The proposal

The Government proposes to introduce transferability of solar PV for installations larger than 50kW in size.

Systems smaller than this have not been included due to the cost of transferring the system would be a large proportion of the installation cost and would not prove viable in the long term life of the installation. Systems not included in the new regulations will however be covered in the new valuation guide for solar PV, to be published by the RICS.

By allowing these 50kW and above systems to be moved will increase the flexibility of the FiT scheme and decrease investment risk for building owners and building tenants.

The installer would be required to write to Ofgem stating when they are planning to move and the proposed new location, accompanied with a signed form that they have read and understand the conditions required to remain entitled to the Feed-in Tariff. At this point they must also inform their local planning authority of their intention.

The fee for Ofgem processing a transfer request will be set on a cost recovery basis.

The Strutt & Parker View

Increased flexibility of the Feed-in-Tariff regulations is a welcome step, especially for the commercial sector which has seen low levels of deployment to date. Allowing building tenants to transfer their installation to a new location to suit their lease will undoubtedly kick start the Government’s aim of creating “solar hubs” on the UK commercial rooftops. It is however a slight disappointment that the regulations will not be backdated to existing installations. 

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