Annual Cost of Small-Scale Solar Te

May 2019
Contents

Small scale solar costs 2013-14

Small scale solar costs 2014-15

Small scale solar costs 2015-16

Small scale solar costs 2016-17

Small scale solar costs 2017-18

Small scale solar costs 2018-19

This release provides information on the cost of small-scale solar PV technology; data are so

The cost value associated with each installation on the MCS scheme includes the cost of the
connecting to electricity supply and VAT. The cost excludes any extended warranty or any ot
costs and do not represent the householder's cost of installation.

Additional information on the data and methodology used in the analysis presented in this p
available here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/energy-trends-december-2013-special-feature-a

The next update will be in May 2020.

With enquiries concerning these tables, email fitstatistics@beis.gov.uk or contact Andrew Sm

ale Solar Technology Summary
2019

echnology; data are sourced from the Microgeneration Certificate Scheme.

ncludes the cost of the solar PV generation equipment, cost of installing and
ded warranty or any other material or works. The data reflects the wholsesale

ysis presented in this publication are available in a Special features article

2013-special-feature-article-small-scale-solar-pv-cost-data

k or contact Andrew Smith on 0207 215 5475

FEED IN TARIFFS: Small scale solar PV cost data
The cost per kW installed has remained largely static over the last 12 months. With the mean cost per kW ranging from £2,010 in
June 2013 to £2,180 in October 2013. Decreases in cost were seen in June 2013 and March 2014 when the number of installations
installed in those respective months increased prior to the drop in tariff rates.

Table 1: Cost per kW installed by size band (£)

0-4kW 4-10kW 10-50kW
£ per kW installed £ per kW installed £ per kW installed
Number of Number of Number of
Year Month installations Median Mean Lower CI Upper CI installations Median Mean Lower CI Upper CI installations Median Mean Lower CI Upper CI
April 3,582 1,860 2,020 2,000 2,040 138 1,510 1,620 1,540 1,700 186 1,380 1,440 1,370 1,500
May 4,075 1,880 2,080 2,060 2,110 141 1,580 1,720 1,620 1,820 183 1,360 1,410 1,350 1,460
June 6,833 1,830 2,010 1,990 2,030 333 1,590 1,660 1,610 1,720 494 1,310 1,360 1,330 1,390
July 2,741 1,850 2,060 2,030 2,090 91 1,630 1,690 1,600 1,790 76 1,340 1,390 1,270 1,510
2013 August 3,159 1,900 2,050 2,030 2,070 105 1,580 1,640 1,560 1,730 109 1,350 1,450 1,370 1,520
September 3,830 1,970 2,080 2,060 2,100 145 1,570 1,630 1,560 1,710 144 1,330 1,350 1,290 1,410
October 4,321 2,010 2,180 2,160 2,200 142 1,590 1,730 1,630 1,830 132 1,360 1,380 1,320 1,430
November 4,562 2,000 2,130 2,110 2,150 143 1,590 1,630 1,540 1,720 161 1,380 1,490 1,410 1,570
December 4,311 1,940 2,090 2,070 2,110 169 1,500 1,600 1,540 1,660 179 1,330 1,420 1,370 1,480
January 3,281 2,000 2,160 2,140 2,190 144 1,570 1,620 1,530 1,700 116 1,380 1,430 1,360 1,500
2014 February 3,736 2,000 2,130 2,110 2,150 127 1,560 1,620 1,540 1,690 142 1,330 1,450 1,380 1,530
March 7,556 1,880 2,040 2,020 2,050 363 1,540 1,580 1,540 1,620 466 1,300 1,350 1,320 1,380
Total 2013/14 51,987 1,910 2,080 2,070 2,090 2,041 1,570 1,640 1,620 1,660 2,388 1,330 1,390 1,380 1,410
Notes:
1. Data are sourced from the Microgeneration Certificate Scheme (MCS) database maintained by Gemserv and extracted on 3rd April 2014.
2. All costs have been rounded to the nearest 10 pound.
3. Not all of these installations will necessarily have been confirmed on the CFR.
4. Extensions to existing installations are counted as new installations.
5. Northern Ireland installations accredited through the MCS have been excluded.
6. Only includes installations that had valid cost data(see table 2 below for coverage). See special feature article on 'Small scale solar PV cost data' for methodology https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-trends-
december-2013-special-feature-article-small-scale-solar-pv-cost-data
7. Lower CI = Lower 95% confidence interval, Upper CI = Upper 95% confidence interval. We can be 95% certain that the mean cost per kW lies within these two values (assuming the cost data entered is a non-biased sample).

