Second-hand components

[TedM]

I've been asked a question and haven't the time to trawl through all the documentation to check the answer today, so any help gratefully received on this.

In the original FiTs consultation second-hand components were definitely considered out-of-bounds for eligibility for the feed-in tariff. But that aspect never got defined directly in the legislation itself.

But I think that MCS standards require all components used in an MCS-accredited installation to be new. Is that right and if so how is it policed? Is it part of the audit check in the MCS annual inspection?

Is this covered in the MCS documents anywhere?

Thanks.

 

[TedM]

No one?

 

[SolarCity]

Sorry fella. To be honest, if I saw the same question from someone else I'd think "I'll bet Ted knows the answer to that"!

Maybe Worcester will have an answer?

 

[TedM]

It's been something nagging away at me for a while now and was brought up by someone asking me a question on it a few days ago. I'm just busy doing other stuff at the moment which means I haven't got the 3 or 4 hours needed to just go through all the documents.

 

[Worcester]

Sorry guys been away for a week!

The official answer was that it is not intended, though nothing previously in the regs.

This was tightened up with the new tariff changes, here it is: http://www.electriciansforums.net/p...y-forum/33779-re-using-panels.html#post288665

(2) The Authority must not accredit an eligible installation as an accredited FIT
installation where it has good reason to believe that any generating equipment used at the
installation has formed part of an installation previously accredited—
(a) under the ROO (other than an installation accredited under article 6 or 7 of this
Order); or
(b) under this Part.

 

[TedM]

Thanks, I'd seen that other thread (even posted in it!) and completely forgotten about it.