Renewable Energy Installer November 2015

3DUWQHURUJDQLVDWLRQ0&6SUHVHQWVLWVUHJXODUFROXPQIRU5(, Opinion Energy related Products (ErP) Directive (2009/125/EC) A reminder from MCS that the Energy related Products Directive (ErP) came into force on September 26 2015, and affects all heating and hot water products with a heating output <400kW T he ErP is comprised of two Directives: Ecodesign and Energy Labelling. Ecodesign sets a minimum energy performance and environment criteria for energy related products, and Energy Labelling requires that products display a ODEHOVKRZLQJWKHSURGXFW¶VHI¿FLHQF\EDQGEHWZHHQ$WR*(QHUJ\ODEHOVDUH also required for a complete installed system. Heat pump installers are responsible for providing the package label that will display performance data when installing a package of heat pump, temperature control and solar device. The European Commission has produced an online Energy Label generator that can be found online at http://eepf-energylabelgenerator.eu/. In preparation for the new rules, MCS has updated the scheme heat pump standards: MIS 3005, MCS 007 and MCS 021 to align with ErP. The new requirements stipulate that any heating and hot water products placed on the market from September 26 2015 must be ErP compliant. However, MCS has stipulated that any MCS heat pump product commissioned on or after March 26 2016 must be ErP compliant, allowing a six month grace period for any non ErP compliant heat pump products to be installed and commissioned. It is important to note that, whilst non ErP compliant heat pumps may be sold, provided they were placed on the market before September 26 2015, non ErP compliant heat pumps installed after March 26 2016 will not be eligible for MCS &HUWL¿FDWLRQRUWKH5HQHZDEOH+HDW,QFHQWLYH5+,VXSSRUW Some heat pump manufacturers are providing ErP guidance and training to installers that use their products, so if you are unsure about what you will need to do when ErP comes into force, manufacturers may be able to provide this additional guidance. ,IDKHDWSXPSLV0&6&HUWL¿HGEHIRUH6HSWHPEHU0&6&RQWUDFWRUVDUH DOORZHGWRXVHWKH63)YDOXHIURPWKH+(*0&69XSXQWLO0DUFK From 26th March 2016, MCS Contractors will be required to comply with MIS 3005 ,VVXHFDOFXODWLQJSURGXFWVSHFL¿F63)VXVLQJHLWKHUWKH6HDVRQDO&RHI¿FLHQWRI Performance (SCOP) for electrically driven heat pumps and Seasonal Prime Energy 5DWLR63(5IRUJDVDEVRUSWLRQKHDWSXPSV If a customer is looking at investing in a heat pump or in the process of getting a heat pump installed that is currently on the MCS website, then make sure it will be installed and commissioned before March 25 2016 as any product that does not meet the new MCS standards will be removed on March 26 2016 and they would no longer EHDEOHWRFODLPWKH5+, 10 | www.renewableenergyinstaller.co.uk It’s been difficult to detect a note of optimism in the world of renewables after the recent and anticipated announcements. There will certainly be some challenging times ahead. However, I was fascinated to read some comments made by representatives of the National Grid which were published recently. One of the statements which caught my eye stated that ‘…energy from the Sun was expected to be one of the most cost-effective ways to power homes within 18 months.’ This is a BIG statement in every sense especially when coupled with the follow-up comment that ‘Grid parity is the average cost of generation on the network and solar could be there in 18 to 24 months…’ If government is looking to judge on the efficacy of the Feed-in Tariff scheme then it need look no further. This situation has become possible because of the economies of scale driven by uptake. In addition, we have reached the situation where there is an army of advocates for PV in our cities, towns and villages. We have householders who are happy to share their experiences and satisfaction with their systems. We have actual performance figures in real everyday situations. Of course this applies equally to renewable heating systems and the RHI but we are much earlier in the cycle. It seems to me that any measures which allow hard-working families to protect themselves from rising energy costs and build in resilience would be something to be encouraged with enthusiasm and commitment.

Renewable Energy Installer November 2015 | Page 10