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Well, this is quite a grey area but the official
stance is still you need the whole kit installing by an MCS approved installer
to receive the UK FITs. The other thing to consider is the VAT which is at the lower
rate for an MCS approved install but at the higher rate when you buy a kit. However the amount you could save can completely off sets this.
We
think this is frankly ridiculous and although the MCS approval process does
regulate the professional installation community it prevents perfectly capable
individuals from pursuing the DIY route. Surely the whole point of all this is
to help people been greener for an affordable price!
This same MCS approval is also required for solar
panels and wind turbines. Solar panels have had a perfectly good certification
scheme in the rest of Europe for many, many years. Why on earth the UK gov had
to invent a new one when the existing one was absolutely fine for many of the other
countries like Germany, Spain and France. The MCS approval cost for wind
turbine manufacturers is astronomical and prevents small, innovative UK
companies from competing against huge non UK manufacturers who quite often
copy UK designs. This surely can’t be right?
Anyway, rant over we have heard the there are an increasing
number of MCS Installers who will let you "help" them with the
install. The extent of that help depends on the installer and can be anything
form you putting up the scaffolding to doing all the solar panel installation, inverter and cabling work.
All MCS approved installers have to do an install to gain their MCS so you can
sometimes find an pre MCS approved company that will bite your hand off to
install a kit that you have financed for them.
The Mysolarshop team. |
