Farm Solar Installation Timeline UK | Week-by-Week from Enquiry to Commissioning

One of the most common questions we hear from farmers considering solar is: how long does the whole process take? From initial enquiry to the moment your system starts generating electricity, a typical agricultural solar installation takes 3–6 months. That sounds like a long time, but most of that period is waiting for administrative processes — grid connection notifications and applications — that run in parallel rather than consecutively. The physical installation itself typically takes 3–7 days.

The Complete Farm Solar Timeline

Week 1–2: Initial Enquiry and Feasibility

The process begins with your enquiry. SolarPanelsForFarms.uk is an independent guide, not an installer: your enquiry goes to a matched MCS-certified installer covering the area, which returns a desk feasibility within 3 working days. The installer will discuss your farm’s energy profile, building suitability, and approximate system size, review any available meter data or energy bills you can share, and arrange a site visit if appropriate.

For most farms, the installer can provide a preliminary assessment and indicative quote within 1–2 weeks of first contact. This should include an estimated system size, projected generation and payback period — all without cost or obligation.

Week 3–4: Site Survey and System Design

A detailed site survey is the foundation of a well-designed agricultural solar installation. The installer’s surveyor visits your farm to assess building condition, roof structure, shading analysis, electrical infrastructure, and grid connection capacity, and collects half-hourly meter data from your electricity meter (if available) to model self-consumption accurately.

Following the survey, the installer’s designer produces detailed system drawings, structural calculations, and an electrical design. You receive a full proposal including system layout, single-line electrical diagram, projected generation figures, financial analysis, and MCS documentation.

Week 4–6: Funding and Tax Checks

In 2026 this step does not apply to solar. The FETF (Farming Equipment and Technology Fund) 2026 window closed at midday on 12 May 2026, and its 2023–2026 item lists did not include solar panels to power a farm. No grant for solar panels on farms is open in England: Round 2 of the Improving Farm Productivity grant, which covered rooftop and irrigation-reservoir solar only, closed on 31 July 2025 and no further round has been announced. No Welsh, Scottish or Northern Irish grant pays for solar panels either.

If a grant round does open, the application must be submitted and approved before any work begins or equipment is ordered. This is a critical point: starting installation before receiving a funding agreement letter from the Rural Payments Agency will disqualify your application.

Week 6–8: DNO Grid Connection Application

For systems over 3.68kW (single phase) or 11.04kW (three phase) that will export to the grid, a Grid Connection Notification or Application must be submitted to your Distribution Network Operator (DNO). Systems up to 16 A per phase (3.68 kW single-phase or 11.04 kW three-phase) connect under G98 by notifying the network operator; anything larger needs a G99 application, approved before installation, and the operator’s offer sets the timetable.

Ask the installer to submit the DNO application and manage all technical correspondence with UKPN, SSEN, NGED, SP Energy Networks, Northern Powergrid, Electricity North West or NIE Networks as appropriate for your location.

Week 8–12: Equipment Procurement

Once the DNO application is progressing, the installer orders your equipment. Lead times for solar panels are typically 2–4 weeks. Inverters (especially string inverters from premium manufacturers) may have 4–8 week lead times. Battery storage systems sometimes have longer lead times — particularly large-format LiFePO4 systems above 100kWh.

Ask the installer to advise on availability at the time of ordering.

Week 12–16: Installation Week(s)

The physical installation of a farm solar system typically takes 3–7 days for systems up to 100kW, and 1–3 weeks for larger multi-building installations. Ask the installer how it will minimise disruption to farm operations, and whether its own teams or subcontractors will do the work.

Installation days include: mounting rail fixing, panel installation, DC cabling, inverter installation, AC connection, monitoring system commissioning, and initial testing. At the end of the final installation day, the system is powered up and performance verified against the design specification.

Week 14–16: DNO Connection and Commissioning

Following installation, the final connection to the grid requires sign-off from your DNO. For G98 notifications, this is typically straightforward. For G99 applications, a formal commissioning visit by the DNO may be required. The installer should coordinate this process and provide all required technical documentation.

Once grid-connected, the monitoring system is activated and you receive login details for your real-time generation dashboard. Ask the installer to walk you through the monitoring interface and provide a full handover pack including warranties, compliance certificates, and MCS documentation.

Post-Commissioning: Smart Export Guarantee Registration

After commissioning, register your system with an SEG (Smart Export Guarantee) licensed electricity supplier. SEG payments begin from the date of registration and are paid monthly or quarterly depending on your chosen tariff.

Total Timeline Summary

StageTypical Duration Initial enquiry to survey1–2 weeks Survey to proposal1–2 weeks DNO application (G99)8–12 weeks Equipment procurement2–6 weeks Physical installation3–7 days Commissioning and SEG registration2–4 weeks

Many of these stages run in parallel — the DNO application proceeds simultaneously with equipment procurement. For G98-eligible systems, the total timeline from survey to commissioning can be as short as 6–8 weeks. For G99 systems, 4–6 months is typical.

For more detail on the technical stages, see our installation process guide.

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