NAVITRON PANELS NOW ON CLEARSKIES - GRANTS AVAILABLE!

[Ivan]

Navitron Evacuated Tube Solar Panels were finally added to the Clearskies programme today, following our submission in September. The panels are now featured on the Clearskies list (http://www.clear-skies.org/households/RecognisedProducts.aspx?intTechnologyID=24

In theory, it is now possible to obtain a grant for a Navitron solar panel installation.


Ivan

[AndySV1K]

i like your wording! "in theory"

Ivan, can you give more info as to how us as an installer can offer this to our customers, now that the product is approved, thats probably the biggest step.

Do you have info as to what the rest of need to do?

Andy.

[Ivan]

You will need to supply Clearskies with two case studies - ie a short write-up of two installations you have done, with the names and addresses of the owners (must not be family, I believe). Once they have this they will contact the owners to make sure they are satisfied, and if so, they will arrange to come out to inspect your next installation. If it is up to their standard (I think they publish the requirements on their website), they will register you as an approved installer. Last time I spoke to Clearskies, they did not charge for the inspection, although it may change in the future. The approval process is said to be changing in the near future, too.

In practice, the difficulties in obtaining the grant, the extra requirements (=extra cost) of grant installations and the biggest hurdle - when the grant scheme runs out of money, months before the end of the year (don't forget, they always have a backlog, so issuing the grant takes some time), your customer will want to wait until next year to see if they can get any money out of subsequent grant schemes.

Having said all that, it is well worth registering as a provisional installer. You are listed 'provisionally' until you satisfy their approval process. This in itself is extremely useful advertising, as many people start there before looking any further - if your non-grant price is better than other installers' grant-included price, you have a good chance of getting the job.

Ivan

[STEVE ELLIS]

Congratulations on finally getting the Navitron panels on the clear skies approved products list.
With regard to the registered installers list and grant scheme, there is a downloadable application form for anyone wishing to become a registered installer available from clear skies all 16 pages of it!!! This is valid until March this year, then the new scheme comes in.
Ivan I asked on an earlier thread about labelling of panels, this is a requirement in the criteria for approved products.
The absence of an labell giving details of, manufacturer, year of manufacture, wieght, output, flow rate, etc could be deemed as a fault during a clear skies inspection and effect funding.Also anyone working on a system who may not have insalled it, say two years after it was fitted has no way of knowing where it came from. I am aware that this info is available via the site but if you dont know where the panel came from you cant access this information.
You did mention earlier that labels would be fitted to panels for grant work but having just bought one for such a job it seems that this is not the case.

Regards Steve

[Ivan]

Hi Steve,

Clearskies are very specific about the label specification - we have designed them and have arranged for the labels to be produced and attached at our factory in China. If you have purchased panels after the 22nd Jan, give Steve a ring on the office number, and he may be able to arrange a temporary label. If the panels were purchased previously, best to ring us to discuss, as I don't know how this will affect the grant scheme - normally they will not honour claims for equipment purchased before the system is listed.


Ivan

[wyleu]

Anyone interested in mentoring myself for an application?

[Bargeman]

Hello,

Under the LCBP Phase 2 arrangements, my understanding is LCBP grants will only be available for installations and products supplied by 'Framework' supplier. For solar thermal these are British Gas, Solar Microgneration Ltd, and Low Carbon Partnership. The solar collectors on the product list are the Worcester FK240, the auroTHERM, the Filsol Stamax, AES and the Schott.

Given that most of the funding under phase 1 is being heavily rationed, I'm not sure that there is much to be gained from registering under Clear Skies as in future it is unlikely to gain you access to the grant funding for your installations.  Same thing applies to wind turbines and the other technologies. It seems that the big battalions have been gifted a nice little earner with an option to absorb public money in what has been created as a nice little oligopoly.

regards

[Ivan]

Unfortunately, I am inclined to agree, that becoming an approved installer is likely to bring in very little grant-aided installations. However, it is a good advertisment - the first thing most people will do is look at what grants are available, and contact approved installers - so being on the list (even as 'non-approved') can be good advertising.

Bargeman, your comments on the LCBP are a bit worrying, but sounds pretty typical of goverment. I asked Clearskies about next April's arrangements, and I was told top-secret, you can find out in April. Also typical of government schemes. Any idea where I can find out more about the new arrangements. It would be good to get Navitron panels included in the approved products list. Having spent £14k getting onto Clearskies, it would be a shame if the benefit lasts only 3months!

ivan

[Bargeman]

Hello Ivan,

The LCBP phase 2 arrangements are now in the public domain. You can look them up on the LCBP website. My interpretation is that anybody applying for a phase 2 grant is obliged to use one of the elected Framework Suppliers and can only install the products supported by those suppliers. For solar thermal this is as per my previous post. There is no scope for other suppliers or products to be listed under the LCBP phase 2 arrangements. Consider yourself excluded.

Frankly if I were in your shoes I would seriously contemplate getting legal advice and raising the issue with the Office of Fair Trading. The way in which this list of suppliers and products (which has been granted exclusive access to public funds) was compiled, frankly stinks to high heaven. I would be amazed if it could stand up to legal scrutiny. You might also think of banding together with other suppliers whose products have been excluded from this list. Your MP might be a useful ally, particularly if s/he's an eco-Tory.

While your at it, could you see about getting Navitron collectors onto the ECA qualified list ? I have a business prospect who would like to take advantage of the ECA 100% capital write-off, but will have to go elsewhere if Navitron are not on the list.

regards

[Ivan]

Typical government stitch-up - even their phase 2 weblink does not work http://www.lowcarbonbuildingsphase2.org.uk/

I am onto the ECA setup now. They were not very helpful when we tried to list products last time, suddenly coming up with new requirements that were not listed under the product eligibility criteria, which lead to my wasting several hours unnecessarily filling in forms/faxing/posting documentation. Hopefully the solar will be a little easier!

Ivan

[Bargeman]

Hello Ivan,

That weblink was working last week and gave a fullsome discription of the new scheme.

Do a google search on 'framework suppliers' and 'LCBP' and you'll come up with plenty of material. I may have found any unlikely ally for you, the MD of Genersys, see http://www.edie.net/news/news_story.asp?id=12498.

regards

[martin]

are we running a book? - what are the odds that the companies involved are Tony's cronies, masons. or donators to party funds?

[snozzer]

are we running a book? - what are the odds that the companies involved are Tony's cronies, masons. or donators to party funds?

Why single out Freemasons, lets look at Rotary clubs and the like as well.

[martin]

good lord, Rotary not on the square?

[snozzer]

good lord, Rotary not on the square?

Now by masons, do you mean free masons or freemasons, one will dress your stone for nowt, the other will offer you a dodgy handshake