The Feed-in Tariff (FIT) was an older government initiative that provided high payments for every unit of energy exported to the grid. While FITs are no longer available to new applicants, many homeowners still benefit from this scheme. In contrast, Smart Export Guarantees (SEGs) are the current standard, allowing homeowners to earn money by exporting excess energy to the grid through agreements with their energy suppliers.
A common question for those with an existing FIT contract is whether they can make changes to their solar system without affecting their tariff.
Can You Modify Your Solar System Under a FIT Agreement?
The ability to make changes to your solar system—such as replacing solar panels or inverters—generally depends on the specifics of your FIT agreement. Most contracts state that as long as the output values are not altered, you can make modifications to both panels and inverters.
Example 1: Replacing Solar Panels
If you currently have 16 solar panels on your roof totaling 3KW under a FIT agreement, changing these panels could potentially increase your system's output beyond the 3KW limit. However, you could opt to replace the 16 panels with 10 more efficient panels that keep your system's output under the 3KW threshold.
Example 2: Replacing the Inverter
If your existing 3KW inverter is a few years old and needs to be replaced, you can typically swap it out for a different make and model, provided the new inverter also stays within the 3KW limit.
Always Check with Your Energy Supplier
Before making any changes, it's essential to check your agreement with your energy supplier to confirm what modifications are allowed. Be sure to document their response so you can refer to it if needed in the future.