When plans for the scheme were announced in July 2009, npower had a 200% per cent increase in enquires for solar PV panels, and since the launch of the feed-in tariffs, “record numbers of homeowners have registered to have panels installed, boosting the solar industry in the UK,” npower says.

Louisa Gilchrist, Solar Expert for npower, says: “It’s fantastic to see feed-in-tariffs generating so much interest with homeowners and the scheme should be applauded for energising the solar industry in the UK.

“The scheme means that the payback period has been reduced to around 15 years for a typical installation costing around £12,000 and this has proved to be a real incentive, especially amongst homeowners who have always had a vested interest in solar energy.”

Any homeowner who has had solar PV panels installed using products and installers accredited under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), since summer 2009 has started to benefit from the scheme since 1 April, receiving up to 41.3p for every unit of electricity they generate, which can provide an annual income of up to £960 a year.