Table 2: Proportion of installations included in analysis

Year Month Coverage (%)
April 47
May 51
June 56
July 46
2013 August 45
September 48
October 47
November 50
December 49
January 45
2014 February 46
March 56
FEED IN TARIFFS: Small scale solar PV cost data
The cost per kW installed for 0-4 kW installations has remained largely static over the last 12 months. The mean cost per kW
ranged from £1,971 in March 2015 to £2,229 in April 2014, with the mean for 2014-15 staying roughly the same as that in 2013-14
(a fall of 0.5 per cent).
Decreases in cost were seen in December 2014 and March 2015 when the number of installations installed in those respective
months increased prior to the drop in tariff rates.
There were 17,500 more installations included in the analysis for 0-4 kW installations between April 2014 and March 2015 than
there were in the same period last year, an increase of 34 per cent.

Table 1: Cost per kW installed by size band (£)

0-4kW 4-10kW 10-50kW
£ per kW installed £ per kW installed £ per kW installed
Number of Number of Number of
Year Month installations Median Mean Lower CI Upper CI installations Median Mean Lower CI Upper CI installations Median Mean Lower CI Upper CI
April 3,342 2,079 2,229 2,204 2,253 77 1,523 1,617 1,486 1,747 74 1,357 1,489 1,353 1,625
May 4,151 2,050 2,193 2,172 2,215 134 1,592 1,648 1,570 1,726 121 1,420 1,423 1,359 1,487
June 4,837 1,998 2,141 2,121 2,161 146 1,563 1,633 1,551 1,714 181 1,313 1,402 1,331 1,472
July 5,448 2,000 2,117 2,097 2,138 155 1,527 1,609 1,525 1,693 173 1,324 1,357 1,309 1,404
2014 August 4,984 2,000 2,103 2,082 2,123 159 1,550 1,616 1,542 1,691 164 1,347 1,416 1,351 1,481
September 6,565 1,931 2,056 2,038 2,074 201 1,551 1,862 1,729 1,996 239 1,333 1,446 1,372 1,519
October 6,806 1,958 2,057 2,039 2,074 176 1,547 1,631 1,555 1,707 201 1,270 1,319 1,265 1,373
November 6,656 1,875 2,004 1,987 2,021 191 1,457 1,517 1,459 1,575 195 1,262 1,338 1,281 1,396
December 8,284 1,834 1,982 1,967 1,996 350 1,468 1,514 1,466 1,562 501 1,276 1,312 1,282 1,342
January 3,650 1,923 2,012 1,987 2,036 80 1,520 1,623 1,522 1,724 74 1,347 1,382 1,294 1,470
2015 February 5,146 1,901 1,979 1,960 1,998 141 1,500 1,512 1,455 1,570 142 1,206 1,263 1,215 1,311
March 9,591 1,834 1,971 1,958 1,985 406 1,467 1,537 1,475 1,599 310 1,329 1,477 1,403 1,551
Total 2014/15 69,460 1,949 2,070 2,065 2,076 2,216 1,522 1,610 1,588 1,632 2,375 1,315 1,385 1,368 1,403
Notes:
1. Data are sourced from the Microgeneration Certificate Scheme (MCS) database maintained by Gemserv and extracted on 14th April 2015.
2. All costs have been rounded to the nearest 10 pound.
3. Not all of these installations will necessarily have been confirmed on the CFR.
4. Extensions to existing installations are counted as new installations.
5. Northern Ireland installations accredited through the MCS have been excluded.
6. Only includes installations that had valid cost data(see table 2 below for coverage). See special feature article on 'Small scale solar PV cost data' for methodology https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-trends-
december-2013-special-feature-article-small-scale-solar-pv-cost-data
7. Lower CI = Lower 95% confidence interval, Upper CI = Upper 95% confidence interval. We can be 95% certain that the mean cost per kW lies within these two values (assuming the cost data entered is a non-biased sample).

