In roof system (GSE?) and MCS -012 certification..I'm new to this and it is seems to be a minefield

[jimseng]

Hello. I am getting on with my self build house and was getting quotes for a 24 panel GSE in roof system when suddenly my supplier threw up the MCS 012 certification and the supply of solar panels approved for an installation. I was planning on doing the install myself, it doesn't seem that complicated, and I am only concentrating on the infrastructure for now. It makes sense to spend what funds I have on putting the solar on the roof at the build stage. Then this spanner has been thrown in the works. I have had a quote for JA solar and AIKO panels but I don't think I can install them as they don't meet the new requirements. So I joined this forum hoping someone can guide me through this. What are people's thoughts? For instance, does it make more sense to put a conventional roof on and not go with in roof? I don't want to because of the aesthetics but I need to look at all options given I don't have all the money in the world and I need to get building regs sign off. My goal is to cram as much solar on the roof as I can and I'm not  interested in exporting to the grid, only running the house, if that is an important detail. 

?

[JohnMo]

MCS isn't applicable if you do it yourself.

 

But only Octopus will pay for export, after going through a few hoops and paying then £250.

 

30 minutes ago, jimseng said:

does it make more sense to put a conventional roof on and not go with in roof?

No - the panels are cheaper than tiles or slates. If you are paying more than £70 per panel get other quotes, look at City Plumbing.

 

Cram lots on roof, but to make use of it you need a battery really, otherwise most will be exported for free. In summer you will struggle to use 3kWp let alone loads more.

[jimseng]

 

Quote

MCS isn't applicable if you do it yourself.

Really? So I can get building regs sign off with GSE and a panel of my choice? I haven't seen that written anywhere but I am floundering around trying to get accurate information. If that is the case then I guess it makes it much easier. I certainly intend as much battery as I can afford. I was planning on not exporting to the grid but I think that means G99 application for a decent inverter, but I guess that is for another thread.

Edited 23 hours ago by jimseng

[Nick Laslett]

GSE trays comply with MCS 012 certification. 
 

I used Midsummer for my supply. 
 

Trina panels comply with MCS 012. 
 

My electrician is MCS qualified, so he signed off the install. 

[JohnMo]

27 minutes ago, jimseng said:

 

Really? So I can get building regs sign off with GSE and a panel of my choice? I haven't seen that written anywhere but I am floundering around trying to get accurate information. If that is the case then I guess it makes it much easier. I certainly intend as much battery as I can afford. I was planning on not exporting to the grid but I think that means G99 application for a decent inverter, but I guess that is for another thread.

Introspective of how installed you still need G98 up the 3.2kW allowable export and G99 above that. Regardless of any plans to export or not. G98 can be completed after install, G99 has to be done prior to install.

 

You need a decent grid tied inverter anyway. Something like a Sunsynk hybrid inverter of any size will allow you to export limit to 3.2kW which I think (?) makes ok for G98. Battery & inverter needs some thinking about, depends if you need full house power backup in event of a power outage. Hybrid inverter will give very limited output during a power cut, grid tied AC systems will give whole house backup during an outage.

[jimseng]

I think I am going to have to go for G99 as I can't see 3.6k being enough.

As for MCS 012 I'm still confused. My understanding is that GSE is MCS 012 compliant, many solar panels are MCS 012 compliant but NOT necessarily together, which is where I am at right now. But then if it is a DIY install MCS doesn't apply? Or does it?

[JohnMo]

You don't have to use GSE there are other systems.

 

If not an MCS install, MCS rules don't apply. 

[garrymartin]

5 minutes ago, jimseng said:

I can't see 3.6k being enough.

Are you single-phase or three-phase?

[jimseng]

I'm having an 18kva single phase supply. 

[Dillsue]

For G98 compliance the inverter must be factory limited to 3.68kw and manufacturer certified as such. If it can do more but you limit it to 3.68kw then it's not G98 compliant. It then needs a G99 application plus a G100 supplement to cover the set up of the export limitation.

 

My very limited experience of G99 is that it's straight forward and worth the effort to get consent for the max your local grid will support. Imagine export payments being £1 a unit and your neighbours had grabbed all the spare export capacity:)

[jimseng]

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My very limited experience of G99 is that it's straight forward

That is exactly what I am thinking. 

Quote

You don't have to use GSE there are other systems

I have seen Solfit and made inquiries but what else can I consider?

[Dave Jones]

6 hours ago, JohnMo said:

 

 

But only Octopus will pay for export, after going through a few hoops and paying then £250.

 

 

 

interesting! Tell more.

 

We installed our own and I asked octopus about paying for export and they refused without a MCS cert.

[garrymartin]

9 minutes ago, Dave Jones said:

interesting! Tell more.

 

[sharpener]

21 hours ago, Dillsue said:

For G98 compliance the inverter must be factory limited to 3.68kw and manufacturer certified as such. If it can do more but you limit it to 3.68kw then it's not G98 compliant. It then needs a G99 application plus a G100 supplement to cover the set up of the export limitation.

 

My very limited experience of G99 is that it's straight forward and worth the effort to get consent for the max your local grid will support. Imagine export payments being £1 a unit and your neighbours had grabbed all the spare export capacity:)

 

If you have the roof space IMO definitely worth putting up more panels than the old default 3.68 kW limit. At 15p/unit from Octopus it is a sound economic proposition.

 

Need all I can get (for the new heat pump) so I had a further 3.24 kW installed under MCS, connected them to my battery system via a DC-DC converter, completed the G99 and G100 paperwork as a self-install and after a certain amount of fuss got approval from NG (formerly WPD) for unlimited exports. 

 

Because they are not connected at AC the new panels can't export directly, so no need to involve Good Energy who are my FIT provider, or Octopus either.

 

Also this means that I can use all 6.9 kW of PV for the house/EV/HP or export it all, using the one 4.4 kW hybrid inverter.

As @Dillsue says, best to reserve the capacity while you can. There are going to be limits imposed I am sure, as the Spanish are discovering with their lack of grid stability.

 

Edited 31 minutes ago by sharpener