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This page contains a selection of links to sites for government agencies and departments and to others with useful information not already shown in the lists of members. Recently added or changed items are in BLUE TEXT.
(UNDER CONSTRUCTION)
Government departments and agencies
DECC: Feed-in Tariff (FiT) material - general, NEW TABLE: Table of tariffs (valid to 2013 - will be inflated annually but subject to review and expenditure capped), FiT and Grants, (see also this link on the Scottish Government website re SDRP), letter to EU re FiT, Community Energy Online
Ofgem: Home page, Renewables Obligation material, FiT material, Electricity suppliers providing FiT, Log-in (for registered schemes), Grants (including rules re EU de minimis arrangements)
Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS): Home page, UPDATED 20/02/2012: "Standard" for installers, "Standard" for products, Installers, Products, Certification Bodies , MCS governance and proceedings, MCS Installer Guide
(This site was updated on 30 November 2010 - there are now a number of installers and products registered under "Transitional Arrangements".) There is a revised procedure on the MCS website covering both installers and products.
Scottish Government: See this page for definitive information concerning the non-availability of an SRDP grant if the FiT is sought.
Inland Revenue: HMRC have deemed that VAT is not payable on the Feed-in Tariff for domestic generation (http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/vatscmanual/vatsc05220.htm). The reasoning for this is because energy companies are not directly purchasing the energy of Microgenerators, but providing them with an incentive for generating it. If, however, you reach a commercial arrangement with an electricity supplier for the sale of electricity outside the feed-in tariff, VAT should be added including the prevailing VAT rate for energy (5% at the time of writing).
Environment agencies: EA (England and Wales), SEPA (Scotland), NIEA (Northern Ireland)
EA Guidance etc.;EA consultation on hydro schemes; SEPA Guidance for developers
SEPA consultation on hydro schemes - - see 30 April entry on Home page; here is the original document in case no longer available from SEPA, and here is the published guidance on information required in a licence application. These are the Consultation Responses (part 1 and part 2) provided to the mha under the Freedom of Information Act on 27th January 2011. This is the analysis SEPA have provided to the mha as justifying the published guidance.
Energy Savings Trust
European legislation: 2009 law, letter from EU re FiT
Other UK Legislation: Green Energy (Definition and Promotion) Act 2009 (c. 19)
Technical information
River flow data: now available again on the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology website. Where data is not yet verified, CEH will provide what is available and will answer email queries free of charge. Note that the facilities on this website work with Internet Explorer and Google Chrome (March 2012) but not all do with Mozilla Firefox. Further useful links below for main UK rivers (even though some are accessed via the EA):
Flow duration curves - use this to select the watercourse/gauging station anywhere in the UK;
Real time river levels (EA), (you have to navigate through maps or regions to get to a specific gauging station)
Real time River levels (SEPA)
- use the above links to select your watercourse and then view EA or SEPA recent river level (not available on-line for Northern Ireland);
Formulae for converting river level to flow - having selected the river and found the current level, then use this link to access the EA-maintained "Hi Flows" data site, select the watercourse again, and follow the link to "Ratings" where the conversion formula from river level to flow is shown. CAUTION: some gauging stations show equations only for high flows - check the Max Stage column for applicability - if not available contact the agency (SEPA is at science.advice@sepa.org.uk).
Grid Connection For information on G83/1 and G59/2 connection procedures see: (These links have recently been updated)
Energy Networks site Information for generators seeking a connection
List of approved meters from National Measurement Office
List of NERS grid connection installers accredited for "contestable works" in competition with DNOs
(click here for full contact details as at 18 June 2011)
Joe Hartvigsen's site (Turgo turbine components and design)
Ask the Renewable Energy Guru (from the USA)
British Hydropower Association (the trade association mainly for suppliers and installers of larger hydro schemes)
Microhydropower network (international site for hydro scheme information and links)
General information
YouGen (general renewable energy website)
Low Impact Living Initiative (promotes multiple approaches to sustainable ways of living)
(UNDER CONSTRUCTION)
Government departments and agencies
DECC: Feed-in Tariff (FiT) material - general, NEW TABLE: Table of tariffs (valid to 2013 - will be inflated annually but subject to review and expenditure capped), FiT and Grants, (see also this link on the Scottish Government website re SDRP), letter to EU re FiT, Community Energy Online
Ofgem: Home page, Renewables Obligation material, FiT material, Electricity suppliers providing FiT, Log-in (for registered schemes), Grants (including rules re EU de minimis arrangements)
Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS): Home page, UPDATED 20/02/2012: "Standard" for installers, "Standard" for products, Installers, Products, Certification Bodies , MCS governance and proceedings, MCS Installer Guide
(This site was updated on 30 November 2010 - there are now a number of installers and products registered under "Transitional Arrangements".) There is a revised procedure on the MCS website covering both installers and products.
