Key terms explained for Feed-in Tariffs

The date an installation’s eligibility for FIT payments begins.

Eligibility date depends on when the installation was commissioned and applied for the FIT scheme:

For installations commissioned and with application receipt date before 15 January 2016, the Eligibility Date is either the application receipt date or commissioning date, whichever is later.

For installations with an application date after 7 February 2016, the Eligibility date is the application receipt date or the first day of the first Tariff period it qualifies for, whichever is later.

The length of time for which FIT payments can be received for electricity generated/exported. For most installations this is 20 years.

The EER applies to certain solar PV installations with a capacity up to 250kW and an Eligibility Date on or after 1 April 2012. These installations must demonstrate that the building which they are wired to provide electricity to has achieved an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating of level D or above or else receive a lower tariff rate.

Some solar PV installations, such as community energy and standalone installations, are exempt from the EER or have reduced criteria which they need to meet in order for the higher tariff rate to apply.