Every farm installation follows the same disciplined process. We do not rush the early stages — most cost overruns and underperforming systems come from skipping the desk feasibility and structural survey. By the time we send a fixed-price proposal, we already know the answer.
Farm solar — quote to commissioning
- 01Day 1–3
Free desk feasibility
You send us a recent electricity bill and ideally half-hourly meter data, plus roof drawings or a Google Earth screenshot. We model expected generation, self-consumption %, and indicative cost band within 3 working days.
- 02Week 2–3
Site survey
Our structural and electrical engineers visit the farm. We measure roofs, test cable runs, photograph supply intake, check three-phase status, identify asbestos. ~3 hours on site.
- 03Week 3–4
Fixed-price proposal
Full design pack: panel layout, inverter spec, structural calcs, grid connection forecast, FETF/AIA modelling, total cost, payback table. Valid 90 days.
- 04Week 4–5
Order acceptance + deposit
15% deposit secures the project and locks in panel pricing. Asbestos survey or DNO budget enquiry triggered.
- 05Week 5–14
DNO application + planning
We submit G99 (or G98 for sub-16A/phase) to your DNO — UKPN, NGED, SSEN, SPEN or Northern Powergrid. Planning if needed (most farm roof installs are permitted development).
- 06Week 5–10
Grant paperwork
FETF application written and submitted on your behalf. We have a 90%+ approval rate on agricultural FETF submissions.
- 07Week 14–22
Installation
On-site 1–6 weeks depending on system size. Typical 50kW barn-roof install: 2 weeks. 200kW multi-building: 4–5 weeks. All directly-employed teams, no subbies.
- 08Week 22–24
Commission + handover
Commissioning tests, DNO sign-off, MCS certificate issue, SEG registration, monitoring dashboard activated, farm-team training session.
What you do vs what we do
Your responsibilities
- • Provide recent electricity bills + meter data
- • Approve roof access for survey
- • Sign proposal + pay 15% deposit
- • Maintain safe site access during install
- • Sign off commissioning paperwork
We handle
- • All structural and electrical surveys
- • DNO grid connection application (G98 or G99)
- • Planning (where required)
- • FETF / SFI / FBG / CARES grant applications
- • Asbestos removal coordination
- • Scaffold, install, commissioning, monitoring
- • MCS certification, SEG registration
- • Annual servicing for 5 years post-install
Working around the farming calendar
We plan installations around your operations. Dairy installs avoid milking-parlour disruption — typically scheduling roof work between morning and afternoon milkings, with electrical isolations under 30 minutes. Arable installs are scheduled around harvest and drilling windows. Poultry installs avoid placement and depopulation weeks. Lambing-shed work is sequenced for September–February only.
What we check during the structural survey
The structural survey is where we earn (or refund) the deposit. Our engineers inspect:
- ✓ Purlin spacing and condition — typically 1.2–1.8m centres on modern portal frames; older barns may need additional purlin runs
- ✓ Rafter load capacity — calculated against panel weight (12–15 kg/m²) plus wind uplift to BS EN 1991-1-4 standard
- ✓ Asbestos cement identification — visual inspection plus optional bulk sample. 18% of UK farm barns still have ACM roofing. Licensed removal scheduled separately.
- ✓ Roof sheet age and condition — fixings, laps, weatherproofing. Older composite panels may need replacement before solar to avoid double cost later.
- ✓ Eaves and ridge access for safe install — scaffold loading points, MEWP access routes, fall-arrest provision
- ✓ Internal weatherproofing — penetration sealing strategy on insulated composite vs single-skin roofing
DNO grid connection deep-dive
Grid connection is where 70% of farm solar timeline slippage happens. Knowing your DNO's quirks matters:
- UKPN (London, East of England, South East) — fastest G99 turnaround in our portfolio (typically 6-10 weeks). Strong online portal.
- NGED (formerly WPD — Midlands, South West, Wales, South Wales) — large agricultural footprint. 8-14 weeks for G99 typically. Capacity constrained around Bridgwater, Hereford, Mid-Wales.
- SSEN (Scotland north of Central Belt, southern England) — variable timelines (8-20 weeks). Islands and remote rural attract higher connection charges.
- SPEN (Manweb area / North Wales / Scotland central belt) — predictable 10-14 weeks. Strong rural three-phase coverage.
- Northern Powergrid (Yorkshire, North East) — 8-12 weeks typical. Good agricultural team.
- NIE Networks (Northern Ireland) — 6-10 weeks for G98, 10-16 for G99. Coordinated with our Belfast partner.
Commissioning checklist — what we sign off before handover
- 1. DC string voltage and polarity tested at each combiner
- 2. Insulation resistance to BS 7671:2018+A2 standard (typically >40 MΩ)
- 3. Inverter performance verified against ramp-up curve under load
- 4. Grid-tie protection (G99) function tested with DNO witness if required
- 5. AC RCD trip times verified (typically <200ms)
- 6. Export limitation device (where fitted) calibration test
- 7. Monitoring dashboard activation + farm-team login test
- 8. Battery state-of-charge calibration cycle (if specified)
- 9. Earthing continuity verified across full DC and AC arrays
- 10. EPC certificate issued (if commercial-rated property)
- 11. MCS certificate uploaded; SEG application submitted
- 12. As-built drawings + O&M manual handed over physically and digitally
- 13. Farm-team training session (typically 60–90 minutes on monitoring + fault response)
- 14. First-quarter performance review scheduled at 90 days post-handover