Thanks, will look into it.
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Gareth J
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I was going to post the same.
gaz1
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if you pay an electrition to check and inspect the install therefore signing off the work thats been done then that should be good enough
its good enough to import from the system therefore should be good enough to export to the system
gaz1
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since ive noted the ref of you cant export it on a diy system or that it may not be worth exporting it to the grid
then why not consider other alternatives to use what you cant
its either batterys or you charge something else up like a sand battery which lasts a good while
then why not consider other alternatives to use what you cant
its either batterys or you charge something else up like a sand battery which lasts a good while
Martin Hocking
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Do you think you can get a feed in tariff without doing any micro generation?
I’m envisaging a plan involving my neighbours outside socket, a battery charger and a wheelbarrow….
I’m envisaging a plan involving my neighbours outside socket, a battery charger and a wheelbarrow….
Gareth J
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An MCS accredited electrician. And one that is willing do do it. Not easy
The comment regarding if you can import, you should be able to export is irrelevant.
Yeah, there seems to be conflicting advice. I guess an email to octopus to clarify is probably the way to go if that was an option you were exploring.
Martin Hocking
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Which part of the install is the part pertinent to qualify for the feed in tariff? Surely it’s just the inverter?
well I would expect the MCS installer provides a certificate of sorts.
Panels would come with some worthless bit of paper, and the inverter would need the G89 or whatever it is now.Maybe a test cert from a sparky, 18th ed quallified.?
Panels would come with some worthless bit of paper, and the inverter would need the G89 or whatever it is now.Maybe a test cert from a sparky, 18th ed quallified.?
gaz1
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i agree but i also find it highly restrictive as well
from a quick google
Flexi-Orb is an alternative (but equivalent) professional certification scheme to the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS).
now since pressbrake mentioned this and some people would like to upgrade too newer panels ( more output for the same size panel )
Panels I paid £118 for last year are now £56
i cant see the harm in having a reissue of the certificate when newer panels that supply more power from them can be installed or you could upgrade your own panels in rows selling the older type to replace for newer models
there still under the required output rating even if they are used its when you come to much older solar energy panels becomes non compatable with the required energy rating thats needed for the grid
Martin Hocking
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It certainly seems restrictive to me to.
Nobody ever wants you to have any fun do they…I don’t know whether it’s just that I’ve just spent too much time with old school farmers who just do what they want or what, but why would you need another certificate for the new panels? Surely if you’ve got a certificate, if by some freak accident your panels suddenly gained capacity, that’s not anyone else’s business?
Or if the tiny wind turbine or hamster powered kinetic generator in your garden that you got a export tariff for suddenly sprouted 4kw of solar array where’s the harm in that?
Another thing I wondered was if you’re electricity is generated and/or stored off grid are there any rules about selling it? Say for example a car charger in your driveway for a rental car park space
Nobody ever wants you to have any fun do they…I don’t know whether it’s just that I’ve just spent too much time with old school farmers who just do what they want or what, but why would you need another certificate for the new panels? Surely if you’ve got a certificate, if by some freak accident your panels suddenly gained capacity, that’s not anyone else’s business?
Or if the tiny wind turbine or hamster powered kinetic generator in your garden that you got a export tariff for suddenly sprouted 4kw of solar array where’s the harm in that?
Another thing I wondered was if you’re electricity is generated and/or stored off grid are there any rules about selling it? Say for example a car charger in your driveway for a rental car park space
sparkysy
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G98-99 is needed to register the installation with the electricity supplier, depending on the size of system, I think if it's under 3.6kw it's a G99, MCS cert is different and proves the installer and the products he has installed are up to a certain standard.
There was talk of scrapping MCS, it hasn't yet happened, but if things carry on as they are then I can see it being done away with. It costs a small fortune to be approved. I know as I used to be an approved contractor. They actually provide very little even if things do go wrong with an installation.
If Octopus has its way as long as the correct paperwork is in place and you have an installation certificate then there will be no need for MCS imho.