Scottish Government: See this page for definitive information concerning the non-availability of an SRDP grant if the FiT is sought.
Inland Revenue: HMRC have deemed that VAT is not payable on the Feed-in Tariff for domestic generation (http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/vatscmanual/vatsc05220.htm). The reasoning for this is because energy companies are not directly purchasing the energy of Microgenerators, but providing them with an incentive for generating it. If, however, you reach a commercial arrangement with an electricity supplier for the sale of electricity outside the feed-in tariff, VAT should be added including the prevailing VAT rate for energy (5% at the time of writing).
Environment agencies: EA (England and Wales), SEPA (Scotland), NIEA (Northern Ireland)
EA Guidance etc.;EA consultation on hydro schemes; SEPA Guidance for developers
SEPA consultation on hydro schemes - - see 30 April entry on Home page; here is the original document in case no longer available from SEPA, and here is the published guidance on information required in a licence application. These are the Consultation Responses (part 1 and part 2) provided to the mha under the Freedom of Information Act on 27th January 2011. This is the analysis SEPA have provided to the mha as justifying the published guidance.
Energy Savings Trust
European legislation: 2009 law, letter from EU re FiT
Other UK Legislation: Green Energy (Definition and Promotion) Act 2009 (c. 19)
Technical information
River flow data: now available again on the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology website. Where data is not yet verified, CEH will provide what is available and will answer email queries free of charge. Note that the facilities on this website work with Internet Explorer and Google Chrome (March 2012) but not all do with Mozilla Firefox. Further useful links below for main UK rivers (even though some are accessed via the EA):
Flow duration curves - use this to select the watercourse/gauging station anywhere in the UK;
Real time river levels (EA), (you have to navigate through maps or regions to get to a specific gauging station)
Real time River levels (SEPA)
- use the above links to select your watercourse and then view EA or SEPA recent river level (not available on-line for Northern Ireland);
Formulae for converting river level to flow - having selected the river and found the current level, then use this link to access the EA-maintained "Hi Flows" data site, select the watercourse again, and follow the link to "Ratings" where the conversion formula from river level to flow is shown. CAUTION: some gauging stations show equations only for high flows - check the Max Stage column for applicability - if not available contact the agency (SEPA is at science.advice@sepa.org.uk).
Grid Connection For information on G83/1 and G59/2 connection procedures see: (These links have recently been updated)
Energy Networks site Information for generators seeking a connection
- A Guide for Connecting Generation that falls under ER G83/1-1 Stage 1 to the Distribution Network (Version 3.1 - April 2011)
- A Guide for Connecting Generation that falls under ER G83/1-1 Stage 2 to the Distribution Network (Version 3.1 - April 2011)
- A Guide for Connecting generation that falls under ER G59/2 to the Distribution Network (Version 3.1 - April 2011)
List of approved meters from National Measurement Office
List of NERS grid connection installers accredited for "contestable works" in competition with DNOs
(click here for full contact details as at 18 June 2011)
Joe Hartvigsen's site (Turgo turbine components and design)
Ask the Renewable Energy Guru (from the USA)
British Hydropower Association (the trade association mainly for suppliers and installers of larger hydro schemes)
Microhydropower network (international site for hydro scheme information and links)
General information
YouGen (general renewable energy website)
Low Impact Living Initiative (promotes multiple approaches to sustainable ways of living)
