If you operate electricity generation on your farm or estate, then you must ensure that it is compliant with new Distribution Code regulations that come into effect on 1 September 2022, NFU stresses in an article on their website.
That means that you now have less than four weeks to check your systems, ensure that they are compliant, and declare their compliance status or risk enforcement action.
Your electricity generation could be in the form of solar panels, a wind turbine, combined heat and power (CHP), or biogas. The changes apply to all generation that is between 11 kW and 50 MW and was installed before February 2018 (or, in some cases, for type-tested solar inverters, July 2018).
The changes impact the Loss of Mains protection relays or inverters that connect your generation to the electricity network. You may need to update, deactivate or replace this equipment in order to become compliant.
If you think this applies to your electricity generation system, you can access step-by-step guidance to help you understand what you need to do and who can help you.
Go to futureproofyourpower.co.uk to learn more, get help and find out how to declare compliance. Or get in touch with your local Distribution Network Operator (DNO) for additional support.
What if your equipment is already compliant?
If you know your generation equipment is already compliant, or you find that it is compliant while completing the checks, you must declare this so that it is registered correctly. You can declare your compliance status either with your local Distribution Network Operator (DNO) or via this portal on the ENA website.
Generators must be compliant by 1 September 2022. This means that you must submit all compliance declarations and evidence by midnight on 31 August 2022.
How to get help
If you find that you need to make a change, you may need some technical support. Contractors can help you update your equipment so that it is compliant with the Distribution Code.
Each DNO has a list of contractors who are recognized as being competent to complete the works – you can find this information on the DNO’s respective websites. The Energy Networks Association (ENA) also has a directory of self-declared competent contractors that you can access here.
What if you are not compliant by the deadline?
Non-compliant generators on farms and estates pose an inherent risk to Great Britain’s power supply, and so generators that are not compliant from 1 September 2022 will be subject to an enforcement process that could result in the de-energization of your site. But you still have time to check your system, futureproof your power, and ensure compliance.
Remember, this is not optional. Even if you have not directly heard anything from your DNO, you may still need to act.
NFU Energy