System greater than 250kW

[TedM]

There is a new interpretation of "stand-alone systems" in OFGEM's latest FiT Guidance document - https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/sites/defa...guidance_for_renewable_installations_v9_0.pdf which has been caused by aligning the definition of 'stand-alone' with the standard conditions of Electricity Supply Licences (something that, rather obliquely, was passed in legislation back in April).

Any building-connected PV system greater than 250kW with a tariff date on or after 1st July 2015 will also need to show that it meets a minimum of 10% of DNC on-site consumption for it to be considered a 'standard' installation rather than a 'stand-alone' one.

From 1st July the tariff for 'standard' >250kW systems is 5.94p whereas 'stand-alone' is 4.44p, so a major drop in income will result from failing to meet the 'standard' criteria.

2.92. Solar PV installations with a tariff date on or after 1 July 2015 will be classed as stand-alone if they:
- are not wired to provide electricity to a building; or
- have a TIC of more than 250kW, and are wired to provide electricity to a building or buildings but
A. the site cannot consume an amount equivalent to 10% of DNC, and / or
B. an amount equivalent to 10% of DNC may not be imported from the network via the import connection(s) of the site.

2.93. To demonstrate that an installation greater than 250kW that is wired to a building should be classed as standard, applicants will need to provide documentary evidence in support of both A and B above. At a minimum, the evidence for A and B should take the form of:
A. An explanation and summary of the main on-site loads supplied by the installation. This should refer to the maximum kW demand of the loads, and
B. The connection agreement for the site listing the maximum permitted import capacity from the grid.

2.94. We must be satisfied by the evidence and we may ask for more if necessary. Each application will be assessed case by case.

2.95. Both criteria A and B must be met in order for the installation to be classed as “standard”. Evidence against both criteria must confirm a load/import capacity equal to at least 10% of the installation’s DNC.

2.96. The DNC of a solar installation is normally assessed as either: the maximum AC output (kW) of the inverters, or the maximum DC (kW) output of the panels, whichever is the lesser.

2.97. Please note, if you are applying for preliminary accreditation, the application must declare whether the installation is stand-alone or standard. On converting the accreditation to full accreditation that classification cannot change, or the benefits of preliminary accreditation will be lost. Please see the section “Invalidating Preliminary Accreditation” in chapter 3.

2.98. Where an installation that has been accredited as standard is extended, the extension will also be classed as standard.