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Hi, I have a DIY install for PV that I was happy to use a non MCS accredited installer to save cost as the SEG tariff was so low. However I read in Aug that Octopus Energy were going to offer 15p as a fixed outgoing tariff AND would accept just the EREC G99 declaration, as submitted to the DNO by the installer, to allow you to join up. Ive been trying now for several weeks to actually join up but get rejected and it seems there has been a change of policy at Octopus and only MCS or Flexi Orb certified installs are being accepted. They are suggesting as an alternaitive that I can add my name to a list for a £250 admion fee for future consideration withou any commitment as to when. Has anybody else managed to join an outgoing tariff without MCS certification? Is there a way to get a system retrospecitively certified by an MCS registered installer? Any ideas much appreciated.

Morning All, So I'm on the feed in tarriff as i'm sure many of you are, from around 2016 time. Majority of us, me included would be on a deemed 50% export rate of around 5p/kWh. Obviously there is also the newer SEG which was introduced, and Octopus Energy take that even further by paying a fixed 15p/kWh or an agile rate based upon market rates. Now up until recently, I thought if you were to move to the SEG, you would have to give up your Feed In Tarriff, which would have been a big no-no, however I have since learned that you can split off your Export, leaving your Generation Tarriff fully intact. So I have signed up for Octopus Outgoing Agile, and they are currently creating me a new unique MPAN for export only. I'll give Agile a shot, and if it doesn't pay, i'll go for the fixed rate. Even with the battery storage i'm still exporting a lot, so this should pay dividends. Not sure if this is common knowlegde, or if i'm just a bit late to the party. https://octopus.energy/outgoing/ From their blog: Under FiT guidelines, you get paid for being a generator, and paid for whatever you export. You won’t be able to receive FiT export payments whilst also being on the Outgoing Octopus tariff. However, you will still be able to receive your generation payments. When you sign up to the Outgoing Octopus, you will be required to opt out of your deemed export payments from your existing FiT supplier (but there’s no requirement to switch your FiT contract to Octopus.) For new installations (that is, after the FiT closure date of 1/4/2019) we’ll still require a copy of your Microgeneration Certificate Scheme (MSC) certification in order to get you onto the tariff. 50% Deemed was one option under FiT for getting paid for your export. This is often the case where an export meter wasn’t fitted and so it is was assumed that 50% of the solar energy generated would be exported (the other 50% being consumed). This is calculated from the installed potential output of the solar panels at the time of install. You may find you are still better off keeping the Deemed 50% than switching to Outgoing Octopus - for example if in fact you are exporting only 20%, or if the solar panels aren’t optimally oriented to supply the potential output or have deteriorated over several years. As the FiT Export rate is now 5.38pence and our flat rate is 15 pence then you are better off with Outgoing Octopus if (average over the year) you export more than around 50% of the installed capability. Hope this helps someone out there!

Hi, does anyone know (for certain) whether retro-fitting battery storage (AC coupled) to an existing Solar PV Installation that benefits from the old FIT requires the installer of the battery to be MCS Certified so as not to compromise the FIT payments? ...or can anyone point me to where it is confirmed either way?

THis morning I received confirmation that my FiT application has been processed and accepted by SSE. That has taken since January 2016.

I know there was lots of discussion on the old site about Solar PV with the recent changes by the government on feed in tariffs. I'm still sitting on the fence but need to decide soon and wonder what the general consensus was? I already have planning permission for Solar PV so that's not and issue, but I originally had plans for a 4kw system to take advantage of the south facing roof and the feed in tariff. Now the FiT has been reduced my thoughts are reverting to just self install and free electricity diverted to the water tank via Immersion or such solutions. This is a long term home with slate roof and bedded in panels. At the moment plugin solar have Quote £3100 for a 2 kw system with panels paired with micro inverters as the roof will become part shaded in the evening. The local PV supplier has said it's still worthwhile to go down the MCS FiT route (obviously he would say that :)) and has finger in the air quoted £3.5k which would still create a few hundred pounds return per year. He's also suggesting going for the full 4kw and maybe chuck the other panels on a shed roof to get on the MCS FiT system as a full system. He doesn't have many good things to say about the GSE in roof system but personally i think these are just that (views) and not supported by any facts. He referred to the long term robustness of them having recently fitted some that broke during install. I think the self install vs MCS is a said for the 2kw system if his quote of £3.5k stands but just wondered on the views of 1) going for the full 4kw (future crystal ball gazing with the government's challenges at Hinkley point would the FiT rise and therefore add 2kw separate system later? 2) views on the in roof systems for robustness and heat issues?