Raine or Shine
Alternative Energy Solutions Ltd.
Solar energy providers since 2005
Frequently Asked Questions
- Feed In Tariff
- Renewable Heat Incentive
- Renewable Heat Premium Payment
- Microgeneration Certification Scheme
- Planning Permission
- Logic
- Navitron
- Real
- Elecsa
- Chas
- Sharp
- The Green Deal
PRACTICAL RENEWABLE ENERGY
How to design and implement your own renewable energy systems in the real world.
Customers often ask us to advise them what renewable systems they require, such as how many solar tubes they need to provide their hot water. It is important to realise that as well as the differing environmental factors that may apply to a particular site, there are also personal considerations that need to be taken into account.
If the following text does not answer your question, please call 01978 664114 or contact us here with your queries.
Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS)
www.microgenerationcertification.org
Supported by the Department of Energy & Climate Change
The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) is an independent certfication scheme designed to ensure microgeneration products and installers consistently meet strict European technical standards.
MCS is designed to raise standards.
The MCS is designed to raise standards, protect the consumers and offer information through the certification award.
For FITs and RHIs your installer must be MCS approved.
Your renewable energy system installer must be MCS accredited for you to take advantage of the various renewable energy incentives (RHIs and FITs).
Planning Permission - is it needed?
Since 2008, for most cases planning permission is not required if solar panels are fixed to the roof of a single dwelling house.
The following apply to roof and wall mounted solar panels:
Panels should not be installed above the ridge line and should project no more than 200mm from the roof or wall surface.
If the property is a Listed Building, installation is likely to require an application for listed building consent, even where planning permission is not needed.
If the property is in a World heritage Site, planning consent is required when panels are to be fitted on the principal or side elevation walls and they are visible from the highway. If panels are to be fitted to a building in your garden or grounds, they should not be visible from the highway.
All solar installations are also subject to the following:
Panels on a building should be sited to minimise the effect on the appearance of the building.
Solar Panels should be sited in order to minimise the effect on the amenity of the area.
Where panels are no longer required for microgeneration, they should be removed as soon as possible.
Logic
Logic provides certificate courses in the traditional areas of Gas ACS, Oftec Oil and Part P, and in addition has developed industry leading training assessment packages for the renewables industry including Solar Thermal Hot Water, Ground and Air Source Heat Pumps and Solar Photovoltaic.
Navitron
Founded at the beginning of 2004, Navitron supplies good quality, low-priced renewable energy systems - proving that renewable power need not cost the earth. They supply all types of renewable energy - such as evacuated tube solar collectors, solar photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, water turbines, back up power generators, woodstoves and heat pumps.
REAL
The REAL Assurance Scheme was set up by the Renewable Energy Association. Their aim is to guarantee a high quality experience for consumers wishing to buy or lease small-scale energy generation systems for their homes. The REAL Assurance Scheme logo is a sign that the company has agreed to abide by the high standards set out in our Consumer Code.
Elecsa
ELECSA provides inspection, assessment and certification services to contractors working with electrical installations in private dwellings.
ELECSA's core principle is to operate a straightforward certification scheme that provides a friendly and easy to use service. Approved contractors on the ELECSA scheme enjoy the benefits of being with a scheme that is run by electricians for the electrical trade.
Chas
In 1997 a group of health and safety and procurement professionals from across Great Britain worked with the Association of London Government (ALG) to develop CHAS. In 2001 CHAS became a web-based system.
CHAS started with two main aims:
- 1. To improve health and safety standards across Great Britain.
- 2. To reduce duplicated safety applications for both suppliers and buyers.
These days we have more than 400 public and private sector buyer organisations, such as councils, housing associations, NHS trusts, including a growing number of large private companies who employ sub-contractors.
Sharp
Sharp - Solar Photovoltaic Installers (PDF)
As a pioneering solar specialist, Sharp's research and development has paved the way for groundbreaking progress in solar technology time and again. Sharp is the world leader in solar cell production, with a production capacity of 400 megawatts in 2005. Whether in satellites, lighthouses, industrial applications, public buildings or apartment blocks, our solar cells provide power everywhere. Every fourth photovoltaic module installed in the world is produced by Sharp!
Raine or Shine are registered as Solar PV installers for the Sharp panels and are soon to be distributers.
The Green Deal
The Energy Bill introduced to Parliament on 8 December 2010 includes provision for the new 'Green Deal', which is intended to revolutionise the energy efficiency of British properties.
The Government is establishing a framework to enable private firms to offer consumers energy efficiency improvements to their homes, community spaces and businesses at no upfront cost, and to recoup payments through a charge in instalments on the energy bill.
Why is the Green Deal needed?
At a local level, the Green Deal will enable many households and businesses to improve the energy efficiency of their properties without consuming so much energy and wasting so much money.
A quarter of the UK's carbon emissions comes from the energy used in homes and a similar amount comes from our businesses, industry and workplaces. At a national level, the UK needs to become more energy efficient to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions, which risk dangerous climate change.
The Climate Change Act 2008 legislated for a reduction in our carbon emissions and set legally-binding carbon budgets across all sectors of the UK economy — including our homes and communities, and our workplaces.
Information taken from the DECC website.