How to Choose a Farm Solar Installer in the UK: 12 Questions to Ask
By Sarah Mitchell · 30 April 2026
Choosing a solar installer for your farm is not the same as choosing one for your house. Agricultural solar involves higher voltages, structural surveys of farm buildings, planning permission, G99 DNO applications, and systems that need to survive 25 years in a farm environment. A bad choice costs you money and time; a good choice can transform your farm’s energy economics for a generation. Here are the 12 questions every farmer should ask before signing a contract.
1–3: Credentials and track record
1. Are you MCS certified?
MCS certification is the minimum standard for grid-connected solar installation in the UK. Without MCS, your system cannot qualify for the Smart Export Guarantee, and FETF grant applications may be rejected. Ask for the installer’s MCS number and verify it at mcscertified.com.
2. How many agricultural systems have you installed?
Farm solar is a distinct discipline from domestic or commercial solar. You want an installer who has completed 50+ agricultural installations — preferably including your specific farm type (dairy, arable, poultry, etc.). Ask for recent UK farm references you can call.
3. Can you show me a recent project similar to mine?
A credible agricultural solar installer will have documented case studies with real data: pre- and post-installation energy bills, system performance data, and farmer contact details. Vague references and stock photos are warning signs.
4–6: Technical capability
4. Who designs the system — an engineer or a salesperson?
Farm solar systems should be designed by a qualified electrical engineer with agricultural experience. If the “designer” is a sales rep with a sizing spreadsheet, ask who reviews the design and whether it carries a professional indemnity warranty.
5. Do you handle the DNO G99 application yourselves?
G99 applications are technical and time-sensitive. Installers who outsource them or leave them to you are a risk factor for project delays. Ask who in the company handles G99 submissions and how many they have completed.
6. Have you worked with my specific DNO before?
Every DNO has quirks in their application process. An installer with 20+ completed applications to your DNO (UKPN, NGED, Northern Powergrid, ENWL, SSEN, SPEN, NIE) will navigate the process faster and avoid common delays.
7–9: Commercial terms
7. What is included in the warranty?
Farm solar warranties should cover: panels (25 years, minimum 85% performance), inverters (10 years), mounting (25 years corrosion protection), and workmanship (minimum 5 years, ideally 10). Ask specifically what voids the workmanship warranty — some installers exclude agricultural environments or require annual paid maintenance visits.
8. Do you offer ongoing maintenance contracts?
Annual maintenance is required to preserve most commercial warranties and is strongly recommended by insurers. Ask if the installer offers a maintenance contract, what it covers, and what their typical call-out time is if the system faults.
9. Can you support our FETF grant application?
FETF applications require three compliant quotes with specific evidence documentation. An agricultural solar installer who has supported multiple successful FETF applications will know exactly what DEFRA needs and can produce compliant quotes quickly.
10–12: Red flags to watch for
10. Pressure to sign before you receive quotes from others
FETF requires three competitive quotes. Any installer who claims you must sign immediately to “lock in” pricing is either uninformed about grant rules or is deliberately trying to prevent you from comparing. Walk away.
11. No structural survey before design
Agricultural roofs range from structurally sound to borderline unsafe. An installer who provides a fixed quote without a structural survey of the building is either guessing at the roof’s load capacity or planning to cut corners on the installation.
12. No module-level monitoring included
Modern commercial solar systems should include monitoring at string or module level as standard. Installers who quote basic inverter-level monitoring are leaving you blind to faults that can cost thousands of pounds in lost generation before you notice.
Conclusion
A good agricultural solar installer will welcome all 12 of these questions. Credentials should be verifiable, references should be contactable, and the technical capability should be demonstrable from previous projects. The cheapest quote is almost never the best value on a 25-year asset.
Related reading
- Agricultural Solar Installers — Why choose us as your agricultural solar installer.
- FETF Application Guide — How to apply for FETF capital grants.
- Installation Process — Our full installation process from survey to energisation.
- Farm Solar Maintenance — Our planned maintenance service.
- G98 vs G99 Explained — DNO grid connection standards explained.
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