Do you need an EPC rating of D?

To qualify for the higher rate Feed in Tariff your property must have an EPC rating of D or above. The majority of houses in the UK will meet this rating and most of those that don't can usually be brought up to a D rating with simple measures such as loft insulation.

How do I know if my house is D rating before having a solar photovoltaic system installed?

The Greener Group has an in-house domestic energy assessor who will be able to do a preliminary EPC survey to gain an understanding of the rating of the house. We are then able to expliain the potential rating and advise on any additional measure which may need to be completed to increase the rating.

Do I Have To Pay Pay For An Energy Performance Certificate?

As part of The Greener Groups free, no obligation, quotation policy we will be offering all potential customers a free energy efficiency survey where our qualified Domestic Energy Assessors (DEAs) will be able to advise on the buildings potential EPC rating and any efficiency upgrades and improvements which may be required. Once a quote is accepted and agreed we would then conduct the full survey and produce an EPC as part of our installation service.

I Already Have A Display Energy Performance Certificate (DEC) Is That Enough?

No unfortunately not. The DECCt has stated that only an EPC showing level D or above is acceptable. EPCs and DECs provide information about different aspects of energy performance, and are not interchangeable.

Can I Use A Solar PV Installation To Increase My House's EPC Rating To D?

The official comment from the DECC is that "In some cases this is possible". What they are advising is that anyone having a PV system installed with an EPC rating below D, hoping the PV system will bring it up to at least a D level must be aware that if it doesn't meet a D level further efficiency levels must be implemented before the Feed in Tariff can be applied for. A further EPC assessment must be then be conducted to prove the D rating.

This is where our qualified, in house DEAs make the whole process a lot simpler. They will discover during the initial energy efficiency survey roughly what rating a property will be and can easily advise if a proposed PV system will bring the overall efficiency up to a level D or if further energy efficiency improvements will be required.

In either scenario we will be able to give you all the information you require to make sure you understand what, if any, additional energy efficiency measures will be required to get your property a D rated EPC.

Can I Apply For The Higher FiT Rate If I Improve My Properties Energy Efficiency After I Have Had A PV System Installed And Commissioned?

Unfortunately this is not possible. Any property that does not meet the energy efficiency requirement of and EPC rating of D at the time that the PV system is comissioned will only be eligible for the lower tariff.

What If I Don't Provide An EPC At The Time OF Commissioning?

If an EPC has not been received by the time the FiT application is processed then the lower rate of 9p/kW will be applied

Does the EPC Rating Requirement Apply To Domestic and Non Domestic Properties?

The requirement for EPC level D applies in respect of both domestic and non-domestic buildings, this includes holiday lets.

What Is The Multi Installation Tariff

The multi-installation tariff applies to PV installations where the generator or nominated recipient for FITs already owns or receives FIT payments for more than 25 PV installations on different sites.

Such installations will receive a tariff set at 80% of the level of the standard tariff.

What Are The Types Of Measures Which Could Be Installed To Improve My Properties Efficiency

Measures could include loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, heating controls, hot water cylinder insulation, and installation of a replacement boiler, but not solid wall insulation. The total cost of meeting level D will vary depending on the base-level energy performance of the building in question. This is something our DEAs will be able to discuss with you during the efficiency survey.

Some Information About EPCs

The energy efficiency requirement applies to PV installations with eligibility dates on or after 1 April 2012. (N.B. The eligibility date is the date on which your FIT Licensee receives your valid application for FITs. It will therefore be after the date on which your solar panels are installed.)

Under the requirement, PV installations will only be eligible for standard FIT tariffs if they can provide a valid Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) at the time of application for FITs, showing a rating of level D or above for the property to which the solar panels are attached or wired to provide electricity. Installations that do not meet the requirement will receive a lower tariff of 9p/kWh.