ROCs & Export

Changes to ROC accredited System (including adding a battery)

• Replacement Generation Meter

  All generation meters must be listed on Schedule 4: UK nationally approved electricity meters. We would recommend that you provide your customer with all relevant documentation, such as invoices or correspondence should Ofgem request any further information.
  Documentation / Information Required

  • Installers report on your letterhead paper providing... 

    • A description of the fault

    • (e.g. meter was blank or not recording)

    • A timeline of events (e.g. when the fault was noticed, when were you notified, when it was replaced) 

  • Photo of the faulty meter 

  • Photo of the new meter clearly showing the make, model and serial number

  • Photo of the inverter showing the total generation reading

  • Photo of the inverter nameplate

  • Amended schematic diagram showing the entire system i.e.

    • Generation meter make, model, serial number

    • Inverter make, model

    • Panel count, rating make and model

  You can also download the checklist for a replacement generation meter.

  You can receive a replacement generation meter installer template by emailing us today.

• Inverter Change

  When the system was originally installed and accredited, a grid application was submitted to NIE which states the declared export capacity, (DNC). Changing the inverter can affect the DNC. Please ensure that you state the correct declared export capacity on the commissioning certificate.
  
  **Where an inverter is installed that increased the DNC an amended grid application should be made to NIE. Ofgem will require the third party DNC. It is therefore recommended that any new inverter is replaced on a like for like basis, i.e. does not increase the DNC.
  
  Documentation / Information Required

  • Installers report on your letterhead paper providing... 

    • Confirmation of the date the inverter was changed

    • Confirmation of declared network capacity**

    • Confirmation of total installed capacity

  • Photo of the new inverter showing the total generation reading

  • Photo of the inverter name plate

  • Inverter manufacturers datasheet

  • Commissioning certificate

  • Copy invoice for installation of the equipment

  • Amended schematic diagram showing the entire system i.e.

    • Panel count, rating make and model

    • Generation meter make, model, serial number

    • Inverter make, model

  You can also download the checklist for an Inverter change.
  
  You can receive an inverter change installer template by emailing us today.

• Battery Installation

  Please see information from Ofgem below, (in italics).
  It is possible that co-locating storage may impact the eligibility of an accredited RO station to receive continued support under the scheme or may alter the amount of support received. Generators should consider carefully the requirements of the scheme to ensure their proposed configuration does not adversely affect their ability to receive support under the scheme.
  
  There are four overarching principles that operators of RO generating stations should consider when thinking about co-locating storage with generation accredited under the scheme. 
  
  These are:
  1. Co-located storage does not change generators’ obligations to comply with the RO scheme requirements. 
  2. Generators can only receive support for eligible renewable electricity generated by an accredited RO generating station. 
  3. Installing storage will not alter the Total Installed Capacity of the RO generating station. 
  4. The schemes’ eligibility requirements are not changed by the type of storage technology.
  
  Storage is not defined within the legislation underpinning the RO scheme. This means that the co-location of electricity storage facilities with accredited generating stations or installations is neither expressly prohibited nor expressly provided for under the schemes. However, Ofgem consider that where the requirements of the scheme continue to be met, storage can be deployed and the accreditation of RO generating stations can remain valid under the existing legislative framework. The RO legislation does not provide for a process for generators to obtain prior assurance from Ofgem that intended changes to co-locate storage will not impact a station’s accreditation. Ofgem will assess such changes on a case-by-case basis once the change has been made and notified to them.
  
  In addition, please read the guidance on battery storage from the Ofgem website and sign 
  and send to us the declaration that is relevant to your customers renewable generator. 
  
  Documentation / Information Required

  • Installers report on your letterhead paper providing…

    • A summary of the battery use - an explanation of what the purpose of the battery is in the generating station, why was it installed

    • Confirmation of whether anything else has changed on site

    • A timeline of the battery being added, G98 / G99 commissioning test certificate, confirmation of when the battery was installed and became operational

    • An explanation of the way the electricity generated by the station will be used – how the battery is to be utilised at the site and how the battery interacts with the generating station

    • Confirmation whether or not the battery can be charged directly from the generation station and/or from the grid

  • An updated Schematic Diagram (please ensure this includes correct generation meter) 

  • Photos of the inverter nameplate showing the specifications of any inverters at the site

  • Installers invoice for the works carried out

  • Signed appropriate Battery Storage Installation Declaration

  • Confirmation of which scenario most accurately reflects the setup onsite, following the install of the new battery storage. 

