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Connecting a
microgeneration
system to a
domestic or
similar electrical
installation
(in parallel with the
mains supply)
Page 1
BEAMA
www.beama.org.uk
British Gas
www.britishgas.co.uk
Certsure
www.certsure.com
City & Guilds
www.cityandguilds.com
ECA
www.eca.co.uk
ENA
www.energynetworks.org
HSE
www.hse.gov.uk
Institution of Engineering
and Technology
www.theiet.org
NAPIT
www.napit.org.uk
SELECT
www.select.org.uk
SPACES
www.thespaces.org.uk
Sundog Energy
www.sundog-energy.co.uk
Published by:
Electrical Safety First
Unit 331
Metal Box Factory
30 Great Guildford Street
London SE1 0HS
Tel: 0203 463 5100
Email: bpg@electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk
Website: www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk
Electrical Safety First and other contributors believe that the guidance
and information contained in this Best Practice Guide is correct, but
all parties must rely on their own skill and judgement when making
use of it. Neither Electrical Safety First nor any contributor assumes
any liability to anyone for any loss or damage caused by any error or
omission in this Guide, whether such error or omission is the result of
negligence or any other cause. Where reference is made to legislation,
it is not to be considered as legal advice. Any and all such liability is
disclaimed.
Electrical Safety Council. November 2015
Connecting a
microgeneration
system to a
domestic or
similar electrical
installation
(in parallel with the
mains supply)
Page 4
Photo courtesy of Sundog Energy Ltd
Introduction
The UK Government is committed to encourage
the wider use of renewable energy generation, and
to technologies such as combined heat and power
(CHP) that offer improved efficiency compared to
traditional bulk generation in large power stations.
This commitment reflects undertakings made
with the UKs partners in the European Union and
internationally to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
and reliance on fossil fuels.
Generation of electricity closer to the point of
use avoids some of the losses that arise in the
transmission and distribution of electricity to
consumers. This currently amounts to up to 10%
of units dispatched. Even for the most modern
combined cycle gas generating stations with
production efficiencies of 50-60%, the efficiency
from the point of generation up to the point of use
in a consumers installation is generally well below
50%.
Page 5
Types of generation
It is, of course, possible to install and operate a
generator and installation completely independently
of the normal mains supply and to run certain
appliances entirely on this separate system. This
Guide, however, considers only generators that
are intended to work in parallel with low voltage
distribution systems, as this represents the most
practical approach for most consumers.
Page 6
Page 8
Page 9
Electrical installation
Safety issues
Installing a microgenerator brings particular
additional electrical safety concerns, which include
the following:
Page 10
A)
B)
Current-using loads
Page 11
iii.
iv.
v.
ii.
Page 12
ix.
5 s for TN systems, or
1 s for TT systems (Regulations 411.3.2.3 and
411.3.2.4 respectively of BS 7671 refer).
x.
Page 13
xi.
Page 14
Microgenerator
Load
Earth fault
Current path
Source
earth
Page 15
Page 16
ANNEX 1
Glossary/Definitions:
SSEG
Type AC RCD
Type A RCD
Electricity supplier
Export meter
Type B RCD
Generation meter
Microgenerator
currents up to 1000 Hz
Network
Type F RCD
RCBO
An electromechanical protective device intended to
provide overcurrent protection and residual current
protection
Page 17
ANNEX 2
British Standards and other standards
referred to:
British Standards
BS 7671
Requirements for electrical installations. IET Wiring
Regulations. Seventeenth edition (as amended)
BS EN 50438
Requirements for micro-generating plants to be
connected in parallel with public low-voltage
distribution networks
BS EN 61008
Residual current operated circuit-breakers without
integral overcurrent protection for household and
similar uses (RCCBs).
BS EN 61009
Residual current operated circuit-breakers with
integral overcurrent protection for household and
similar uses (RCBOs).
Other standards
BS EN 62423
Type F and type B residual current operated circuitbreakers with and without integral overcurrent
protection for household and similar uses.
Page 18
Best Prac
Best Prac
Replacing a
consumer unit in
domestic and
similar premises.
Best Prac
Best Prac
(Issue 2)
Guidance on the
management of
electrical safety
and safe isolation
procedures for
low voltage
installations
Best Prac
(Issue 2)
Consumer unit
replacement
in domestic and
similar premises
Best
Prac
Best
Prac
(Issue 2)
Best Prac
Test instruments
for electrical
installations:
Accuracy and
consistency
(Issue 3)
Electrical
Electrical
installation
installations
condition
and their
reporting:
impact on the
Classification
fire performance
Codes
for
of buildings:
domestic
and
Part 1 - Domestic premises:
Single family units
similar
(houses, flats, maisonettes,
electrical
bungalows)
installations
Connecting a
microgeneration
system to a
domestic or
similar electrical
installation
Best Prac
Selection and
use of plug-in
socket-outlet
test devices
Safe installation
of retrofit
self-ballasted
LED lamps
Page 20