Table 2: Proportion of installations included in analysis

Year Month Coverage (%)
April 46
May 50
June 52
July 51
2014 August 51
September 54
October 53
November 56
December 62
January 49
2015 February 55
March 59
FEED IN TARIFFS: Small scale solar PV cost data
Between April 2015 and January 2016 the average cost per kW for 0-4kW installations fell steadily before increa
February and March 2016. Between April 2015 and March 2016, the mean cost per kW ranged from £1,587 to £
overal mean 11.5 per cent lower than the same period in the previous year.
Lower costs were seen between November 2015 to January 2016 when the number of installations increased. T
installations in February and March fell substantially, coinciding with an increase in the cost.
There were 25,700 more installations included in the analysis for 0-4 kW installations between April 2015 and M
than there were in the same period last year, an increase of 37 per cent.

Table 1: Cost per kW installed by size band (£)

0-4kW
£ per kW installed
Number of
Year Month installations Median Mean Lower CI Upper CI
April 5,241 1,902 2,025 2,006 2,045
May 5,775 1,862 1,981 1,963 2,000
June 9,928 1,766 1,920 1,906 1,934
July 5,575 1,806 1,940 1,921 1,959
2015 August 5,923 1,714 1,863 1,846 1,881
September 10,757 1,667 1,806 1,794 1,818
October 8,007 1,629 1,780 1,765 1,794
November 12,454 1,580 1,684 1,674 1,694
December 16,528 1,569 1,676 1,668 1,684
January 10,102 1,500 1,587 1,575 1,598
2016 February 2,347 1,629 1,820 1,790 1,851
March 2,485 1,667 1,911 1,880 1,941
Total 2015/16 95,122 1,691 1,833 1,829 1,837

Notes:
1. Data are sourced from the Microgeneration Certificate Scheme (MCS) database maintained by Gemserv and extracted on 06th May 2016.
2. All costs have been rounded to the nearest 10 pound.
3. Not all of these installations will necessarily have been confirmed on the CFR.
4. Extensions to existing installations are counted as new installations.
5. Northern Ireland installations accredited through the MCS have been excluded.

6. Only includes installations that had valid cost data(see table 2 below for coverage). See special feature article on 'Small scale solar PV cost data' for methodology http
december-2013-special-feature-article-small-scale-solar-pv-cost-data
7. Lower CI = Lower 95% confidence interval, Upper CI = Upper 95% confidence interval. We can be 95% certain that the mean cost per kW lies within these two values
Table 2: Proportion of installations included in analysis

Year Month Coverage (%)

April 53
May 55
June 60
July 54
2014 August 56
September 60
October 55
November 61
December 64
 January 54
2015 February 68
March 60
PV cost data
tallations fell steadily before increasing slightly in
ost per kW ranged from £1,587 to £2,025, and with the

number of installations increased. The number of

ase in the cost.
allations between April 2015 and March 2016

4-10kW 10-50kW
£ per kW installed £
Number of Number of
installations Median Mean Lower CI Upper CI installations Median
93 1,500 1,542 1,435 1,649 168 1,290
160 1,442 1,478 1,420 1,537 162 1,263
365 1,400 1,450 1,411 1,490 306 1,197
171 1,400 1,461 1,398 1,525 206 1,249
183 1,447 1,481 1,417 1,544 256 1,216
494 1,405 1,463 1,424 1,502 684 1,230
237 1,379 1,405 1,357 1,453 291 1,178
374 1,400 1,429 1,387 1,470 471 1,254
943 1,400 1,455 1,428 1,482 1,475 1,201
500 1,392 1,425 1,387 1,463 712 1,167
65 1,389 1,494 1,367 1,621 45 1,220
109 1,375 1,436 1,359 1,513 111 1,134
3,694 1,411 1,460 1,446 1,474 4,887 1,217

d on 06th May 2016.

