Extension To Solar PV

greyteam1959

I would like to add another 4 panels to my existing 9 panels.
Anybody any idea if this would be treated as a 'new' installation ??
Or would I be able to claim the 43.3p on the total output of 13 panels ??

Cardew

I believe not - but might be worth asking an installer:

This from another thread:

Under existing rules you must use new equipment (by serial number) in order to be able to apply for FiTs and an installation is unique to a property

It seems it would count as two systems.

zeupater

mervyn11 wrote: »

I would like to add another 4 panels to my existing 9 panels.
Anybody any idea if this would be treated as a 'new' installation ??
Or would I be able to claim the 43.3p on the total output of 13 panels ??

Hi

If the expansion is within the first 12 months it's classified as a system extension and if the new panels take the installation into a higher tariff band, then that band will apply to the entire system. The entire installation is counted as having been commissioned on the original date, so there's no change to the FiT end date in 25 years time.

If the system is expanded after 12 months it counts as a separate system, the existing system continues to attract FiT payments in it's original banding and the new system/expansion will fall into the tariff band calculated by adding the size of both systems and a new 25 year agreement will apply to the new system only.

Any expansion needs to be done by an MCS installer and registered accordingly, if you expand the capacity yourself you'll likely have the system struck of the MCS database and receive no future FiTs.

HTH
Z

greyteam1959

Zeupater........
Thats excellent & just what I was hoping for.
Can I ask where you got the information from ???
i.e a link perhaps that I can quote to my installer ??

zeupater

mervyn11 wrote: »

Zeupater........
Thats excellent & just what I was hoping for.
Can I ask where you got the information from ???
i.e a link perhaps that I can quote to my installer ??

Hi

http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/Consultations/Renewable%20Electricity%20Financial%20Incentives/1_20100204120204_e_@@_FITsconsultationresponseandGovdecisions.pdf

Definition of an installation / site ... (31)

"any expansion of an installation within 12 months (of the same technology) will be treated as an increase in the capacity of the installation; if an expansion takes place more than one year after confirmation in the Central FITs Register, the expansion will be treated as a separate station - the original installation will be treated as having continued in the same class, while the new installation will be rated at the capacity of the aggregate of the two stations."

The installer should already know this, or be able to check validity for you ......

HTH
Z

rogerblack

Interesting.
So does this mean that - say - someone with a 4kW on-roof system installed in August can boost this to 10kW, and get the FIT as of August 2011?
(~38p/kWh )
If you've got the cash, and space for more panels, it seems fairly likely that panel install prices will drop substantially after Dec.

It'd seem to be a sensible buisness model for people to go round knocking doors of people with newish looking solar panels, and offer them a larger system on the old rates.
Especially as they're likely to have had their first few FIT payments, and be feeling good about their investment.

Yut_Man

Zeupator hitting it on the head again. Interesting info.

greyteam1959

Many thanks zeupater......
A veritable mine of top quality info !!!