EPC Exemptions and Happy Easter!

[Energetic]

Currently working on our first 50kWp system and can't seem to find any current info on EPC exemptions.

It will be on a new barn and will feed other outbuildings but nothing with heating or cooling. New supply and seperate MPAN to the house so i believe that it will be EPC exempt. Is this correct?

Any other pitfalls we should be wary of for an agricultural 50kW job?

Happy Easter!

 

[Worcester]

Health and Saftey is a major one if livestock are around.

 

[pvman]

The first one we did cost us more on the AC side than we had allowed, sometimes need 6mm DC cable depending on the length of the run.

A epc assessment will still be needed and the assessor wil issue a certificate showing you don't require a epc ( I think).

tom

 

[Worcester]

We ALWAYS use 6mm cable as a minimum, our 50kW projects consume about 2000m of DC cable each, though some go up to 3000m, oh and about 1000 - 1500 tie wraps and usually about 100m of traywork - let alone the SWA... regularly have to put in 40m or so of 35mm2 or bigger + to keep the voltage drop down. When a 4 pole switched fused unit could cost you £500 at the correct rating, Scaffolding costs can also easily go over £3000 and materials handling alone can wreck a budget; estimating becomes crucial to wether you succeed or go under.. That's why we steer clear of the domesic jobs!

 

[Energetic]

Thanks for the feedback Tom and Gordon.

I've been digging around for the EPC info and have come up with some old threads such as this one: http://www.electriciansforums.net/p...-forum/51104-epc-applicable-commercial-2.html but no solid up to date data. I will get hold of ofgem and MCS today to see if they've worked it out yet. Possible complication is that the farmhouse has 4kWp on it but it will be a new supply and MPAN to the barn although owned by the same entity.

We are planning on using the Renusol Metasol system Segen have got hold of recently, Anyone used it? It's very low profile and looks quick to assemble but as far as i can see doesn't leave much scope for tray or cable management. Is it the Pre Galv tray you use on the roof? How does it cope longer term?

We'll be running two Power One inverters, the 20kw and the 27kw and was planning to run them both into a 2 way TPN DB then through the meter then into the main TPN board for the outbuildings. Will have an isolator for each individually also.

Also how do you guys get the panels up on the roof? There will be a tractor with forks available to lift pallets up to the scaffolding.

Thanks for the feedback, want to get it right first time...

 

[Energetic]

OK, Spoke to MCS Helpdesk who were for a change actually helpful. Seems we're right about the building not being a building and not requiring an epc but we need an assessor to calculate that it is not eligible for an EPC. Ultimately the tariff provider has the final say.

The more pertinant issue is the 4Kwp already installed on the farmhouse as it's likely to be the same 'site' as defined by ofgem. Again, ultimately the tariff provider has the final say as they are able to interpret ofgems guidence...

This is the link to the document on Ofgem’s website. Page 14-15 is the site definition.

Secondly the EPC requirements can be found on page 29, specifically section 2.89 (bullet point 2). This talks about evidence from an energy assessor and section 2.90 refers to the different declarations in appendix 2 and 3.

I think i'm getting there...