all scale solar PV cost data' for methodology https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-trends-

e mean cost per kW lies within these two values (assuming the cost data entered is a non-biased sample)
10-50kW
£ per kW installed

Mean Lower CI Upper CI

1,331 1,282 1,381
1,327 1,276 1,378
1,233 1,193 1,273
1,265 1,223 1,307
1,268 1,222 1,315
1,257 1,235 1,279
1,243 1,202 1,284
1,275 1,245 1,304
1,240 1,224 1,257
1,201 1,178 1,225
1,281 1,184 1,377
1,262 1,190 1,334
1,265 1,256 1,275
FEED IN TARIFFS: Small scale solar PV cost data
The cost per kW installed has slightly decreased over the last 12 months. The mean cost per kW started at £1,977 in April 2016 and
showed a general steady decrease to £1,885 in March 2017.

Table 1: Cost per kW installed by size band (£)

0-4kW 4-10kW 10-50kW
£ per kW installed £ per kW installed £ per kW installed
Number of Number of Number of
Year Month installations Median Mean Lower CI Upper CI installations Median Mean Lower CI Upper CI installations Median Mean Lower CI Upper CI
April 1,873 1,794 1,977 1,943 2,011 95 1,403 1,509 1,409 1,608 63 1,176 1,289 1,200 1,379
May 2,072 1,667 1,841 1,807 1,876 104 1,469 1,621 1,503 1,738 79 1,201 1,315 1,238 1,391
June 2,518 1,667 1,807 1,779 1,835 134 1,405 1,476 1,387 1,564 109 1,182 1,209 1,156 1,262
July 1,844 1,656 1,785 1,751 1,818 114 1,393 1,387 1,319 1,455 85 1,132 1,184 1,133 1,235
2016 August 1,823 1,698 1,875 1,839 1,910 136 1,452 1,559 1,475 1,644 103 1,179 1,212 1,159 1,264
September 2,007 1,710 1,845 1,814 1,876 183 1,416 1,534 1,453 1,615 191 1,188 1,275 1,212 1,338
October 1,623 1,754 1,925 1,886 1,964 104 1,438 1,594 1,474 1,714 80 1,158 1,249 1,157 1,342
November 2,070 1,750 1,934 1,899 1,969 126 1,440 1,544 1,457 1,631 99 1,128 1,246 1,159 1,334
December 1,361 1,714 1,897 1,856 1,938 121 1,434 1,541 1,444 1,639 130 1,094 1,182 1,128 1,236
January 1,370 1,576 1,749 1,708 1,790 107 1,421 1,431 1,348 1,513 58 1,153 1,250 1,143 1,356
2017 February 1,589 1,655 1,872 1,832 1,913 131 1,349 1,385 1,313 1,456 67 1,170 1,207 1,123 1,291
March 1,837 1,667 1,885 1,849 1,921 194 1,394 1,485 1,403 1,567 133 1,068 1,140 1,081 1,200
Total 2016/17 21,987 1,692 1,866 1,856 1,876 1,549 1,418 1,505 1,480 1,531 1,197 1,153 1,230 1,210 1,250

Notes:
1. Data are sourced from the Microgeneration Certificate Scheme (MCS) database maintained by Gemserv and extracted on 16th May 2017.
2. All costs have been rounded to the nearest 10 pounds.
3. Not all of these installations will necessarily have been confirmed on the CFR.
4. Extensions to existing installations are counted as new installations.
5. Northern Ireland installations accredited through the MCS have been excluded.

6. Only includes installations that had valid cost data(see table 2 below for coverage). See special feature article on 'Small scale solar PV cost data' for methodology https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-trends-
december-2013-special-feature-article-small-scale-solar-pv-cost-data
7. Lower CI = Lower 95% confidence interval, Upper CI = Upper 95% confidence interval. We can be 95% certain that the mean cost per kW lies within these two values (assuming the cost data entered is a non-biased sample)
Table 2: Proportion of installations included in analysis

Year Month Coverage (%)

