UK Solar Photovoltaics Industry 2010-2012 RIP

The Government yesterday published proposals to introduce new (and much reduced) Feed-in Tariff rates for PV systems with a total installed capacity of 250 kW or less. The Government is proposing that these tariffs are implemented from 1 April 2012 but apply to all solar PV installations with an eligibility date of on or after 12 December 2011.

The eligibility date is the date on which the FITs licensee receives the consumer’s request for FiT registration of a commissioned installation, which must include a valid MCS certificate. DECC will be recommending that consumers use special delivery so they have proof that their licensee has received their application and MCS certificate prior to the reference date.

These proposals are set out in a consultation document. The consultation will run from Nov 1st, ending on 23 December 2011. Instructions for responding to it are contained in the consultation document.
www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/fits_comp_rev1/fits_comp_rev1.aspx

The Government is proposing the following rates for solar PV from 1 April 2012:

up to 4 kW   21p/kWh
4 – 10 kW   16.8p/kWh
10 – 50 kW   15.2p/kWh
50 – 250 kW   12.9p/kWh

 

The rates are a 50% reduction on current levels.

An important element of the proposals is the inclusion of the 12 December 2011 reference date. This would mean that any new solar PV installations with an eligibility date on or after 12 December 2011 will receive the current tariff rate in respect of generation up to 31 March 2012, but in respect of generation from 1 April 2012 they will receive the new, lower tariff rate.

The Government’s consultation also includes proposals for a new energy efficiency requirement for FITs for solar PV and new multi-installation tariff rates for aggregated solar PV, including systems installed as part of free solar PV schemes.  It is proposed that both these changes will apply to new PV installations with an eligibility date of on or after 1 April 2012. The export premium remains at 3.1p/kWh.

First Commercial Installation of a Solar PV system

On Oct 2^nd 2011 Trans-euro engineering services Ltd completed its first commercial installation of a solar PV system. Consisting of 76 190w mono crystalline modules configured as fours strings feeding a 15kW three phase inverter the 14.4kWp system was installed onto a commercial warehouse roof.

The project was completed in 3 days and is fully commissioned and operational.

As a City and Guilds approved training centre for solar PV, Trans-Euro embarked on this major project to enable us to enhance our training and consultancy services to the renewable electrotechnical industry.

The next step will be to achieve MCS accreditation for the company. Once fully accredited we will be in the unique position of being able to provide both training and installation services in solar PV technology.

Solar Feed-In Tariff

City & Guilds (C&G) 2399-11

FIT stands for FEED IN TARIFF. This tariff is applied to renewable energy sources such as solar photovoltaics (solar PV) and wind turbines which generate electricity. Theses ‘renewables’ reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, which in turn reduce greenhouse gasses, saves on energy bills and feed excess energy back into the national grid for use by others.

To encourage us to take up these renewables and install them into our homes the government has created the FIT scheme. The tariff rates were introduced in April 2010 and paid a set rate for every kW of electricity generated by the renewable energy system, regardless of whether the energy generated is used directly or fed into the grid. The rates are guaranteed for 25 years and are index linked.

The tariff rates are governed by the type of renewable energy source installed and the maximum power it is able to generate. For example, for a 4kW Solar PV installed into a domestic property the owner will receive 43p (at current rates) for every kW generated. For a 4kW system this can, under ideal conditions, provide an income of up to £1400 per annum. The tariffs reduce for larger systems but can still provide a sound financial investment whilst reducing our dependency on fossil fuels.

FITs has attracted larger organisations to exploit these financial incentives by installing large systems of the order of several Megawatts. This had the potential to consume most of the funds set aside by the government to fund the FIT scheme which was primarily aimed at the domestic market. To counter this, the government announced that it would significantly reduce the FIT rate for systems greater that 50kW.

For those systems below 50kW the FIT rates remain unchanged, for now at least. In April 2012 the rates will be revised down originally this was to be by just a few pence per kW. However, in the current financial climate there is the possibility the government could reduce this by a much greater amount which has the potential to kill this growing market before it hardly gets started.

City & Guilds (C&G) 2399-11

We will have to wait and see what the government decides to do but since the FITs were first introduced in April 2010 there has been an unprecedented growth in the solar PV market creating a much needed boost to the electrical contracting sector and associated trades. If the government is to be believed in its statements about encouraging  growth in our stagnating economy, and its commitment to reducing our levels of CO₂ it would do well to leave the FITs as they are and allow the renewable energy sector become a sector for growth and jobs.