As for selling your generated power, to anyone via a car charger, there would be no issue with that from your DNO if that power was not from or connected to the grid.
The only person who would be interested is the tax man!
There was talk of scrapping MCS, it hasn't yet happened, but if things carry on as they are then I can see it being done away with. It costs a small fortune to be approved. I know as I used to be an approved contractor. They actually provide very little even if things do go wrong with an installation.
If Octopus has its way as long as the correct paperwork is in place and you have an installation certificate then there will be no need for MCS imho.
As for selling your generated power, to anyone via a car charger, there would be no issue with that from your DNO if that power was not from or connected to the grid.
The only person who would be interested is the tax man!
Gareth J
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There is so much confusion here. And there doesn't need to be. MCS, FiT, SEG, DNO's Gxx certification etc are all well defined and have rules as to what is an isn't allowed.
As a general rule, if you require a certain standard/setup/certificate in order for a company to pay you for something, if you deviate from those rules, the company will be quite happy to legitimately stop paying you and continue to take your generation.
Conjecture about what is and isn't allowed on a forum isn't needed or helpful.
As a general rule, if you require a certain standard/setup/certificate in order for a company to pay you for something, if you deviate from those rules, the company will be quite happy to legitimately stop paying you and continue to take your generation.
Conjecture about what is and isn't allowed on a forum isn't needed or helpful.
What nonsense - if it was all well defined we wouldn't be discussing it. So do you have to have an MCs certificated scheme to get paid export? Two days ago I thought the answer was yes...
Martin Hocking
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I wouldn’t go as far as far as calling what Gareth said nonsense but I agree with you though, it’s not completely clear cut. It is strange that octopus seem to have a different stance.
On a side note is there a reason why octopus are able to provide an export tariff so much higher than everyone else?
At the risk of piling on more idle conjecture/nonsense. I find it interesting how rigid the rules seem to be about micro generation, I do really appreciate that electric regs etc. are there to stop you being dead, but it does rather stifle creativity. I have wondered previously about having an auxiliary input socket on inverters, so you can plug in an extra source of generation like an excercise bike or a tiny turbine, nano generation I suppose. But I guess that would be just another way to contravene the rules.
I’ll stop now, I’ve been weeding horse paddocks the last two days so have had far too much time to philosophise about all this, so sorry about that!
Gareth J
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Sorry, my post wasn't really in response to your queries but other conjecture based posts. There is apparently ambiguity as to whether octopus will sign you up to SEG without an MCS cert. Which is why I suggested emailing them for clarification.
There is one way you could get around the rules and probably not get caught. If you had an existing MCS certified system, then added another, but capped it so as never to exceed the export of the original setup's output. And also didn't DNO register it. Then, there would be nothing to flag your system as suspect and without an inspection (or look at Google earth) no reason to know. Seems a bit of a gamble though.
Apology accepted but not needed. This suggestion takes us back a few pages where we did discuss suppliers running exception scripts to identify potential fraud - which if the previously accredited system is in receipt of FITs is what you're describing above is. The FIT payment scales were essentially a kick start to renewables by the last Labour g.ment, and they made a massive boob by setting the rates too high, something that has been well documented.
I have dealt extensively with hydro schemes, and the major red flag would be water pumped up a hill, using say 15p electricity, getting FIT payments at 20p at the turbine, so OFGEM specifically excluded any schemes where there would be a possibility of pumped water - took waste water turbines out of it at one fell swoop.
I don't think anyone is trying to do anything unsafe or illegal, but we are a forum of diy types after all...
I have dealt extensively with hydro schemes, and the major red flag would be water pumped up a hill, using say 15p electricity, getting FIT payments at 20p at the turbine, so OFGEM specifically excluded any schemes where there would be a possibility of pumped water - took waste water turbines out of it at one fell swoop.
I don't think anyone is trying to do anything unsafe or illegal, but we are a forum of diy types after all...
Gareth J
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My (not) suggestion was nothing to do with FIT. As you rightly suggest, that could and potentially would be detected easily
