This is a question that we hear all too often at Here’s the Plan and is often the reason that new clients come to us for help. Many businesses have installed solar PV arrays over the last few years and made the decision to go ahead based on the Return on Investment business case presented to them by their installer. Often this includes revenue from exporting the predicted excess generation via a Power Purchase Agreement or Smart Export Guarantee.
What is often poorly explained is that this revenue stream does not automatically ‘click’ into place once the solar panels are installed and commissioned. Instead, a defined series of actions need to happen involving a number of third parties and these actions all need to happen in the correct order to get the energy flowing back out onto the grid, and the money flowing into your bank account.
It is rare for a solar installer to complete this process for a business and once the commissioning is complete, the business owner is handed a bundle of certificates and paperwork and then they are on their own.
This bundle of documents should include your connection agreement stating your export MPAN, grid connection agreement (G99) as well as an MCS certificate if your array is up to 50Kw or a commissioning certificate if it’s over 50kw.
The first decision is where your export tariff will come from- you have a choice of a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) or a Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). Which is best for you depends on how much energy you will be exporting with larger exporters generally opting for a PPA but not always. If you opt for a SEG, it does not need to be with your current energy provider though some energy suppliers offer an enhanced SEG tariff to their import customer so it's worth doing your research or getting specialist advice.
Next, you will need is a Smart meter capable of recording export, if you don’t have one already. All meters have a background Meter Operator. This is not as simple as asking your current supplier to swap out your meter for an export compatible one . This has to be requested by either your PPA provider by sending an industry ‘flow’ request or via your supplier sending a ‘flow’ request to the Meter Operator. This typically takes at least a couple of months and often longer.
If you have Half Hourly metering you are required to have a mandatory Meter Operator agreement (MOP) and Data Collection (DC) Agreement for your import. Your will need to need your Export MPAN added onto this plus a Data Collection Agreement for the Export.
Once you have all this place you are ready to apply to you chosen export revenue provider. This involves an application form which you submit with a raft of documentation including Proof of Ownership. If there is an error in any of the documents then the application will be rejected.
Generally export providers claim that it takes around 28 days for the application to be processed and go live but we have seen this take as long at 8 months.
The passive revenue stream from excess solar generation takes time and effort to set up and does not ‘just happen’. Here’s the Plan can help put this in place for you whether you are in the process of installing solar PV, have never thought about export or have been struggling to get this set up yourself for a while.
Why not give us a call on 01738 474630 or contact Enable JavaScript to view protected content. for a no obligation review and quote!
