Took my new build through the FIT application process last Sept having had the PV generating since Feb, so here is my experience.

Their are 2 forms that need completing by you - a FIT application form and a solar declaration - that is straightforward enough. But you also need a MCS certificate logged online by your MCS approved installer and an EPC for the property. Both have certificate IDs that go on the form, and although they are both available online you submit PDF or paper copies too. You also need to provide proof that you own the PV kit e.g. invoices.

All the paperwork needs to be submitted to your chosen shipper (probably the company that provides your electricity but does not have to be them) at the same time, either by post or attached to email. It has to be accurate, and if needs correcting in anyway then you must give a new generation meter reading too. I went with British Gas, boy they were picky but said it was the Offgen requirements so possibly everyone is picky. They do not except back dated readings but they don't come and check either, so rather than loose 2000kWh of FIT I simply lied. My conscience is clear, I had been exporting to the grid since Feb and using very liitle, but I am now slowly catching up with reality with my meter readings.

The new builder gets in this bind (lie about readings or lose FIT) because of the need for an EPC. The SAP calc is based on what you tell the assessor you have built (no inspection) so could be done before you finish, but it needs the air test. So how incomplete are you? You are not eligible for FIT until you have an EPC (showing that you are "D" or above).

Who has done your installation? Are they MCS approved? If not then you need to get some one to sign off the installation too.

Having bought the panels wholesale, and helped the roofer mount them, our electricians did the wiring as their first MCS approved installation. Then the boss went off to the MCS course! Their examiner did not come out with them until Aug, and then certificate was further delayed while their accreditation came through. However to compensate they also lied about our generation meter reading, saying it was zero when they certified it. But they made mistakes on the certificate too, thankfully it was spotted before I applied otherwise I would have lost another 45 days of FIT while BG rejected my application and required a new reading. More saga, I had signed the forms the day before I emailed them (due to correcting the MCS certificate), so 45 days after applying I had an email requesting I update the meter reading for the date they received the application. I added I unit!!!

As I said, picky, picky, picky.... but now I am approved the FIT payment comes through nicely. Hope that helps.

Thanks Greenfish. I have the MCS cert in front of me. The airtightness test was booked for next Tuesday but I've put it off for a week or so because we don't have water yet, and the traps have to be full! I'm told the EPC needs the MCS cert as well as the airtightness cert but that shouldn't be a problem.

The MCS cert says the TIC and DNC are 4 .00 kW. Is that OK? I have a vague memory the limit for something was 3.68 kW.

I buy electricity from Ebico but they don't do FITs and suggest their 'partner' SSE. I'm dubious about that as I would be about BG, but I'm not sure whether there are better choices.

We've only been generating for a few days (about 60 kWh so far). The panels have been sitting there for six months or so doing nothing due to first having to build the house underneath them and then a confusion about needing an Internet connection to initialize them and the poor mobile signal at our location on my installer's chosen phone network.

edit: Oh and I seem to remember I need a completion certificate for the house before it can qualify for FITs or did I imagine that?

Greenfish wrote: "Good luck with air test and all, report how it goes."

It should be fine. We did an initial test as soon as we were fully weathertight and got 0.26 ACH, so hopefully it hasn't got much worse.

http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=12746

Well, below is an extract of the evidence requirements relating to PV, from DCLG, for 'SAP' Assessors in order to produce EPCs:

6: Solar Water Heating & PV
Minimum Evidence Required
These must include:
MCS Certificate

So if a SAP Assessor does not want to risk failing an audit, he/she needs a copy of the MCS Cert to cover themselves.

Cheers

This sort of nonsense makes me quite angry.

Nothing. But if you don't want to claim tax-payers' money then you shouldn't have to pay for the standards.

My house will be off-grid. I have decided that the extra costs of having MCS certification for an off-grid system simply aren't worth the potential FIT payments, particularly taking into account the possibility of the whole FIT scheme collapsing. I'll need an EPC for the completion certificate which probably won't work if my PV and solar thermal can't be included. That would be very silly.

