IET Code of Practice - BRE

Part of the BRE Trust

© NSC 2015

IET Code of PracticeQuality, performance and returns

Jonny WilliamsDirector, BRE National Solar Centre

#brelive@natsolarcentre

IET Code of Practice for Grid Connected Solar PV Systems

1. What is it?

2. Progress to date?

3. How is it being adopted and who will benefit?


How much solar do we have today in UK?



Scope …

“This Code of Practice sets out the requirements for the design, specification,installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance of grid-connected solarphotovoltaic (PV) systems installed in the UK. The scope of this Code of Practicecovers:

• All parts of a grid-connected solar PV system up to, and including, the connection

to the AC mains.

• LV and HV connections and components.

• All scales of application, from small domestic systems to large-scale PV farms.

• Building-mounted, building-integrated and ground-mounted systems.

• Grid-connected systems with battery storage.

• Systems with an open circuit DC voltage of greater than 30VDC and less than

1,500VDC”


IET Technical Code of Practice

IET are the organisation for electrical standards, e.g. wiring regulations

IET Standards Committee for Solar Code of Practice§ Main author: Martin Cotterell, NSC Associate

§ Committee chair: Ray Noble, NSC Associate

§ Members and Authors:

National Solar Centre, Juwi, NAPIT, BayWa, STA, BSR, Loughborough Uni, HSE, British Gas Solar, Sundog.


Martin Cotterell§ MCS – PV & roofing working groups§ IEC - TC82 WG3 (co-convenor)§ British Standards – chair of PV committee

§ NSC - associate consultant§ Sundog Energy - founder & director


Why a new document?

§ First PV specific document released by IET

§ Previous UK documents only went up to 50kWp

§ To align with international standard work

§ Greater technical depth

§ New technology

§ Experience


New sections …

§ Large systems

§ HV connections

§ Grid connected systems with battery storage

§ LPS & surge protection

§ Fire


Headline changes …

§ Array frame earthing

§ Earth fault alarm

§ String fuses

§ PV plug & sockets


What's NOT included …

§ MCS scheme certification requirements

§ Specific energy estimate procedure

§ Wind uplift calculations


Why do we need to change?


• Poorly specified equipment• MC Connections• Connections in water• Isolators not water tight• Wrong inverter settings• Cable ratings – lead to tripping• Documentation• Lack of routine checking (5% of strings)• Lack of monitoring• Cable management• Poorly vented inverters

BRE National Solar Centre site investigation

EvolutionFirst edition of the “DTI Guide”

2nd Edition published

MIS3002 published - refers to PV guide

MCS PV Guide issued

IET – NSC start work on PV CoP

IET issues CoP for public comment

Working through >400 comments

2002

2006

2007

2012

2013

2014

2015

Ready soon!

2. Progress to date


Relationship to MCS

§ MCS has shown interest in adopting for <50kW market

§ MSC may refer to IET CoP from Installers’ Standard

§ If MCS adopts, it will bring MCS inline with international standards


Bentley Motors, Operated by Lightsource Renewable Energy

3. How to adopt and who will benefit?


Government Estate


Government Estate

§ To adopt the IET CoP for all installations

§ Represents a higher performance standard

§ Reduces technical risk

§ Provides independent assurance


Approach

§ Training scheme for installers

§ Technical performance specifications

§ Installations to be assessed against the IET CoP – UKAS link

§ BRE training underway


How others can benefit?

§ Project clients and financiers a high quality, standard process to specify

§ Gives certainty to end customer ( +1 BREEAM credit )

§ Quality mark for installers

§ Applicable to all projects


Jonny Williams

Director, BRE NSC

[email protected]

@natsolarcentre

www.bre.co.uk/nsc


mailto:[email protected]

http://www.bre.co.uk/nsc

Documents

IET Code of Practice - BRE