    • Scenarios can be found in 3.20 onwards (from page 19) : Guidance for generators: Co-location of electricity storage and hydrogen production under the RO, FIT, REGO and SEG (Version 6.1) | Ofgem

  You can also download the checklist for a new battery installation.
  
  You can receive a battery installer template by emailing us today.

• Additional Panels (Additional Capacity)

  Additional panels will increase the total installed capacity (TIC). The Ofgem application is amended to record the additional capacity however, they are considered ‘unsupported capacity’ which means that they are part of the existing system but are not eligible to receive ROCs. Following the installation of additional capacity, ROCs will be issued by Ofgem based on a percentage of accredited capacity basis, e.g. if the original capacity was 3kW and an additional 7kW was installed they will issue 30% of the units generated. 
  
  With additional capacity it is possible that the declared export capacity will increase. If this is the case, you should submit an amended grid application to NIE on your client’s behalf in which case Ofgem will then require the third party declared network capacity confirmation noted above.
  
  Documentation / Information Required

  • Installers report on your letterhead paper providing…

    • Date the changes took place

    • Confirmation of declared network capacity 

    • Confirmation of total installed capacity

    • If another meter is installed – the purpose of the new meter (i.e. what is it recording, additional capacity only or total capacity)

  • Photos of all generation meter(s) showing make / model / serial number(s)

  • Photo of the inverter name plate

  • Photo of the inverter showing the total generation reading

  • MCS or commissioning certificate

  • Amended schematic diagram showing the entire system i.e.

    • Original capacity, panel count, rating make and model

    • Additional capacity, panel count, rating make and model

    • Generation meter make, model, serial number

    • Inverter make, model

  You can also download the checklist for additional panels/capacity.
  
  You can receive an additional panels/capacity installer template by emailing us today.

• Panel Change (no change in capacity)

  If the existing accredited panels are changed for any reason, e.g. damage or fault the Ofgem 
  application will still need to be amended to record the new equipment even if the total installed 
  capacity has not changed.
  
  Documentation / Information Required

  • Installers report on your letterhead paper providing…

    • Date of change

    • Declaration confirming that the new panels have not affected the original accredited capacity

  • Amended schematic diagram showing the entire system i.e.

    • Panel count, rating, make and model

    • Generation meter make, model, serial number

    • Inverter make, model

  • Copy of invoice

  • MCS or commissioning certificate

  You can also download the checklist for panel changes.
  
  You can receive a panel change installer template by emailing us today.

• Total Replacement (Replacement of entire system)

  Before proceeding to completely replace an accredited system it is important that the customer understands that, in our experience, this will end the accreditation and the new site will not be eligible to receive further ROCs. However, where some part of the original system is retained, this may enable the original accreditation to be retained.
  We are unable to make any guarantees in either scenario and in our experience Ofgem will not provide any ‘comfort’ ahead of system changes, i.e. they will only consider an application once the changes have been made and the required documentation has been provided.
  
  It is also important that you as the installer are MCS accredited.
  
  Documentation / Information Required

  • Installers report on your letterhead paper providing…

    • Written confirmation stating the date of any changes, detailing the list of amendments made to the system and confirmation of the declared net capacity and the total installed capacity.

  • Photos of all generation meter(s) showing make / model / serial number(s)

  • Photo of the new generation meter including the make, model and serial number. 

  • Photo of the inverter name plate

  • Photo of the inverter showing the total generation reading

  • MCS certificate

  • Amended schematic diagram showing the entire system i.e.

    • Panel count, rating make and model

    • Generation meter make, model, serial number

    • Inverter make, model

  You can also download the checklist for a total system replacement.
  
  You can receive an total replacement installer template by emailing us today.