Question on 50kWp on Farm and 4kW on Home at Same Address

[PvNewbie]

Hi

I'm sure this has been asked before on this forum, but I'll be darned if I can find it. So pointers are appreciated.

Basically, I potentially have a customer who wants a 50kW system on his farmland and a 4kW system on his house. They are the same address but different supplies/meters. (single phase to home, three phase to farm).

So, can this be done without tipping over the 50kWp FIT limit as it could be classed as a 54kWp system.

Pointers/help appreciated.

Newb.

 

[Worcester]

Read the regs about definition of a 'site' and it's curtailedge, though there is no (legal) reason why part of a site can't be leased to someone else.

In principle it could be done, you need to make sure that you and your customer's lawyer have read and understood the documents, - this is an electricians forum not a lawyers forum, the documents make it clear.

 

[PvNewbie]

Thanks Worcester. Point noted! ....just thought I'd seen it discussed and answered here before which is why I brought it up.

 

[JD6400]

I have seen it done to a smaller scale , with 9.98kw on a grain store and 3.76kw on the farm house , 3ph to farm 1ph in house seperate Mpan's .
All went through ok , but the house was privatly owned and the bill paid with from the house keeping , where as the farm was in a partnership and and the bill payed from the partnerships HQ

 

[Werneroeder]

We have a scenario of 2x 49.50kw systems going to 2 different MPAN's and 3x 3.8kw systems with 3 different MPAN's. As long as the DNO is aware of the total load, they do a survey to determine if a transformer upgrade is needed. Once you have supplied them with the drawings, designs, electrical systems, etc, they(DNO) will advise you. Both the 49.50kw arrays are located next to each other, but because they are going to 2 different MPAN's it was accepted by the DNO and planning. If you need more pointers let me know. We will hopefully start installing within the next month.

 

[PvNewbie]

We have a scenario of 2x 49.50kw systems going to 2 different MPAN's and 3x 3.8kw systems with 3 different MPAN's. As long as the DNO is aware of the total load, they do a survey to determine if a transformer upgrade is needed. Once you have supplied them with the drawings, designs, electrical systems, etc, they(DNO) will advise you. Both the 49.50kw arrays are located next to each other, but because they are going to 2 different MPAN's it was accepted by the DNO and planning. If you need more pointers let me know. We will hopefully start installing within the next month.

Thanks for that. It's more about how MCS/FITS are paid/viewed with more than one installation at same physical address but different MPANS.

E.g. Farm/Farmhouse scenario.

 

[kmcgold]

different mpans different install,s you will have to apply to the dno for both systems
just choose the right mpan number on the cert if one showing on the form just click on the not address tab and write the address in
you will have a cert which will show no mpan number.

 

[PvNewbie]

different mpans different install,s you will have to apply to the dno for both systems
just choose the right mpan number on the cert if one showing on the form just click on the not address tab and write the address in
you will have a cert which will show no mpan number.

Thanks.....useful to know and I hadn't thought about that. I'm still wondering about how the FIT payment works. Different MPANS = Different site so far as Fit goes? Or same address = one installation?

 

[TedM]

There is no definitive answer. The legislation mentions MPANs, postal address, and OS map reference as the method of defining a 'site' as well as allowing OFGEM to dream up any other new criteria they feel like.

 

[PvNewbie]

Thanks Ted. Can you point me to the legislation/documents?

Newb

 

[TedM]

It's on page 8 of the Modifications to the Standard Conditions of Electricity Supply Licences document:

http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/what we do/uk energy supply/energy mix/renewable energy/policy/fits/1_20100331172153_e_@@_fitlicencemodification.pdf

"Site" - means the premises to which are attached one or more
Accredited FIT Installations or Eligible Installations in
close geographical proximity to each other, to be
determined as required by the Authority by reference to:
(a) the relevant Meter Point Administration Number for electricity supply;
(b) street address;
(c) OS grid reference;
and any other factors which the Authority at its discretion views as relevant;

The Authority being referred to here is OFGEM.

I do have an email from OFGEM that states planning permission is one of the additional criteria they can take into account. So for multiple systems that would require planning (e.g. on a commercial building) then if there is only a single planning application then OFGEM will be likely to treat it as a single system. If there are multiple planning applications then they are more likely to be treated as separate. Obviously the other criteria would still apply as well.

 

[PvNewbie]

Thanks Ted...

It sounds to me like....

1) Farmer wants 4kWp on his house roof, no planning required. Gets it installed on domestic installation.
2) Farmer then wants 50kWp in field, applies for planning, gets it and installs onto separate MPAN for farm.

Both systems at same address as field is next to farmhouse but are treated as different installations because both on different MPANS. So farmer gets 50kWp @ 32.9p and 4kWp at 43.3p.

Obviously this would require further research/confirmation on my behalf, so I'm not holding you to it, but would you say this sounds about right?

 

[kmcgold]

if over 3.68 you need to apply to dno
if over 4kw you need to apply and use the g59 form
different mpan different installs

 

[PvNewbie]

if over 3.68 you need to apply to dno
if over 4kw you need to apply and use the g59 form
different mpan different installs

why do I feel this thread is going round in circles?

Case Closed