010 as part of the Government’s Clean Energy Cashback Scheme. Assumes our 1.68kWp British Gas Standard PV System with 50% on site consumption with excess exported back to the grid on a typical export tariff. Based on an average annual household’s annual single rate electricity consumption of 3,300 kWh. Unit price used in calculation representative of the average p/kWh charge, as derived from the annual bills at industry average consumption of 20,500 kWh for gas and 3,300 kWh for single rate electricity, paying by Monthly Direct Debit on our Standard Tariff prices as at January 2010, averaged across all regions and including VAT. 50% on site consumption number sourced from the Feed-in tariffs (Specified Maximum Capacity and Functions) Order 2010.

This could produce 43% of your household’s electricity (1428kWh), and you’d be paid 41.3p for each kilowatt hour (kWh) – so £589.76 every year, split into four payments.

On top of this, you’d get an extra 3p per kWh you export to the grid. 

Do different technologies get different payments?

If you’re not sure whether you qualify, or would like to sign up to the Clean Energy Cashback Scheme, you’ll need to speak to your energy supplier.

What if I’m generating heat rather than electricity?

You should qualify for the Renewable Heat Incentive which is due to start in April 2011.