UK Feed-in Tariffs Order 2012: Solar PV Accreditation Guide

Key Takeaways

• The Feed-in Tariffs Order 2012 (S.I. 2012/2782) came into force on 1st December 2012.
• The Central FIT Register is kept and maintained by Ofgem.
• Accreditation for solar PV requires MCS-certified installations.
• The Feed-in Tariff scheme closed to new applicants on 31 March 2019.

Understanding the Feed-in Tariffs Order 2012

The Feed-in Tariffs Order 2012, formally cited as S.I. 2012/2782, established the statutory framework for the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) scheme in the United Kingdom. This Order came into force on 1st December 2012. It governs the administration of the FIT scheme for solar PV and other microgeneration technologies. The Order defines key terms and mandates the roles of various bodies involved in the scheme's operation.

The Central FIT Register and Ofgem's Role

A core component of the FIT scheme is the Central FIT Register. This register is kept and maintained by the Authority, which is the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem). The Order explicitly states that "It is the function of the Authority to keep and maintain the central FIT register." We checked on 23 August 2026 that the legislation mandates Ofgem to ensure the register's accuracy. The Authority "must, so far as it is possible, ensure that entries in the central FIT register are accurate and up to date." The register must also contain "sufficient information to identify each accredited FIT installation." Ofgem also has duties to publish statistics from the register and to correct errors.

MCS Certification for Solar PV Installations

Accreditation under the Feed-in Tariff scheme relies on installations being MCS-certified. The Order defines an "MCS database" as "the database maintained by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme that records the details of MCS-certified installations." This scheme provides verified installation and installer certificates for solar systems up to 50 kW.

Deemed Export Payments

The Feed-in Tariffs Order 2012 also defines the mechanism for "deemed export payments." A "deemed export payment" is "the payment made to a FIT generator or nominated recipient by a FIT licensee in respect of a deemed export of electricity." The Order refers to "the value to FIT licensees, in pence per kilowatt hour, of deemed exports for the purpose of calculating the net deemed export payments of FIT licensees." Deemed export rates are determined annually based on market electricity valuation methodology.

Scheme Closure and Legacy Installations

While the Feed-in Tariff scheme provided incentives for renewable electricity generation, it was closed to new applicants on 31 March 2019. Despite its closure to new entrants, accredited legacy installations remain subject to the statutory reporting and transfer rules outlined in S.I. 2012/2782. Ofgem continues to administer the Central FIT Register for these existing installations.