Fitting solar advice qualifications

[Rockomuir]

Afternoon,

Just looking at expanding my business and getting more into solar. I am part p niceic18th edition which means I can supply new circuit for solar up to the isolator and sign it off. Just wondering what I need to get to fit inverter legally if anything. Do I need to be Mcs accredited or assessed by niceic to add that to my ticket. I have heard that that MSc is not nessercary if not exporting back to the grid.

Any advice would be appreciated
Many thanks

 

[Deleted account]

Speak to niceic. they will give you all the info you need.

 

[swaRRR]

The guy at NAPIT told me MCS registration is only for the actual panels, the inner working like inverter battery etc is covered under electrical installation.

To get MCS you just need to show a proficient install, as per the guy from NAPIT.

 

[Gavin John Hyde]

The MCS paperwork to register is a nightmare I am slowly working my way through it and its not fun
Once set up its straightforward but takes a while.
whilst protecting people from rogues is a noble cause, it is a bit OTT when it comes to MCS, too much on that and very little on actual installs and electrical knowledge and skills

 

[swaRRR]

The MCS paperwork to register is a nightmare I am slowly working my way through it and its not fun
Once set up its straightforward but takes a while.
whilst protecting people from rogues is a noble cause, it is a bit OTT when it comes to MCS, too much on that and very little on actual installs and electrical knowledge and skills

Is there anything about the actual battery/inverter installs on there? The NAPIT guy told me for all intents and purposes they treat panels as their own separate thing from the actual installation itself.

 

[plugsandsparks]

As mentioned the MCS is not devised to be technical proficiency. If your client wants to get any sort of export money from Utility Co, they will want MCS registration.
To install inverters follow the Manufacturers Instructions to the letter and ensure isolation is clearly labelled. Installing panels is more structural than technical, how panels are configured into strings , just use the manufacturers design tools. How panels are fixed, use both panel manufacturers recommended mounting options and make sure they match the panels fixing companies installation methods. Once you have done one , its just same old .....
All the technical information you could ever want is there, so no guessing required, Good Luck

 

[bigspark17]

Solar panels can be installed by the homeowner as long as they are not wanting to get paid for exporting. Only certification that is required is an electrical installation for the circuit “which is usually only tested to isolator” and g98 gorm to dno if less than 4kw. manufacturers instructions are crucial and a good roofer to asses roof structure and install rails.

MCS is a big con worse than part p!

 

[timhoward]

As someone who knows absolutely nothing about this area, a daft question cometh...or maybe two...
Aren't feed-in-tariffs now a thing of the past?
In turn, does that mean that customers are unlikely to actually require the installation to be complete by an MCS-certified installer?

 

[plugsandsparks]

It is a good issue. yes FITs (as we knew it are gone), however certain energy providers offer export tariffs, for residential is pretty mean around 3p/KWh , however commercial get better terms, i have heard of 16p/kwh for medium sized commercial. Not all energy providers offer it and there are hoops the energy provider has to jump through to ensure they are not exploiting homeowners but one thing they all appear to stick to is that the installation needs an MCS certifcate. (good way to limit demand, lol)

 

[Deleted account]

I had my panels fitted two weeks ago.
Octopus are giving 7.5 p per kWh only if you have the mcs certificate. I’m in process of doing this for my house.

 

[plugsandsparks]

Good to know, how much for import ?

 

[Deleted account]

Good to know, how much for import ?

At moment I’m paying 20p per kWh, but that’s on a 2 year fixed tariff ending in July 2023.
I may not be able to switch til then. Still looking into it.
not sure what the new import tarif is with the 7p per kWh export. It’s something I’m awaiting pending getting my cert from installers.
im guessing it will be 33p per kWh. Basically the government cap.

 

[plugsandsparks]

Cool, i am working with a client based on the delta between export tariff offered and import tariff to determine payback for batteries. Its an interesting time and more enjoyable than pulling 120sqmm SWA in winter, lol

 

[Other_Tucker]

The feed in tariff is (UK) always less than the price you pay for incoming mains electricity kWh. So try to use and keep your self generated power wherever possible.

I install Eddi units that notice when your solar production is more than your household usage. It tells the ASHP to go mad and use the free power to charge the Sunamp thermal battery. Or get a fancy battery bank

 

[Deleted account]

Batteries at £4500 each, I feel are not worth it.

i have a combi for hot water and heating. So I have fitted a 250L water cylinder with two immersions. this cylender will feed all hot water to bathrooms shower and bath. The combi still feeds the kitchen sink.

one immersion run of a solar iboost Set at 75degrees Catching wate exported electric and storing it as hot water.
The other immersion on a timer set to 55 degrees at 7pm til 9 pm. The second immersion should never be used In theory.

right now its working a treat. Even in worst weather day length in December I will generate enough for the water And some.
right now I’m generating 20 kWh per day. exporting average of 10kwh per day and using 10 kWh Per day.

so I’m saving on electric and gas.

solar install 3.6 Kw £5500 fully fitted.

fitting the cylinder cost materials and labour £1500. Did most of this myself with a heating engineer I know. He did the pressurised system part to get the sign off.
thats a lot cheaper than £4500 For a battery.

I used 5kwh of electric per day pretty much all year round. Add an extra 5 kwh I am now using per day to heat the water via the iboost.

10 kWh per day 3650 kWh per year.

my system will generate 3990kwh per year.
obviously i wont get all my usage from my generation alone some will be imported , but I predict minimal import. Maybe 800 to 1000 kWh.

prediction at current prices I am paying at moment I will be saving £272 on gas and electric per year.

On new prices next year if the cap does not go up I will be saving £436. That’s not including any export tariff.

the clincher for me getting this done was it will never be this cheap to get this installed again. Everything is going up. Materials, labour.

also adding solar panels to your home for the first time ever actually increases the value of your home.