What is Part P and its Effects?

Part P Training Courses

What is Part P?   We are constantly asked by people wanting to become an ‘electrician’, ‘How do I become part P qualified?’ The answer is that there is no such thing as a part P qualification. Part P is a building regulation covering electrical installations associated with dwellings i.e the places we call our home.

Part P states that any electrical work carried out in a dwelling (domestic property) must comply with the wiring regulations BS7671, and this must be installed and tested by a person with the requisite knowledge and skills which, in the words of the Electricity at Work Regulations (EAWR), means somebody that is deemed competent and thereby ensuring the installation is safe.

When any electrical work is carried out in your home Part P also stipulates that this must be notified to the local building authority. This can be done directly by the person carrying out the work which will then require the local authority to visit the installation and approve the work that has been carried out foe which a fee will be charged.

Alternatively, the installer has the option to join an approved scheme whereby the governing body of that scheme will notify the local authority that the installation has been carried out in accordance with the wiring regulations by a person deemed competent to carry out that work safely.

National bodies such as NICEIC or ELECSA have created schemes whereby a member of that scheme has been assessed to ensure they are competent to carry out electrical work in a domestic property and will provide assurances to the local building authority that any work by their members comply with Part P and provide assurances to the home owner that the installer has an appropriate level of competency.

To become a member of such a scheme electrical installers are required to possess certain qualifications and be able to demonstrate a level of competency in installing and testing domestic electrical circuits.

These qualifications come in various forms but as a minimum the industry recognises for example city and guilds qualifications in the wiring regulations BS7671 (2382) and inspection and testing (2391 or 2392).

So part P is not a qualification but a building regulation that stipulates a level of competency and qualifications expected of those installing electrical circuits in a domestic property.

Amendments in 17th Edition Electrical Courses

On January 1^st 2012 the 17^th edition amendment 1 comes into force. The industry is always, initially at least, sceptical to such changes seeing it as a means for the industry organisations to charge its members more money to update to the latest regulations. However, on closer inspection such changes are inevitable and necessary.

So why the changes? Technology is continually evolving and standards need to reflect this. In addition, and possibly a little known fact, due to the treaty of Rome, the UK are obliged to incorporate the technical intent of standards development at the European CENELEC level.

Since their 15th edition (1981), the wiring regulations have closely followed the corresponding international standard IEC 60364. Today, they are largely based on the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC) harmonization documents, and therefore are technically very similar to the current wiring regulations of other European countries.

 

So what are the changes? The main amendments at a glance are as follows:

• Introduction of an Electrical Installation Condition Report

• Measures against electromagnetic disturbances

• Devices for protection against overvoltage

• Operating or maintenance gangways

• Requirements for medical installations

• Amendments to appendices

 

In addition, regulations unique to UK requirements are given their own unique number.

Trans-Euro will be holding a series of seminars over the coming months until the end of the year providing an overview of the amendments to the 17^th Edition. Further details can be found at http://www.trans-euro.co.uk/17theditionamendmentsseminar.aspx

Electrician c&g 2382-10 updated course

c&g 2382 – 10  Electrical Training course is designed in such way that candidates having electrical knowledge can understand  the objectives and application of the 17th Edition regulations (BS7671:2008) issued on July 1st 2011 and comes into force on January 1st 2012.It is specially designed for electrical pursuing student and electricians who installs or maintains electrical systems, in industrial, commercial or domestic sectors. The main topic of the training contains protection for safety, selection and erection of equipment, and inspection and testing to meet the standards of the IEE Wiring Regulations.

The course contains following topics:-

• Definitions of c&g 2382-10
• Protection for Safety
• Scope, object and fundamental principles for safety
• Assessment of General Characteristics
• Selection and Erection of Equipment
• Special Installations
• Inspection and Testing
• Use of Appendices

This certification will definitely help electrician and pursuing student those who wants to make career in electrical field

A Light on Electrical Training Courses and Electrician Courses

Electrical Training Courses and Electrician Courses are the base for any of the electrical training programme. If you are going through any of the electrical training or electrician training sessions then it is utmost important that one should definitely and importantly go through all the electrical training courses for  complete information

Electrical training courses and electrician courses are made available which helps trainee to understand each and every aspect of the instrument they will deal in future. Being an electrical engineer and a professional electrician, they are supposed to be more appropriate in their work while dealing with any of the electrical appliances.

While going through the electrical training courses sessions they get to know the basics of all the instruments right from the domestic appliances to the one which are used in huge industries. To be a professional in this field they need to go through each and every electrical appliances, whether it’s a domestic one or the industry one.

