Changes to financial support for solar PV

This consultation proposes:

• Closing the RO early in Great Britain to new solar PV projects of 5MW and below, and to additional capacity added to existing accredited stations up to a total of 5MW total installed capacity, from 1 April 2016;

• Grace periods for developers who either (1) have obtained preliminary accreditation on or before 22 July 2015, or (2) have made significant financial commitments to projects on or before 22 July 2015, or (3) experience grid connection delays that are outside their control. The grace periods would allow projects to enter the RO on or before 31 March 2017;

• Removing grandfathering for new solar PV projects on 5MW and below, and additional capacity up to a total of 5MW total installed capacity, that are not accredited under the RO as of 22 July 2015. We also propose an exception to the removal of grandfathering for projects that satisfy the criteria for the significant financial commitment grace period;

• Our intention, subject to the present consultation, to publish proposed bandings for new solar PV projects of 5MW and below for further consultation.

The closing date for submission of responses is 2 September 2015. Responses can be returned by e-mail (preferable) or post.

This is one of the three cost control measures for the Levy Control Framework announced on 22 July 2015. The other two are the consultation on the removal of pre-accreditation from the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) and the Government response confirming removal of grandfathered support for new biomass.

Further cost control measures were considered as part of the government consultation on a review of the Feed-in Tariff scheme.