Solar Thermal and Solar PV

The Feed-In Tariff, also known as FIT, became available in the UK on April 1 2010 and is the electricity sector of the Clean Energy Cash Back scheme - a Government-backed scheme that pays people who create their own electricity using green technology including solar PV panels.

Homeowners, businesses and communities wishing to benefit from reduced energy bills and environmentally friendly technology will be able to do so through the upcoming Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) and Solar Thermal.

Homeowners that generate their own electricity or hot water from renewable or low carbon sources such as solar PV or solar thermal panels can receive regular payments via the Feed-in Tariff or Renewable Heat Incentive.

Solar thermal panels convert the Sun's solar energy into hot water to complement your existing domestic hot water supply. The technology uses evacuated tube or flat-plate collector panels coupled with a twin-coil cylinder normally located within your airing cupboard. A typical installation can supply up to 1/3 of your hot water all year round.

Solar PV technology is an extremely underused technology within the UK which can provide huge cost savings to a domestic household whilst also generating income via the Clean Energy Cashback feed-in tariff by selling back unused energy to your energy supplier.

Solar panels come in a variety of different types and technologies all suited to varying situations and requirements. The two main types of panel are differentiated by their output of either electricity (solar PV) or hot water (solar thermal).

Solar power has been harnessed for many years but only in the least few years has solar technology become economically viable for use in the domestic household. Solar thermal can provide hot water all-year round whilst solar PV can cut up to £200 off your energy bills and provide a passive income via the Government's feed-in tariff.