Close [x]
The title of this blog (Doing Solar Business in the UK) is both Sundog Energy’s reason for existence and also the title of a forthcoming seminar in Munich (on the 8th June, immediately prior to the annual InterSolar trade show).
For many years the UK has languished in the solar PV world’s backwaters, with companies such as Sundog Energy doing much interesting work, but not high volumes when compared to many other parts of the world. However, the market has changed - the UK’s new feed-in tariff (FiT) is a game changer…a fantastic opportunity for solar PV system suppliers and customers alike. Hence the seminar: the event is aimed at educating manufacturers who want to supply products into the UK and also providing a platform for UK distributors and installers to forge new relationships with suppliers.
While the UK is somewhat behind on the installed kWp front, it has been a full and active player when it comes to developing PV standards – both nationally and internationally. The UK sends experts to most of the IEC technical committee 82 (Solar Photovoltaic Energy Systems) working group meetings where international standards are produced and revised. While these international standards are familiar to suppliers, what is not so well known is the UK’s Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) and that is what I have been asked to talk about in Munich.
For systems of up to 50kW to qualify for FiT payments, they need to utilise MCS certified products installed by an MCS certified installer. As the FIT scheme progresses it may be that MCS also becomes relevant for larger schemes. Also, as MCS aims to ensure quality, some UK financiers seem to be starting to look for MCS as one of the tools they use when assessing MWp scale projects.
The stated aim of MCS is“to evaluate microgeneration products and installers against robust criteria providing greater protection for consumers”. The MCS mark is owned by the UK Secretary of State and licensed to the scheme administrator. To become an MCS certificated installer, or to have products certificated under the MCS, organisations must apply to one of the number of approved Certification Bodies.
To become an MCS PV installer requires compliance with the relevant MCS standard MIS3002 – which in turn calls up a number of other standards. Probably the most significant of these is theGuide to the installation of PV systems – a UK specific installation document that aims “ to supply system installers with information to ensure that a mains-connected PV system meets current UK standards and best practice recommendations”. In addition to this, MCS is very much about ensuring quality control, as defined in the MCS standard MCS001 and perhaps best summed up as:
To get a PV product certified under the MCS scheme requires compliance with MCS standard MCS005 – again a document which in turn calls up other standards and, in the case of PV, the relevant IEC module standards. The approval process is typically in two parts: a technical evaluation looking at product certification and a factory control study looking at quality management.
MCS and FiTs are key parts of the immediate future for doing solar business in the UK. Prior to the launch of FITs, Sundog Energy had just landed a landmark 0.24MWp PV glazing project on Kings Cross station – set to be one of the biggest installations in the UK. However, the market has changed and it’s only a matter of time until the first 5MWp project (the maximum fundable under the FiT scheme) is started.
About the Author
Martin Cotterell is the Managing Director of Sundog Energy. Founded in 1995, Sundog Energy has grown to be one of the leading PV companies in the UK, with clients from all sectors from housing to large public and commercial projects. Sundog has installed some of the UK’s most innovative PV systems, including currently a 240kWp glass-glass PV system on Kings Cross Station.
Martin has played a central role in establishing and improving UK industry standards for PV systems. Martin was the main author of the UK Guide to the installation of PV systems and he worked on the development of the engineering recommendations that govern grid-connection of PV in the UK. Martin sits on the MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) PV, wind and roofing technical working groups as well as the REAL code panel. He also represents the UK on the IEC (International Electrotechnical Committee) PV systems working group, which he also convenes.