April 60%
May 65%
June 68%
July 64%
2016 August 66%
September 62%
October 65%
November 66%
December 71%
January 66%
2017 February 63%
March 70%
FEED IN TARIFFS: Small scale solar PV cost data
Over the course of the financial year 2017/18, the average cost per kW for 0-4kW installations was broadly similar, with a mean cost of
£1,840 per kW installed. The mean cost increased between April and May 2017, to a peak for the year of £1,920 per kW installed. There
was then a large decrease to the minimum mean cost for in the year in July 2017 at £1,768 per kW installed. Subsequently, the mean cost
increased slightly and remained broadly stable to March 2018.
The mean cost for 0-4kW installations was 1.4% lower than in 2016/17. The mean cost for 2017/18 is around 11.5% lower than in 2013/14
and 2014/15.
There were 19,708 installations included in the analysis for 0-4kW installations between April 2017 and March 2018, a decrease of 10.4%
on the previous year.

Table 1: Cost per kW installed by size band (£)

0-4kW 4-10kW 10-50kW
£ per kW installed £ per kW installed £ per kW installed
Number of Number of Number of
Year Month installations Median Mean Lower CI Upper CI installations Median Mean Lower CI Upper CI installations Median Mean Lower CI Upper CI
April 1,186 1,669 1,864 1,817 1,910 110 1,283 1,368 1,280 1,456 61 1,014 1,101 1,008 1,194
May 1,898 1,794 1,920 1,885 1,954 149 1,364 1,495 1,425 1,564 94 1,089 1,196 1,107 1,284
June 1,745 1,698 1,824 1,788 1,860 207 1,425 1,531 1,462 1,601 95 1,127 1,137 1,074 1,200
July 1,491 1,636 1,768 1,732 1,805 168 1,415 1,534 1,448 1,621 92 1,041 1,105 1,010 1,200
2017 August 1,918 1,660 1,821 1,786 1,856 173 1,372 1,500 1,427 1,573 109 1,114 1,199 1,123 1,275
September 1,975 1,733 1,878 1,845 1,911 210 1,370 1,482 1,412 1,552 124 1,025 1,099 1,053 1,144
October 1,635 1,659 1,815 1,778 1,851 176 1,407 1,519 1,437 1,601 86 1,098 1,172 1,101 1,243
November 2,006 1,720 1,812 1,780 1,843 178 1,428 1,513 1,434 1,591 99 1,111 1,122 1,068 1,177
December 1,390 1,733 1,829 1,792 1,866 162 1,439 1,521 1,444 1,598 86 1,122 1,218 1,134 1,303
January 1,378 1,685 1,811 1,772 1,849 129 1,365 1,522 1,425 1,619 86 1,048 1,101 1,052 1,151
2018 February 1,293 1,714 1,854 1,817 1,891 129 1,419 1,583 1,476 1,689 82 1,125 1,209 1,104 1,313
March 1,793 1,714 1,885 1,848 1,922 194 1,431 1,546 1,471 1,621 134 1,043 1,176 1,090 1,261
Total 2017/18 19,708 1,701 1,840 1,830 1,850 1,985 1,393 1,509 1,486 1,533 1,148 1,080 1,153 1,131 1,175
-10.4%
Notes:
1. Data are sourced from the Microgeneration Certificate Scheme (MCS) database maintained by Gemserv and extracted on 10th May 2018.
2. All costs have been rounded to the nearest 10 pounds.
3. Not all of these installations will necessarily have been confirmed on the CFR.
4. Extensions to existing installations are counted as new installations.
5. Northern Ireland installations accredited through the MCS have been excluded.
6. Only includes installations that had valid cost data(see table 2 below for coverage). See special feature article on 'Small scale solar PV cost data' for methodology https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-trends-
december-2013-special-feature-article-small-scale-solar-pv-cost-data
7. Lower CI = Lower 95% confidence interval, Upper CI = Upper 95% confidence interval. We can be 95% certain that the mean cost per kW lies within these two values (assuming the cost data entered is a non-biased sample)
Table 2: Proportion of installations included in analysis

Year Month Coverage (%)