Posted By: Ed Davies

Posted By: djh…because we don't have water yet, and the traps have to be full!

Can't you just take a couple of bottles of water along?

Sadly not, because the traps in the kitchen and the downstairs WC aren't actually fitted yet!

Seem to remember that this problem has come up before Ed.
People tricked it with WBS or electric resistance heating I seem to remember.

Posted By: SteamyTeaSeem to remember that this problem has come up before Ed.
People tricked it with WBS or electric resistance heating I seem to remember.

Yep, at least one of the discussions was for mine. Electric resistance heating driven by what, though? To be frank I didn't understand my design SAP assessment, perhaps because I was confused assuming some connection with reality, but it kept the BCO happy so that was OK. A rehash for the completion-certificate EPC ignoring the PV and solar thermal might not come out with the same result.

Posted By: DarylPEd,

What is wrong with having standards applied to technologies installed to people's homes, in order to claim tax-payers money?http:///newforum/extensions/Vanillacons/smilies/standard/confused.gif" alt="" title="" >

Unfortunataely FiTs don't come from taxpayers, they come from electricity bill payers. This means that owners of solar PV are having their kit subsidized by other bill payers, many of whom will be on low incomes and potentially will be in fuel poverty.

I personally have a problem with the idea of wealth distribution from the predominatel poor to the middle classes, so I won't be claiming subsidies for my future solar PV or solar thermal installations.

Just throwing my two pennorth into the ring.

pile , if you reinvest your fits in more energy reductions or even use it to help other too, then this could be a proactive way of redistribution, controlled by you, not some long chain of management.
Our energy bills are levied for environmental and social measure as state on the bills. I believe social measures is the large of the levies.
Whats the pence per watt currently for <4kW anyone know of hand ?

My basic maths made it worthwhile fitting without FITs (if all generation is used onsite) about 2 years ago I think ST

Posted By: Pile-o-StoneI personally have a problem with the idea of wealth distribution from the predominatel poor to the middle classes, so I won't be claiming subsidies for my future solar PV or solar thermal installations.

Yes, this is not the main reason I won't be claiming FITs but it is a contributing factor.

Posted By: jamesingramWhats the pence per watt currently for <4kW anyone know of hand ?

Around 60p/watt new for just the panels. Well under 50p/W for second hand or B-grade (cosmetic) panels.

For new installations, 13.39p/kWh, dropping to 12.92p/kWh for installations on or after 1st of July.

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/publications-and-updates/feed-tariff-scheme-tariff-table-1-july-2015-pv-only

I think the middle and lower rates are for if the house doesn't make a certain grade on the EPC.

Posted By: Pile-o-StoneUnfortunataely FiTs don't come from taxpayers, they come from electricity bill payers. This means that owners of solar PV are having their kit subsidized by other bill payers, many of whom will be on low incomes and potentially will be in fuel poverty.

I personally have a problem with the idea of wealth distribution from the predominatel poor to the middle classes, so I won't be claiming subsidies for my future solar PV or solar thermal installations.

It seems it would be fairer if all PV had an export meter, and then exporters simply got paid at the same rate per unit as use. Pile would you be happier with that?

Meanwhile if concerned about the wealth distribution how about claiming FIT and then giving it to known needy causes rather than subsidising everyone's electric, poor and rich alike, a tiny amount by generating for free.

The nonsense that makes Ed (and myself angry) is having to pay for a MCS certificate, in order to get EPC that will pass building regs. Both are silly box ticking exercises attempting to capture good practice (and failing). Most of the MCS stuff is about the correct selling of PV, very little is installation related. The electrics could be covered by Part P (electrics?) requirements

Ed DaviesThat was an increase from about 3p (3.3???) which is what older installations still get, I think.

Sort of. It's index linked, so systems that started out on the 3p export rate now get 3.44p