OFFGEM have published an open letter that clarifies the question of eligibility for Feed-in-Tariffs (FiTs). This is confirmed in the Energy Savings Trust website.
This gist of it is that Hydro turbines do not need to be approved under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) but can get access to FiTs via the ROO-FIT process via Offgem.
“the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) published their intention to extend the ROO-FIT accreditation process for micro-hydro installations indefinitely… hydro installations with a DNC of 50kW or less must continue to be accredited for the FIT scheme under the ROO-FIT accreditation process. This process is administered by Ofgem. Therefore all hydro installations with a total installed capacity up to and including 5MW will continue to be accredited through the ROO-FIT process, from 1 October 2012 onwards… contact the Renewable & CHP team at [email protected].”
I have two Powerspout customers pursuing this ROO-FIT thingy now, and both of them happen to have wordpress sites as well:
Hugh, I wondered if i could contact a couple of these guys who are going for the Roo Fit accreditation. I have a couple of projects that will be up and running soon-ish. I hope to also go down this route. Both powerspouts. I also have had a couple of enquirys of a similar nature asking for info.
It would be great to share. Thanks Nick Goff
http://www.nrgpure.com/#!powerspout/c1pv5