New Solar Feed in Tariff FIT Rates for April 2024 Onwards

UK Feed in Tariff rates (FIT) are based on the RPI inflation rate for December which is released in January. 

The RPI rate for December 2023 has just been released at 5.2% so by my calculations it gives a new FIT rate as below:

Generation rate was 68.3p so now 71.85p per kWh generated

Export rate was 4.82p so now 5.07p per kWh exported

One of the only benefits of high inflation has been the increase in FIT payments over the last few years!

New Solar Feed in Tariff FIT Rates for April 2024 Onwards

SMA Sunny Boy Inverter Dead - Replacement Needed!

 I realised this week that my Sunny Boy inverter had stopped working, rather remiss of me that it took a few days before I found out but at least I know now.

SMA Sunny Boy Inverter Dead - Replacement Needed!

I've tried a few reboots and it looks like it is something that isn't fixable so new inverter is on order. With the better weather (hopefully) coming I can't really afford to have the system off for any significant length of time as every lost kWh costs me 72p now and with 20kWh days that starts to mount up.

One benefit is the onwards move in technology in the 12 years since our system was installed so the new inverter will have much better data capability than the Sunny Boy which used quite clunky Sunny Explorer software and had to be connected via Bluetooth to access it.

New FIT Rate Feed In Tariff April 2023

 The Feed in Tariff for April 2023 onwards is based on the RPI figure for December 2022 which was announced today as 13.4%. This means that the FIT rate for early adopters pre-2012 is increasing from 60.23p per kWh generated solar power to 68.30p per kWh. This is about the only advantage of high inflation rates!

Solar Panel 10 Year Review - Green Electricity Generation

Having now had our solar panels for over 10 years it seemed an appropriate time to do a review of how they've performed in that time. We've had over 32,000 kWh of electricity generated as well as all the Feed in Tariff income.

You can see the video here

Our panels on top roof

Solar Panel 10 Year Review - Green Electricity Generation

The shading from trees in early afternoon in winter

Worst Ever December Best January!

 The worst ever December generation for Dec 2021 has been followed by our best ever January which shows how the solar electricity generated can even out over the year with very poor months compensated by much better months afterwards. 2021 was still overall our worst month for solar but not as bad as it could have been. December along was around 50% of the average we've generated over the last 10 years and that was despite no snow - or possibly because we had no snow. The month was cloudy, wet and dull for most of the days so it made a very low out output month.

The highest day of generation was just over 7kWh which was also our lowest maximum for a December day in the last 10 years.

Luckily January more than compensated with 136kWh of power generated, some 30% above the average for the month.

http://solar-panels-review.321web.co.uk/index.php/solar-power-month-by-month/12-monthly-data/14-monthly-uk-solar-panel-electricity-output-for-january

FIT Rate April 2022 Solar Feed in Tariff Payments

 The RPI rate for December 2021 has been announced today as 7.5% so this is the amount that Feed In Tariff rates will increase from April 2022.

The current generation rate for pre 2012 installations of 56.03p will increase to 60.23p and the export rate of 3.95p will increase to 4.25p.

My latest FIT payment of £227 would have increased to £244 so it's a nice increase at a time when other fuel prices are going through the roof.

FIT Rate April 2022 Solar Feed in Tariff Payments

You can see in the table above how much the rates have increased since 2012 when the generation rate was only 45.4p. 

10 Years of Solar Panels - How Much Electricity Generated & Money Made?

 It's exactly 10 years since our solar panels were commissioned on 19th November 2011

We've now generated 32528 kWh of electricity in that time so an average of 3250 kWh per year.

Our panels paid for themselves in 5 years and we still have another 15 years of Feed in Tariff payments to come, all of which are index linked. The current payment is 58p per kWh generated which looks like it might increase by 6% in April 2022.

The total FIT payments received so far is £16869.12 which includes the export payments as well. We have also had electricity costing approximately £4500 to use as well. The system cost £9000 so taking into account the electricity that we've saved it's been a very good investment.

Have you got a solar PV system installed? How do you find your generation in comparison? Is our production exceptional or similar? Please give your feedback in the comments below

10 Years of Solar Panels - How Much Electricity Generated & Money Made?