What types of renewable generators qualify for Good Energy’s HomeGen FiT (Feed-in Tariff) scheme?
To be eligible to join Good Energy HomeGen FiT

• Your generator(s) must be under 50 kilowatts (kW) in size
• Your generating system must be a product that has been certified by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), including the inverter and metering equipment
• Your generating system must be installed by an MCS-certified installer
• Your generating system will need a total generation meter
• The installation of your generator must be completed and the generator commissioned.

If your microgeneration system was installed before 15 July 2009, it must be accredited by Ofgem under the Renewable Obligation accreditation and appear on Ofgem’s Renewable and CHP register.

Under the Feed-in Tariff, how much will I be paid?
The table below shows the tariff rates microgenerators that have been certified by the MCS or accredited under the Renewable Obligation system are entitled to.

Which microgeneration products are MCS certified?
To view a list of all microgeneration products that are MCS certified, visit www.microgenerationcertification.org

Which microgeneration installers are MCS certified?
To view a list of all microgeneration installers that are MCS certified, visit www.microgenerationcertification.org

What happens if I install a microgeneration system that is either not a certified microgeneration product or the installer that completes the work is not MCS certified?
If either the microgeneration system you choose or the installer you use are not MCS certified your generator will not be approved for accreditation by Ofgem and you will not be entitled to receive FiT payments.

When will I be paid my Feed-in Tariff?
Good Energy will send you a request to submit a total generation meter reading. Once we have received your meter reading we can begin to process your payment. This may take up to 45 days due to the current FiT systems, but we hope to have payment with you earlier if possible. If you have an export meter we may require meter readings more frequently. If this is the case, we will explain in greater detail.

How will I be paid my Feed-in Tariff?
Based on the meter readings you submit to us, we will send you a cheque for the value of your generation. As we develop our Feed-in Tariff service, we may change the method by which we pay you.

How do you record my generation?
All generators must have a meter that measures the renewable generator’s total generation. This “total generation meter” must be a product that is approved by the MCS. Your MCS installer should be aware of this and you will need to speak to him/her to ensure that the meter they fit is approved. If your meter is not approved then you will not be eligible to receive FiT payments through the HomeGen scheme.

What about generators that may be too big for HomeGen?
If your generator is over 50kW in size Good Energy can still pay your FiT and for your exported electricity.

To learn more, call us on 0845 456 1640 or email generation@goodenergy.co.uk.

Do I need an export meter as well as a total generation meter?
For some generators under 50kW in size, we may require you to install an export meter – which measures the electricity you export to the local electricity grid – as well as a total generation meter. The decision will be made based on the amount of electricity you consume, the type and size of technology you install and whether, over a twelve month period, you are a net exporter or a net importer of electricity.

What is ‘deemed export’?
The FiT pays generators a tariff for their total generation and a tariff for their exported electricity. For many generators under 50kW in size, for example a domestic scale solar PV system, it has been agreed that the total amount of export per year does not justify an export meter being installed, and so the amount of export will be deemed.

Can you offer any installation advice?
Yes we can. Good Energy has created the website www.generateyourown.co.uk specifically to provide information and guidance and offer a range of microgeneration products to provide heat and power for your home. We provide information about each technology, grants and planning permission. Through our carefully selected installation partners, we can also assess your property and recommend which technologies are suitable. View all our microgeneration products and information at www.generateyourown.co.uk

Can I get a grant for my installation?
We recommend you visit the Energy Saving Trust website www.est.org.uk or call 0800 512 012 to learn if there are any grants for which you might qualify. Some local authorities also provide top-up grants for microgeneration. We have listed a number of these on our grants and finance pages of www.generateyourown.co.uk, alternatively contact your local authority to enquire. We advise you to check that you remain eligible for FIT if you receive such a grant.

Do I need permission to connect to the grid?
You do need permission to connect your microgenerator to the local electricity grid. All MCS installers are required to arrange the connection of your generator to the local grid as part of the MCS process.

Before connecting your renewable generator to the grid, you will need to comply with the regulations of your Distribution Network Operator (DNO). How this is done depends on the size of your installation. If your generator is less than 16A per phase in size (either 3.6kW single phase supply or 11.2kW three phase supply) a G83 form will need to be completed for compliance. You will then have an automatic connection to the distribution network as long as you can comply with the terms set in G83. If your generator is larger than this, you will need to contact your DNO and negotiate directly for a connection.

Can you estimate how many units I will generate?
We can estimate how many units may be produced from a certain installation based on the size and type of generation and the energy source (wind, solar etc). Your installer should also be able to give you a figure for the average annual output.

What happens to the electricity I generate?
We hope you find this diagram helpful in illustrating how a typical HomeGen customer generates and uses the power, and also imports electricity from the local distribution network when they are not generating enough electricity to meet their needs.