DNO Contacts

[Ivan]

http://www.energynetworks.org/engineering/pdfs/DG/DistributorNetworkOperatorContactDetails_071114.pdf

[StBarnabas]

Ivan
thanks. Strange how the more helpful companies actually give a named person and others give a department where you can be passed from "pillar to posts" and given the around. It will come as no surprise that NEDL is in the latter category. Had I not taken yours and Ted's advice my PV might be sitting in the garage. I went ahead without their consent (not needed under G83/1) and have heard nothing from them  after submitting the paperwork a few months ago.
Sean

[ecogeorge]

Need to notify DNO before the weekend after ecogeorge towers generating station (pv array) commissioned.
Been on the eon web site and assume I need to fill in the application on the downloads section, but do I fill in the competitive generation application or non - competitive application??  or have I got the wrong form?
rgds George.

[StBarnabas]

George
PM me and I will send you a copy of the paperwork I used
Sean

[GavinA]

that link is now borked. I'll post a new one if I can find it, or if anyone else has a link please post it up, thanks.

[pcollins]

Try this one, although EON/Central Networks one is not correct:

http://www.r-e-a.net/info/other-news/uk-distribution-network-operators-embedded-generation-connection-contacts

Will post the 0800 number if I can find it and you need to ask for their renewable energy department. V helpful if you can get through!

[GavinA]

Some current names and contact details...

Scotland (SSE / Scottish Hydro) - Jeff Wall: Jeff.wall@SSE.com

SSE's southern england area - Adrian Ellis: adrian.ellis@SSE.com

can you tell I got passed around a bit ending up dealing with their south of england bod for an install in inverness before he very helpfully put me in touch with the right person.

[mysterons]

Hi there, new member here.
My situation is I'm currently awaiting a new installation date from the Mark Group working on behalf of Tesco having convinced them to reduce the originally quoted 4.2kWp PV system down to 3.96kWp.
I'm worried by this thread, nowhere on the Tesco website or in any of the paperwork from Mark Group that I have received is there any mention of me having to notify my DNO.
Is this something I should be doing or the installers? Or is notification not required under G83/1 as suggested by St Barnabus further up? Is there any chance the DNO would not allow me to connect my new install to the grid for some reason or is it automatically allowed under the reg's?
Hopefully I'm worrying over nothing but perhaps members who have had a PV install grid connected can clue me in.
Ron

[GavinA]

under 16 amps per phase you don't need to contact them in advance, your installer just has to notify them afterwards.

due to inverter losses etc a 4kWp PV array still just about classes as under 16 amps per phase as by the time it gets to the AC side it's lost 7-10%, plus cable losses etc means it's close enough to the 16amp mark for nobody to quibble. I'm not so sure that 4.2kWp systems wouldn't be pushing this wriggle room a bit far mind.

[mysterons]

Thanks for that Gavin, sets my mind at rest a bit.
I notice that Mark Group's 3.96kWp quote lists the inverter to be used as an SMA3300. They've sent me a spec sheet and it seems this inverter has a max ac output of 3600w. They'd also quoted the same inverter on the original 4.2kWp system. I suspect that's how they make sure the 16a limit isn't breached whatever the panel output is.

[Ivan]

A 16A inverter will keep the DNO happy, but if you install 4.2kWp, then you'll end up with a much lower FIT revenue than if you went for 4.0kW or slightly under.

[GavinA]

A 16A inverter will keep the DNO happy, but if you install 4.2kWp, then you'll end up with a much lower FIT revenue than if you went for 4.0kW or slightly under.

only if the installer does something silly like putting the peak rating of the panels on the form rather than the peak AC output of the system.

[jamesingram]

Bit confused by that Gavin ? from SSE , FEED IN TARIFF APPLICATION FORM
"Declared Net Capacity (kW): The declared net capacity is the installed capacity (size) of the system you have installed"
I presumed this was the peak panel rating as Ivan suggests , Have I got this wrong , is it the peak inverter rating ?
eg SMA 3800 = 3.8kW even if you've installed say 4.2kWp of panels 

[BruceB]

I am pretty certain that most people involved with installing solar panels for the first year of the FIT regime thought that Total Installed Capacity and Declared Net Capacity had something to do the the size of the solar array.  However, if the array is larger than the inverter then it is actually the inverter output that is the relevant figure as that is all that will ever be fed to the grid.  It is clear from reading other forums as well that many installers still have not realised this.  The statutory definitions of TIC and DNC are out there if you have a while to peruse them.  They do take some disentangling though.
Regards
Bruce

[jamesingram]

Thanks Bruce ,
probably a question better asked on the G83 topic , but could you clear up , some more confusion around this area ?

moved it to G83 thread.
aha http://www.ownergy.co.uk/library/gosple/F2RCAP1d.pdf