Electrical training courses and electrician courses help in making the trainees technically strong and intelligent while dealing with any of the typical instruments. If you want to be domestic electrician then you can go along with domestic training courses which are also available for the one who are interested in domestic installations.

Now if you have made up your mind in the field of electrician and electrical engineer then you need to consult the firm which excels in providing such type of trainings to the electrical trainees. One such firm is Trans Euro Electrotechnical Training and Consultancy. They provide training according to the need of the trainees .

To know more about the training sessions and the courses offered by Trans Euro Electrotechnical Training and Consultancy, you can visit at Trans-Euro.Co.Uk.

 

9T59UE5FRCMN

c&g 2377 PAT specially designed for electrical individuals

c&g 2377 PAT is specially designed for those technical student who are undertaking the practical inspection and testing of electrical equipment. This is a course based on the IEC Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of electrical equipment. PAT – Portable Appliance Testing designed especially for those who wish to carry out the electrical inspection and testing of electrical to recognized standard training. PAT – Portable Appliance Testing provides guidance on the inspection and testing of electrical appliances.   Anyone studying electrical enthusiastic or willing to pass the City & Guilds 2377 Individuals certification can pursue a Career in Electricians but  need to have familiar with the use of the PAT – Portable Appliance Testing and Testing of Electrical Equipment.

Some of the advantage of City & Guilds 2377 PAT – Portable Appliance Testing   :

• It provides all that requirement and understanding of electric equipments and its maintenance.
• It provides facilities so that suitable actions to be taken for record keeping & training for individuals.
• Deep knowledge provided how to meet & recognize construction & classification of electrical instruments.
• Classes are taken to inspect electrical equipment and identifying potential faults.
• Identify & recognize different types of test equipment.

City & Guilds (C&G) 2392-10: An Inspecting, testing, Installation Electrical Course

Being an electrician, if you are not good enough and perfect in inspecting, testing and verifying the electrical equipments and appliances, then it is very much required to have a proper qualification on Electrical Testing and Certification Course.

There are courses available which are very beneficial from training point of view and will help the electrician trainees to gain technical knowledge and training on testing, installing and inspecting, any of the normal or typical electrical appliances.

It is always advisable to get electrical training from a firm which excels in providing training and certification to the one who is practising electrician or to the one who is not good in inspecting, testing and verifying any of the electrical instruments.

Trans Euro Electrotechnical Training and Consultancy is one such firm which provide training and offers courses related to electrical training and City & Guilds (C&G) 2392-10. The topics which comes under City & Guilds (C&G) 2392-10 are :

• Refresher course which is based on the 17th Edition wiring regulations.
• Course related to  initial inspection and testing
• Complete inspecting, testing and certifying the electrical appliances with refer to IEE Guidance Note 3.
• Practical assessment on electrical equipment

The course comes under three phase which are as follows :

I Phase – Preparation for Initial Inspection and testing

II Phase– Complete Inspection

III Phase – Testing

Complete description of the above mentioned topics is available at Three-day Electrical Testing and Certification Course.

Or  you can visit Trans Euro Electrotechnical Training and Consultancy for complete details offered by them related to all the courses of City & Guilds (C&G).

An overview on: City & Guilds (C7G) 2399-11

There is no scope of reducing the usage of electricity, as electric appliances makes life easy and better. But we can go for the alternate source of energy that won’t cost as electricity does. Photovoltaic System is getting popular now a days as an alternate source of energy for electric appliances.

A Photovoltaic System is equipped with one or more solar panels, inverters, and all those components which are necessary for generating the alternating current source. So it is always advisable that, to handle such components, one should go for a professional electrical engineer, who has the experience of dealing with such electrical equipments.

It is not easy for a common layman to identify any of the issue related to the photovoltaic equipments; only a professional electrical engineer can identify the issues or the problem in any of the photovoltaic equipments, if there exist any. And will be able to resolve the issues related to such electrical appliances.

Now, if you are intended to be a professional electrical engineer or a professional electrician then you need to get a rigorous training to deal with such complicated appliances.

There are training courses available for the one who wants to work on such complicated and elusive instruments. The course which is basically offered for giving training on the installation, working, testing of such instrument is City & Guilds (C&G) 2399-11 – Installation of Small Scale Solar Photovoltaic Systems, Solar PV Courses. You can have the course and training on City & Guilds (C&G) 2399-11 at Trans Euro Electrotechnical Training and Consultancy.