Lets do it right and register our solar installtion.

[Isetech]

That is were the fun begins and ends, it seems unless you have a "contact" you going to sit for hours in frustration, trying to contact a person in the right department.

[Dylboy]

Hahaha I am looking into this now and stopped quoting solar.


NERSA have a word doc I found and then I need to find out the network support and get an approval letter...

Also the NERSA site I can't fint the document tab per say I have to google the form.

I have no idea of costs... Who the network supplier is for most people and who to even contact there.

Nevermind how long all this takes and the costs....

So let's say I do a quote and it's accepted... How long till all this stuff is sorted before I can install. The client would want there money back and go to the next oke...

I don't know where to begin and it's frustrating...

Sent from my CPH2197 using Tapatalk

[Dylboy]

All these training facilities... Do they teach you this and how to actually do it and who all to contact with time lines and costs!?

Sent from my CPH2197 using Tapatalk

[Thys LOW Elektries]

Call me uninformed, or ignorant but what registration are you referring too???
We do plenty installations locally and don't register a thing, only the gridtied systems we register, have inspected and signed off by our local Town Council
Being in Orania have certain drawbacks and certain advantages.
One drawback is being not always informed on the right procedures and the right way of doing things.

Greetings

[Thys LOW Elektries]

Not sure if this will help https://maroelamedia.co.za/nuus/sa-n...-eskom-krisis/ In this article they state that Solidariteit had started a helpline for people that want to get a permit to generate power via solar??

[Isetech]

I decided to email the council, I had a response last night with a list of email addresses, which I have noted. I have sent an email to the council and now waiting for a response.

Just take note that you need to check with your local municipality, ever municipality is different.

Some might have an Eskom supply, so you need to check with your local Eskom department.

I cannot afford to sit in court for months over a silly registration document. I also cant afford to pay a huge fine for installation a system which is not compliant.

I get the feeling people are going to wish they followed the bylaws.

While chatting to someone about it a couple days ago, my thoughts were to let the customer buy the equipment (you can buy the equipment at the same price as an installer) and I just do a cash job, no invoice no paper trail. But I have to do the DB's and issue a COC's, so anyway I look at it, there will be a paper trail.

I am also considering getting an installer (a dime a dozen) to do the solar part, let them sign over what ever it is they need to do and I just stick to my elctrical modifications and DB upgrades.

I can get installers who are even prepared to offer the complete installation and a COC for R10k.

[AmithS]

I was under the impression you only need a permit for 1 MW and above?
or is this for commercial only...

[Thys LOW Elektries]

Lot of misinformation available, especially on social media. Also about the R900. per month levy for all solar systems
I'm trying to find the truth, out of curiosity

Greetings

[Isetech]

Still no response from the municipality. Lets hope their response is so slow when it comes time to enforce the bylaws.

[Derlyn]

OK, 7.12.1.1 Note 1 says:

" Requirements of the supplier should be ascertained before any alternate supply is installed in an installation connected to the main supply of a supplier"

What is an alternate supply ?

SANS 10142-3 7.12 note defines alternate supply as " low-voltage generating sets, photovoltaic (PV) installations, gas generators, diesel generators, wind turbines and hydropower plants "


So I decided to check what the Supply Authority By Laws prescribe. ( BCMM electricity by laws )

39. Consumer's emergency standby supply equipment.

1.1 No emergency standby equipment provided by a consumer in terms of any regulations or for the consumers own operational requirements shall be connected to any installation without the prior written approval of the Municipality. Application for such approval shall be made in writing and shall include a full specification of the equipment and a wiring diagram. The standby equipment shall be so designed and installed that it is impossible for the Municipality's supply mains to be energised by means of a backfeed from such equipment. The consumer shall be responsible for providing, installing and maintaining all such protective equipment.


So there you have it. In our valley, we first need to get written permission from the Munic before doing a generator or PV installation.

I wonder how many of the green card installers actually do this ? I suspect none.

[GCE]

I was under the impression you only need a permit for 1 MW and above?
or is this for commercial only...

There was the need to obtain NERSA approval above 1MW that has now changed to 100MW

There is still and has always been a requirement that all PV installations be registered with the Local Supply Authority - The local Supply Authority has to keep NERSA informed has to the amount of PV connected within their area .

It has to do with security of supply , harmonics on the system and the fact that if there is too much PV being placed on the grid it causes the Voltage to fluctuate outside of what is deemed acceptable.

There is also a requirement that if you exceed 350KVA PV system that a grid compliance assessment may have to be done .

