Claiming your Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs)

The current government policy is that all renewable energy systems currently receiving ROCs will be transferred to a fixed tariff of 9p per kWh generated as part of the Feed-In Tariff scheme. Applications for the ROC scheme will close at the end of March 2010 so it is very important that all customers with systems installed before 15th July 2009 must register for the ROC scheme to be eligible for the transfer to the Feed-In Tariffs. The steps to register for the ROCs scheme are as follows:

1. Go to https://www.renewablesandchp.ofgem.gov.uk/

2. Click on "Register"

3. Click "Continue"

4. Select "A Generator" and click "Continue"

5. Select "An Individual" and fill in the relevant personal details. Click "Continue"

6. Fill in details of somebody who is authorised to sign for the account.

7. Choose a user name that you will remember. Write it down. Click "Continue"

8. Check the email address you entered then click "Confirm"

9. Your username and password will be emailed to the account you entered.

10. Check your email and write down the password that was sent to you.

11. Go to https://www.renewablesandchp.ofgem.gov.uk/ again.

12. Use your username and password to log into the system.

The meter which measures the total energy produced by the Solar PV installation in kWh is labelled the "ROC" meter. This stands for the Renewable Obligation Certificate. ROCs are a statutory method for measuring the amount of electricity produced by renewable energy sources and are a tradable commodity between electricity suppliers who have an obligation from the UK Government to produce a certain percentage of their energy from renewable sources.

One ROC is 1000kWh and in 2007, traded for approximately £40. Some electricity suppliers will buy your ROCs from you at this price. This amount is set to increase to £90 per ROC for on site renewable energy from April 2009. For more details of the ROC scheme visit Ofgem, the electricity and gas regulator.

Some of the energy buy-back schemes either include ROCs in the price or will arrange to sell the ROCs for you. Read our guide to selling your exported electricity. If you wish to have a separate power sale and ROC agreement then you may do so with a ROC broker.

Tradelink Solutions are a specialist broker dealing in power purchase agreements, ROCs and Levy Exemption Certificates (LECs) for small scale renewable energy installations. Tradelink will be able to help you claim ROCs and/or LECs for the energy generated.

It should be noted that when the Feed In Tariff scheme is implemented in April 2010 the way you are paid for generating electricity will change substantially, for the better! Please see our Feed In Tariff page for more details.