Solar

stig1of2the3dump

Hi all I have had solar panels for a few years now under the feed in tariff. So I am claiming this, if I was to add more panels can I add this to the generated units and still claim the feed in tariff on the whole system. ??     

WIAWSNB

Good question, and I don't know. 
I suspect not, as these would be added post-FIT. 
Taken to its logical conclusion, you could have installed a single panel during the high FIT in order to qualify, and then added another dozen later on when you had the money? I can't see that happening.
Also, it would need to be MCS accredited. And, your inverter would need to be able to handle it.
I guess you could sneak an extra panel or two on, but expect them to notice the unusual increase in generation.
Read all this? Cool. The answer is, I don't know.

grumpy_codger

stig1of2the3dump said:

Hi all I have had solar panels for a few years now under the feed in tariff. So I am claiming this, if I was to add more panels can I add this to the generated units and still claim the feed in tariff on the whole system. ??     

I'm no expert, but AFAIK you can.

Experts are here: Green & ethical MoneySaving

Merlin139

stig1of2the3dump said:

Hi all I have had solar panels for a few years now under the feed in tariff. So I am claiming this, if I was to add more panels can I add this to the generated units and still claim the feed in tariff on the whole system. ??     

No you would loose your FIT.

You can have another system with a separate inverter. 

grumpy_codger

Merlin139 said:

stig1of2the3dump said:

Hi all I have had solar panels for a few years now under the feed in tariff. So I am claiming this, if I was to add more panels can I add this to the generated units and still claim the feed in tariff on the whole system. ??     

No you would loose your FIT.

Sure? 

That's what experts said in my thread  Buying a house with solar panels.

Martyn1981 said:

Reed_Richards said:

Martyn1981 said:

Reed_Richards said:

You could lose the FiT payments if it turns out that your system has been significantly altered since it was installed in 2011.  So you had better hope that your "Smart PV System" did not add extra panels feeding through your old generation meter, which would not be allowed.  Maybe it was just flimflam?  

No its fine to alter the system, even significantly, you just need to inform the FiT provider. Perfectly allowable to add additional panels running through the old gen meter, the FiT provider will just apportion your payments to the ratio of original system to new total system.

That's useful to know.  But are FiT providers obliged to do this or was yours just being nice?

Nope, it's the subsidy rules. I've been pointing this out on here for probably 10yrs, even quoted all the OFGEM guidance on one thread once, when they clarified it to reduce the confusion*, and claims that a system can't be altered or upgraded. But still comes up regularly.

*Edit - For anyone interested, here is the thread, and my post running through the updated OFGEM guidance is towards the end, 4th August 2022.

Expanding Existing Solar System and adding battery and keeping fits payments

QrizB

It's not quite as simple as a yes/no.

Let's say you've got a FIT-earning system rated at 2kW. You want to add another 3kW.

You could:

- Install a separate standalone 3kW system (all fitted by a MCS certified installer and with the necessary permissions and notifications). You'd retain your current FIT payments on the 2kW system.

- Add another 3kW of panels, plus a larger inverter, to the 2kW system (all MCS again, this time including permission / notification of your FIT provider). You would then receive FIT payments for 2/5ths of the new larger system.

There's no legitimate way to do what the OP asks, which is:

stig1of2the3dump said:

... still claim the feed in tariff on the whole system. ??     

You'll only get the FIT on the current system (first option) or the FIT part of the system (second option).