>50kWp installs - MCS panels?

[SolarCity]

Currently in the process of bringing some panels in from Europe for an 80kWp install. One of the guys I'm dealing with is offering panels which are not MCS accredited. As this is greater than 50kWp, do they need to be? Or is it still a requirement for the tariff?

Any info on this would be appreciated.

 

[Gavin A]

roofit?

be aware that you'll need to have all DNO paperwork signed, and permnitted dev status confirmed from the council before the deadline. We've stopped all new roofit work now as can't guarantee that, just doing MCS and banging it in on 50kW inverters.

 

[SolarCity]

Permitted dev status? I didn't think we'd need anything confirmed?

We have DNO permission for G59 and they have confirmed they don't need to witness testing. Am I not right in saying that all I need to is get the test sheets sent over to them and we're done as far as they're concerned?

 

[TedM]

The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015

Conditions

J.4—(1) Class J development is permitted subject to the following conditions—

(a)the solar PV equipment or solar thermal equipment must, so far as practicable, be sited so as to minimise its effect on the external appearance of the building and the amenity of the area; and

(b)the solar PV equipment or solar thermal equipment is removed as soon as reasonably practicable when no longer needed.

(2) Class J(c) development is permitted subject to the condition that before beginning the development the developer must apply to the local planning authority for a determination as to whether the prior approval of the authority will be required as to the design or external appearance of the development, in particular the impact of glare on occupiers of neighbouring land, and the following sub-paragraphs apply in relation to that application.

(3) The application must be accompanied by—

(a)a written description of the proposed development;

(b)a plan indicating the site and showing the proposed development;

(c)the developer’s contact address; and

(d)the developer’s email address if the developer is content to receive communications electronically;

together with any fee required to be paid.

(4) The local planning authority may refuse an application where, in the opinion of the authority—

(a)the proposed development does not comply with, or

(b)the developer has provided insufficient information to enable the authority to establish whether the proposed development complies with,

any conditions, limitations or restrictions specified in Class J applicable to the development in question.

(5) Sub-paragraphs (6) and (8) do not apply where a local planning authority refuses an application under sub-paragraph (4) and for the purposes of section 78 (appeals) of the Act such a refusal is to be treated as a refusal of an application for approval.

(6) The local planning authority must give notice of the proposed development—

(a)by site display in at least one place on or near the land to which the application relates for not less than 21 days of a notice which—

(i)describes the proposed development;

(ii)provides the address of the proposed development;

(iii)specifies the date by which representations are to be received by the local planning authority; or

(b)by serving a notice in that form on any adjoining owner or occupier.

(7) The local planning authority may require the developer to submit such information as the authority may reasonably require in order to determine the application.

(8) The local planning authority must, when determining an application—

(a)take into account any representations made to them as a result of any notice given under sub-paragraph (6); and

(b)have regard to the National Planning Policy Framework issued by the Department for Communities and Local Government in March 2012(101), so far as relevant to the subject matter of the prior approval, as if the application were a planning application.

(9) The development must not begin before the occurrence of one of the following—

(a)the receipt by the applicant from the local planning authority of a written notice of their determination that such prior approval is not required;

(b)the receipt by the applicant from the local planning authority of a written notice giving their prior approval; or

(c)the expiry of 56 days following the date on which the application under sub-paragraph (3) was received by the local planning authority without the authority notifying the applicant as to whether prior approval is given or refused.

(10) The development must be carried out—

(a)where prior approval is required, in accordance with the details approved by the local planning authority;

(b)where prior approval is not required, or where sub-paragraph (9)(c) applies, in accordance with the details provided in the application referred to in sub-paragraph (3),

unless the local planning authority and the developer agree otherwise in writing.

(11) The local planning authority may grant prior approval unconditionally or subject to conditions reasonably related to the subject matter of the prior approval.

 

[SolarCity]

Thanks guys, I'll chase it up.

 

[SolarCity]

Did the rules change? I was under the impression that the council need be consulted as long as the panels were kept 1m in from the edges?

 

[Gavin A]

new rules for over 50kW systems.

please note that they do not mean you need a certificate of lawful development, just that you need official confirmation in a letter from the council that they agree that the system is classed as permitted development as it meets all the criteria.

it only needs a formal certificate of lawful development if the council thinks that it might cause glare problems, or to significantly impact on the amenity value of the area (the visual side of things).

Neither are likely in most commercial roof top situations.

took us a while to get Leeds council to get their heads around this, but after their legal head looked at it they agreed.... which is the difference between a 2 week turnaround for the letter and an 8 week turnaround for CLD.

Without this you can not submit your ofgem application for roofit / it will be rejected and you'll be in deep doo doo.

 

[Gavin A]

but if it's under 50kW of inverters then it falls into the other category for permitted development and takes the MCS route.

 

[SolarCity]

Thanks Gavin, that's appreciated. Time to get on to the council then.

 

[Somecamel]

Hi Solar City, I've got one in planning at the moment- If you want to have a look at it to get an idea of the application process please go to Disclaimer

 

[SolarCity]

Thanks SC. I honestly had no idea about this. When did it change?

 

[Somecamel]

Thanks SC. I honestly had no idea about this. When did it change?

Not too sure but I nearly got caught with my pants down aswell You need to be quick!!

 

[jason121]

[h=3]Solar panels mounted on a non-domestic building[/h]All the following conditions must be observed:

• Equipment should be sited, so far as is practicable, to minimise the effect on the external appearance of the building and the amenity of the area.
• When no longer needed the equipment should be removed as soon as reasonably practicable.

All the following limits must be met:

• Solar panels installed on a wall or a pitched roof should project no more than 200mm from the wall surface or roof slope.
• Where panels are installed on a flat roof the highest part of the equipment should not be more than one metre above the highest part of the roof (excluding the chimney).
• Equipment mounted on a roof must not be within one metre of the external edge of the roof.
• Equipment mounted on a wall must not be within one metre of a junction of that wall with another wall or with the roof of the building.
• The panels must not be installed on a listed building or on a building that is within the grounds of a listed building, or on a site designated as a scheduled monument.
• If the building is on Article 2(3) designated land* the equipment must not be installed on a wall or a roof slope which fronts a highway.
• If the equipment is on the roof of the building the capacity for generation of electricity across the whole of the site cannot exceed 1 megawatt.
• Other than microgeneration solar thermal equipment or microgeneration solar PV equipment, if there is to be any other solar PV equipment installed on the roof of a building then the Prior Approval (56 days) of the Local Planning Authority is required. This will assess the design and external appearance of the development, particularly in respect of the impact of glare on occupiers of neighbouring land.

 

[SolarCity]

That last point was the one I missed. Has that always been the case?

 

[TedM]

The raising of the limit on non-domestic permitted development from 50 kW to 1 MW happened in April this year. That's when these new conditions applied for anything over 50 kW.