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Adding a Battery to Existing Solar PV System with Feed-in Tariff (Scotland)

Respected Mercenary

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Joined
Sep 4, 2024
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Scotland
Hi everyone,

I am brand new to solar and I am moving into a new house that has an existing solar PV system installed around 2012, which is currently receiving payments under the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) scheme.

I'm interested in maximizing the benefits from the solar panels by installing a battery storage system. However, I want to make sure that any changes won't negatively affect my FiT payments. From what I understand, Ofgem handles these situations on a case-by-case basis.

My main questions are:
  1. Has anyone successfully added a battery to their existing FiT-registered solar system and kept their FiT payments intact?
  2. What type of battery setup would be compliant?
  3. What steps should I take to get approval from my FiT provider and the DNO?
  4. Is this sort of thing DIY-able?
  5. If not DIY-able, any tips on what to ask for when getting quotes from installers?
I’d appreciate any advice or experiences you can share!

Thanks in advance!
 
I dont know the specific rules on your location, for definite answers you may have to contact a local solar installer company or your grid operator.
However most of these subsidy schemes all over the world have one simple rule: you cannot change anything. If you do, they come after you for subsidy fraud. Review all the paperwork they wanted at the approval of your installation. Most of it is to detect changes (in their thinking to detect fraud).
You may be able to add a second solar installation to give you your intended benefits.

Regarding DIY the same: definite answers will only be available from your grid operator. However all over europe they tend to have somewhat the same rules:
- you cannot do anything DIY on your own, that is grid connected. You need a grid license.
- you typically can do anything DIY, if you work under the supervision of a company/person with a grid license. The problem is finding a company that is willing to delegate some of the work to DIY.
- you possibly can do DIY on an isolated, non-grid-connected installation.
 
Provided your FIT payments are early enough then the price you get for exporting is higher than any energy you store for later self use. So unless you need the batteries for covering loss of supply leave your system as is.
 
I dont know the specific rules on your location, for definite answers you may have to contact a local solar installer company or your grid operator.
However most of these subsidy schemes all over the world have one simple rule: you cannot change anything. If you do, they come after you for subsidy fraud. Review all the paperwork they wanted at the approval of your installation. Most of it is to detect changes (in their thinking to detect fraud).
You may be able to add a second solar installation to give you your intended benefits.

Regarding DIY the same: definite answers will only be available from your grid operator. However all over europe they tend to have somewhat the same rules:
- you cannot do anything DIY on your own, that is grid connected. You need a grid license.
- you typically can do anything DIY, if you work under the supervision of a company/person with a grid license. The problem is finding a company that is willing to delegate some of the work to DIY.
- you possibly can do DIY on an isolated, non-grid-connected installation.

Provided your FIT payments are early enough then the price you get for exporting is higher than any energy you store for later self use. So unless you need the batteries for covering loss of supply leave your system as is.

Thank you both for your advice!

I appreciate the insights about the potential risks of changing anything on the existing FIT installation.

After considering your points, I've decided to leave the FIT system alone to avoid any complications with the subsidy.

I'll look into other options, like adding a separate solar installation, to achieve my goals.

Thanks again for your help!
 

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