April 66%
May 70%
June 66%
July 68%
2017 August 72%
September 68%
October 68%
November 69%
December 68%
January 66%
2018 February 65%
March 70%
FEED IN TARIFFS: Small scale solar PV cost data
Over the course of the financial year 2018/19, the average cost per kW for 0-4kW installations was broadly similar, with a mean cost of
£1,816 per kW installed. The mean cost fluctuated over the year, reaching a peak for the year of £1,939 per kW installed in June. The mean
cost then reduced from this peak to reach a minimum mean cost for the year in November of £1,726 per kW installed. Subsequently, the
mean cost increased slightly and remained broadly stable to March 2019.
The mean cost for 0-4kW installations was 1.3% lower than in 2017/18. The mean cost for 2018/19 is around 12.3% lower than in 2014/15.
There were 32,370 installations included in the analysis for 0-4kW installations between April 2018 and March 2019, an increase of 64% on
the previous year. This increase is driven by the closure of FiTs at the end of March 2019.

Table 1: Cost per kW installed by size band (£)

0-4kW 4-10kW 10-50kW
£ per kW installed £ per kW installed £ per kW installed
Number of Number of Number of
Year Month installations Median Mean Lower CI Upper CI installations Median Mean Lower CI Upper CI installations Median Mean Lower CI Upper CI
April 1,465 1,754 1,869 1,833 1,905 168 1,475 1,597 1,502 1,693 68 1,112 1,194 1,104 1,283
May 1,747 1,675 1,798 1,767 1,828 172 1,399 1,550 1,457 1,643 78 1,087 1,143 1,051 1,236
June 1,308 1,696 1,939 1,881 1,996 121 1,310 1,400 1,270 1,529 26 1,042 1,026 873 1,180
July 1,656 1,651 1,748 1,713 1,783 204 1,364 1,477 1,407 1,546 84 1,106 1,175 1,091 1,259
2018 August 1,949 1,674 1,776 1,745 1,808 203 1,313 1,472 1,398 1,547 107 1,084 1,158 1,089 1,227
September 2,096 1,692 1,826 1,796 1,855 279 1,339 1,478 1,421 1,536 103 1,051 1,114 1,053 1,175
October 2,250 1,647 1,773 1,745 1,801 237 1,384 1,533 1,462 1,604 114 1,086 1,109 1,052 1,166
November 2,973 1,608 1,726 1,703 1,749 379 1,395 1,512 1,458 1,566 124 1,154 1,192 1,129 1,256
December 2,250 1,607 1,774 1,745 1,803 379 1,376 1,496 1,442 1,549 135 1,035 1,104 1,052 1,156
January 2,918 1,695 1,850 1,824 1,875 486 1,370 1,484 1,443 1,526 189 1,066 1,136 1,090 1,181
2019 February 3,940 1,704 1,845 1,823 1,867 712 1,352 1,472 1,439 1,505 274 1,035 1,132 1,088 1,177
March 7,818 1,729 1,867 1,852 1,883 1,986 1,388 1,508 1,485 1,531 1,133 1,081 1,185 1,158 1,212
Total 2018/19 32,370 1,678 1,816 1,808 1,824 5,326 1,372 1,498 1,484 1,513 2,435 1,078 1,139 1,124 1,154

Notes:
1. Data are sourced from the Microgeneration Certificate Scheme (MCS) database maintained by Gemserv and extracted on 7th May 2019.
2. All costs have been rounded to the nearest 10 pounds.
3. Not all of these installations will necessarily have been confirmed on the CFR.
4. Extensions to existing installations are counted as new installations.
5. Northern Ireland installations accredited through the MCS have been excluded.
6. Only includes installations that had valid cost data (see table 2 below for coverage). See special feature article on 'Small scale solar PV cost data' for methodology https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/energy-trends-
december-2013-special-feature-article-small-scale-solar-pv-cost-data
7. Lower CI = Lower 95% confidence interval, Upper CI = Upper 95% confidence interval. We can be 95% certain that the mean cost per kW lies within these two values (assuming the cost data entered is a non-biased sample)
Table 2: Proportion of installations included in analysis

Year Month Coverage (%)

April 66%
May 68%
June 46%
July 71%
2018 August 70%
September 71%
October 68%
November 74%
December 75%
January 72%
2019 February 82%
March 73%