There is and has always been a restriction of 25% of main incoming C/Breaker size

NERSA published a document to assist in simplified grid connections below 350KVA but still allowed the Utility to have the final say depending on the amount of PV connected in an area or on a transformer.


NRS 097-2-1:2017
GRID INTERCONNECTION OF EMBEDDED GENERATION
Part 2: Small-Scale embedded generation

The Grid Code defines the minimum requirements for any renewable power plant (embedded generator system) in order to connect to the grid or network. Wherever conflict exists between this set of documents and the applicable Grid Code(s) in terms of more strict requirements, the applicable Grid Code(s) will take preference.
NOTE 1 The 1000 kVA value will be revisited and reviewed as the industry evolves.
NOTE 2 This document provides a standard set of specifications for small embedded generators. Compliance with this document does not guarantee that a utility will or can allow connection to the utility network.
NOTE 3 The customer is advised to contact the utility to discuss potential further connection requirements.

4.1.1.6 The maximum size of the embedded generator is limited by the rating of the supply point on the premises.

4.1.1.7 The utility will approve the size of the embedded generator and will decide on the connection point and conditions. In some cases it may be required to create a separate supply point.
4.1.1.8 Embedded generators larger than 13,8 kVA shall be of the balanced three-phase type unless only a single-phase network supply is available, in which case NRS 097-2-3 recommendations can be applied based on the NMD.


4.1.2 Simplified connection of generator sizes should be limited to 350 kVA.

[GCE]

Lot of misinformation available, especially on social media. Also about the R900. per month levy for all solar systems
I'm trying to find the truth, out of curiosity

Greetings

There has always been a availability charge for an electrical connection point the same way that there is for water and sewage

When pre paid meters started this charge was incorporated into the unit rate. Anybody still on a credit meter pays availability and a per unit rate .The per unit rate is cheaper then prepaid meter rate .


In PE for a Net metering system ( Domestic single phase) you pay an availability rate of R 352.84 per month and if you want net billing then another R 88.22 per month.

On 3 phase small business it is R 1 106.00 ex vat availability charge

[skatingsparks]

OK,
I wonder how many of the green card installers actually do this ? I suspect none.

Did the Sapvia Green card course. Started filling in my first ones today for installs recently completed.

Never mentioned on the course we have to tell municipality. And the one that realy upset me is that part of issuing a green card is that you have to have-

1) A PV solar system design approved by Pr. Eng. or Pr. Tech. - extra cost to get a (2) Letter of installation and commissioning approval from Eskom or municipality - extra cost

So licensed, registered, in the electrical game for 25 years - did lots of solar in the UK and Australia in the past, paid R20000 for a course and assesment and still can't issue a green card for my installs because the chance of getting a installation and commisioning approval from municipality in Joburg would be a miracle. And charging the client the extra cost of a Pr. Eng to sign off.... Unlikely.

On further checking I found on Sapvia web site only 198 Green cards have been issued amounting to 634513.23 KWp of panels

(source - https://pvgreencard.co.za/)

So this little one man business has installed, in the last 3 weeks, 26160kwp in panels - that is the equivalent of about 4% of the ammount that have been green carded.

Considering how long sapvia has been going, since 2011 in South Africa, if the data on there own web site is correct thats a pretty poor registration rate.

Other than the cost I have to ask why only 198?

Supposed to be the recognised registration for PV, but so few green cards?

Considering its a R20000+ course, I think thats pretty bad.

[GCE]

D

Considering how long sapvia has been going, since 2011 in South Africa, if the data on there own web site is correct thats a pretty poor registration rate.

Other than the cost I have to ask why only 198?

Supposed to be the recognised registration for PV, but so few green cards?

Considering its a R20000+ course, I think thats pretty bad.

The green card is not a legal requirement but has had a good marketing job pushing the use of greencard holders
When ECA put out the article on who can do Solar installs it caused a stir in the market place. Sapvia realised that the majority of green card holders were not registered as Electrical Contractors and cleaned up the data base.
It appeared that the Training centers " hijacked ", with permission, the green card system and were allowed to list directly onto the site anybody that did the course - This has since been changed and checks have been put in place

Training is big money and unfortunately in the process agendas are being pushed to ensure sustainability for training centers , one being expiry dates - You only have to look at some of the requirements in the H&S space.

[Isetech]

How can we improve relations with the councils, simple create a platform for contracotrs to deal with them.

Use an email address that works.

Tried all sorts of this things weekend, all the emails bounced (undelivered)

Anyone have the correct email address or contact details to register an SSEG?

Its is so frustrating dealing with Ethekwini, then they post incorrect deatils, ifr they want people to register an SSEG, maybe they should share the correct deatails and repsond to emails sent to their info email address