Solar energy and feed in tariff

cts_casemod

Hi all,

I'm pondering the installation of a solar PV system for a relative. They are concerned with some cases that happened in previous years in which meters were charging for exported energy on PV arrays. I has the assumption the system required two meters - An import and an export! Is my assumption wrong?

Thanks

System

If you have a smart meter and, for example, you have your supply from and FITs paid for by the same supplier then it is possible that the 50% deemed export figure will not apply as the smart meter is capable of metering import and export. Note: we are only talking about exported PV energy here. All generated electricity - whether it is used in the home or exported - attracts the prevailing FIT rate.

It is likely from the end of this decade onwards, when I suspect smart meters will become mandatory, that all exported PV solar energy will be measured.

To put this into context. My PV Solar array generates 2000kWhs/year. I use about 65% of this in my home. I get paid FITs for the 2000kWhs and deemed export payments for 1000 kWhs. With a smart meter, I might lose out on 15% of my export payments. In real terms, it is not a great financial loss compared to the FIT payments that I receive.

MoneyMate

Hi, if you have not yet seen this MSE report, may be worth a look

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/energy/2015/12/solar-panel-earnings-to-be-halved-from-february-are-they-still-worth-it

Hope this helps ? :beer:

cts_casemod

The idea was to avoid the feed in tariff altogether. We just don't see the extra cost being worth, especially if they decide to move in a near future.

They have an E7 tariff. If the solar panels are good enough to keep the house running during the day, all the remainder is charged at off peak rate. This basically means an array that can generate 2 to 4KW a day should cover all they ever need.

Hengus, good information there. They were actually contacted by the supplier to arrange the meter to be changed to a smart meter a few months ago. Are you saying just the fact a smart meter is installed immediately allows export or does it have to be programmed to allow so?

Thanks.

System

cts_casemod wrote: »

The idea was to avoid the feed in tariff altogether. We just don't see the extra cost being worth, especially if they decide to move in a near future.

They have an E7 tariff. If the solar panels are good enough to keep the house running during the day, all the remainder is charged at off peak rate. This basically means an array that can generate 2 to 4KW a day should cover all they ever need.

Hengus, good information there. They were actually contacted by the supplier to arrange the meter to be changed to a smart meter a few months ago. Are you saying just the fact a smart meter is installed immediately allows export or does it have to be programmed to allow so?

Thanks.

Sorry but you have lost me with the first part of your post. Why would anyone not want the FIT? If they move then just transfer the FIT to the new owners. If no application for FITs is made, then I would assume that payments for export will not be paid so whether it is deemed export, metered export or export via a smart meter is somewhat irrelevant. Claiming FITs etc is nothing more than a paper exercise.

As I have deemed export and no smart meter, I am not sure how the smart meter is set up. Others may be able to advise.

http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/2453/how+will+feed-in+tariffs+be+affected+by+the+smart+meter+revolution'3f/

victor2

cts_casemod wrote: »

The idea was to avoid the feed in tariff altogether. We just don't see the extra cost being worth, especially if they decide to move in a near future.

They have an E7 tariff. If the solar panels are good enough to keep the house running during the day, all the remainder is charged at off peak rate. This basically means an array that can generate 2 to 4KW a day should cover all they ever need.

Hengus, good information there. They were actually contacted by the supplier to arrange the meter to be changed to a smart meter a few months ago. Are you saying just the fact a smart meter is installed immediately allows export or does it have to be programmed to allow so?

Thanks.

You do realise the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) is what the government pays you for generating electricity, whereas an E7 tariff is what you pay the supplier for electricity you have used?

cts_casemod

Hengus wrote: »

Sorry but you have lost me with the first part of your post. Why would anyone not want the FIT? If they move then just transfer the FIT to the new owners. If no application for FITs is made, then I would assume that payments for export will not be paid so whether it is deemed export, metered export or export via a smart meter is somewhat irrelevant. Claiming FITs etc is nothing more than a paper exercise.

As I have deemed export and no smart meter, I am not sure how the smart meter is set up. Others may be able to advise.

http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/2453/how+will+feed-in+tariffs+be+affected+by+the+smart+meter+revolution'3f/

DIY Installation. They did ponder having a certified installer just to certify it (which is a dedicated line to the consumer unit with its own meter and RCD) but at the current FIT rates ( 4.39p/kw, or an estimated £80 annually) it is simply not worth the hassle.

Bad timing... last year it was triple that! :mad:

I'm pretty sure they can just keep an eye to avoid negative readings. As long as the meter doesn't mind going back and forward as needed, everyone is happy :T

System

Have a read of this link. You can't just connect a PV Solar array to the Grid:

http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/2308/DIY+solar+PV+installation+-+is+it+a+good+idea'3F/

cts_casemod

Hengus wrote: »

Have a read of this link. You can't just connect a PV Solar array to the Grid:

http://www.yougen.co.uk/blog-entry/2308/DIY+solar+PV+installation+-+is+it+a+good+idea'3F/

That's an interesting article. So would the local authority perform a successful check meant they were eligible for the FIT's? Surelly they would be given a certificate and seems far cheaper than using the approved installers.

All the electrical work (said dedicated line to the consumer unit and rcd/mcb's) was carried out and verified by a competent electrician, otherwise it would invalidate their insurance. Left to do are the installation of the panels and DC supply to the inverter - that was the DIY part of it.

The electrician, as most did not hold a MCS certification - that is the only reason I was under the assumption it would not qualify for the FIT.

System

cts_casemod wrote: »

That's an interesting article. So would the local authority perform a successful check meant they were eligible for the FIT's? Surelly they would be given a certificate and seems far cheaper than using the approved installers.

All the electrical work (said dedicated line to the consumer unit and rcd/mcb's) was carried out and verified by a competent electrician, otherwise it would invalidate their insurance. Left to do are the installation of the panels and DC supply to the inverter - that was the DIY part of it.

The electrician, as most did not hold a MCS certification - that is the only reason I was under the assumption it would not qualify for the FIT.

No - they are only checking for compliance with building regulations. To quality for FiTs, the installer must be MCS certified. Forgive me for saying this, but asking these sort of questions now is a bit late in the day. I am also slightly worried about your comment that they are looking for an output of 4kWs. This would require DNO approval prior to installation as a 4kW output would require an array in excess of 4kWp.

http://www.solarpowerportal.co.uk/blogs/pre_approval_small_scale_dno_confusion

As we are now well away from the title of this topic, you might do better posting all your questions on the Green and Ethical Moneysaving Forum.

Cardew

This basically means an array that can generate 2 to 4KW a day should cover all they ever need.

Hengus wrote: »

I am also slightly worried about your comment that they are looking for an output of 4kWs. This would require DNO approval prior to installation as a 4kW output would require an array in excess of 4kWp.

[.

I assumed he meant 2 to 4 kWh but agree it is not clear.