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 — grant applications and grid connection notifications — 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 initial contact — by phone, email, or our online enquiry form. Within 2–5 working days, one of our agricultural solar specialists will contact you to discuss your farm’s energy profile, building suitability, and approximate system size. We’ll review any available meter data or energy bills you can share, and arrange a site visit if appropriate.

For most farms, we can provide a preliminary assessment and indicative quote within 1–2 weeks of first contact. This will include an estimated system size, projected generation, payback period, and FETF grant eligibility — 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. Our survey team visits your farm to assess building condition, roof structure, shading analysis, electrical infrastructure, and grid connection capacity. We collect half-hourly meter data from your electricity meter (if available) to model self-consumption accurately.

Following the survey, our design team 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: FETF Grant Application (if applicable)

If you are applying for FETF (Farming Equipment and Technology Fund) grant support, 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.

FETF applications open in competitive rounds — typically twice per year. Applications are assessed on a first-come-first-served or competitive basis depending on the round. We prepare your FETF application as part of our service, ensuring it meets all technical requirements and includes the supporting documentation needed for approval. Our grant approval rate is over 90%.

FETF determination typically takes 4–8 weeks from application submission. We submit as early in the window as possible to maximise the chances of funding.

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). For systems under 50kW exporting to a single-phase or three-phase supply, the G98 process (simple notification) allows connection within 28 days. For 50kW–1MW systems, the G99 application process requires a technical assessment that typically takes 8–12 weeks.

We submit the DNO application as part of our standard service, managing all technical correspondence with UKPN, SSEN, WPD, SP Energy, or NIE Networks as appropriate for your location.

Week 8–12: Equipment Procurement

Once FETF funding is confirmed and the DNO application is progressing, we order 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.

We maintain relationships with multiple panel and inverter manufacturers and will advise on availability at the time of ordering. In some cases, we can start installation with panels already in our regional distribution stock.

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. Our directly-employed installation teams work efficiently to minimise disruption to farm operations — we don’t subcontract, which means consistent quality and communication throughout.

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. We 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. We 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, we register your system with an SEG (Smart Export Guarantee) licensed electricity supplier — typically within 2 weeks. 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 FETF grant application and approval4–8 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 — FETF and DNO applications proceed simultaneously with equipment procurement. For farms not applying for FETF grants and with G98-eligible systems, the total timeline from survey to commissioning can be as short as 6–8 weeks. For FETF-funded G99 systems, 4–6 months is typical.

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

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