Additional benefits are available for community organisations and education providers on the FIT scheme. These are for generators who have applied through pre-registration and status verification.
These benefits include:
- A relaxation of the minimum energy efficiency requirement to level G and above (instead of level D and above), for non-domestic solar PV community energy and school installations to receive the higher generation tariff rate. This applies to installations with capacities up to 250kW Declared Net Capacity (DNC).
- An additional six months to the ROO-FIT preliminary accreditation validity period for solar PV and non-PV installations owned by community organisations, for applications made between 1 April and 1 October 2015 and from 8 February 2016.
- Two installations can share a single grid connection providing that at least one is owned by a community organisation. This is only applicable from 1 April 2015.
- For applications made before 1 October 2015, a ‘tariff guarantee’ was also available for community organisations planning to commission non-domestic solar PV installations that will not exceed 50kW DNC.
Closure of the FIT scheme
On 18 December 2018 legislation was laid before government which closes the FIT scheme to new applicants from 1 April 2019, barring some exceptions. We have published an FAQ and guidance document which help explain the impact of these changes. To provide feedback on our guidance, contact REDevelopment@ofgem.gov.uk by 12 February 2019. If you have questions about the legislation or design of the scheme, please contact the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) at feedintariff@beis.gov.uk.
Our role
We are responsible for the pre-registration process, which confirms the eligibility of community energy installations and school installations with a DNC up to and including 50 kW.
We also assess the eligibility of community energy installations or school installations with a DNC exceeding 50 kW as part of the ROO-FIT accreditation and status verification process.
Who can apply?
As part of the application process, community organisations will have to show they are a Community Interest Company (CIC), a Cooperative Society, a Community Benefit Society, a Registered Charity or a subsidiary company wholly owned by a Charity.
To apply as an education provider, you must be the owner of the school or the person/body responsible for its management.
Further information on types of community organisation and education provider can be found in our guidance.
How do I apply?
Application templates can be downloaded from the publications and updates section below. Please ensure you read our guidance before applying and make sure you download the correct application for your installation.
If your installation has a DNC up to and including 50kW, then you should apply for pre-registration or status verification. Applications and supporting documents for pre-registration should be submitted via email to FITCommunity@ofgem.gov.uk or by post to:
FIT Community team
Ofgem
10 South Colonnade
Canary Wharf
London
E14 4PU
If your installation has a DNC over 50 kW TIC then you should apply for preliminary accreditation or ROO-FIT accreditation through the Renewables and CHP Register. Application letters and supporting documents should be sent to the FIT Community team.
Need help?
Please read our FAQs and Feed-in Tariffs: Guidance for community energy and school installations for further information on the benefits available for communities and schools.
For any questions relating to the pre-registration and status verification process, you can contact the FIT Community team at FITCommunity@ofgem.gov.uk.