Clean Energy Cashback Scheme (CEC)

The Clean Energy Cashback Scheme (CEC) aims to boost the generation of energy from renewable sources. Under the scheme, small scale ‘generators,’ householders, groups, communities and businesses will be guaranteed a cash return until 2020 (2025 for solar PV).

Generation tariffs will be paid on all the electricity generated whether or not it used on site. Expensive systems like solar PV will attract a higher tariff than wind which is cheaper. Any excess electricity can be fed into the national grid where it will attract an export tariff of 3p per kWh.

Tariff levels will be determined by the type of technology and the year of installation and once installed, a scheme’s tariff will be index-linked.  However, to encourage early take up, each year the starting tariff for new schemes will decrease.

For commercial purposes all generation and exports must be metered. Most domestic utility meters are presently unable to register energy fed back into the grid although the introduction of smart meters will change this. Until then, domestic export tariffs will be paid on 50% of the total generated.

Key Points

• Tariffs have been set to give a return on investment of around 5-8%
• Households generating electricity for the own use will not pay tax on tariffs earned. Different rules are likely to apply to other generators
• Installations should pay for themselves at around year 10-12 of their projected 20-25 year life
• Funding can be available at no up-front cost – ask us how
• Systems must be installed by accredited members of the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS).

Green Compliance Energy Consultants can offer installation and funding advice for public sector or commercial customers. For more information or to talk to the team about producing a proposal for you, please contact us

Click on one of the icons below if you would like to download a commercial or domestic version of our CEC leaflet.

CEC - Commercial leaflet  

CEC - Domestic leaflet