Governments complex certification scheme stops windturbines turning

With only a month left until a new Government cash incentive looks set to boost the uptake of green energy, wind turbine installers should be celebrating - but Paul Young from Skywing wind turbines says they have been left in the lurch because of confusion about a certification scheme that means the difference between getting money back for producing clean energy or not being eligible.

On April 1 the FITS (Feed in Tariffs) scheme launches, offering financial incentives to green energy users to accelerate the renewables revolution and combat the threat of global warming and rundown in North Sea oil.

Payments of up to 41.3p per kilowatt hour will be given to installers of solar, wind and hydro-power. There are also savings on electricity bills and extra cash when surplus energy is exported back into the national grid.

In the UK, as opposed to anywhere else in the world, wind turbine installers must now go through a stringent new Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) which provides a quality mark.

However, getting a certificate may take up to six months and each turbine model requires testing, potentially costing many thousands of pounds.

Mr Young, of Coemi, based in the South West said: "The British Wind Energy Authority told us about the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) for wind turbines. I was shocked because it could cost the manufacturer £300,000, it’s got to be done by January 1st next year and I just don’t see it happening in that time frame.

"If you don’t get the MCS, my clients won’t get FITS. It’s a very over-complicated process and I wonder if these hurdles are there because Government spending cuts means FITs are too expensive to fund and there’s been insufficient planning."

Until December 31st there is a ’transition list’ which wind turbine installers can join who wish to get MCS accreditation and is a stop-gap measure so FITS can be paid.

However, from January 1st, 2011, only products with an MCS will be able to qualify for FITS.

Mr Young said: "Our Skywings are simply the very best on the market and have been rigorously tested and are guaranteed for five years by which time they are likely to have made their money back for clients.

"Now each model may take six months to test for MCS, in specific locations, as far away as Scotland. I agree turbines have to be rigorously tested but the timeframe is inadequate.

"I believe there is only one model in the UK currently with the certificate and we have only just got on the MCS transition list after quite a complicated process."

British Wind Energy Authority spokesman, Charles Anglin, said: "It is problematic and all the developers are hit by this but the Government is worried about cheap, shoddy imports.

"One of the key items we have asked for is funding for accreditation. The Government should cover these costs as happens in other countries and we are campaigning for this."

Ofgem is warning of power shortages in the next decade and Ed Miliband, Energy and Climate Change Secretary, wants the UK to meet its legally binding target of a 34% cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020, with clean electricity generation delivering half the reduction.