Grid Connection Services
Grid connection is where many farm solar projects stall — and where specialist agricultural knowledge makes the critical difference. Rural electrical infrastructure was designed decades ago for importing electricity, not exporting it. Connecting a 50-200kW solar system to a rural three-phase supply requires careful engineering, proper DNO (Distribution Network Operator) applications, and often network reinforcement negotiations.
Every solar installation over 16A per phase (approximately 3.68kW on single phase, 11kW on three phase) requires a G99 application to the local DNO. For agricultural installations, this typically means liaising with UKPN, National Grid Electricity Distribution (formerly WPD), SSEN, SP Energy Networks, or Northern Powergrid. Each DNO has different application processes, timescales, and technical requirements. Our team has established working relationships with all UK DNOs and manages the entire application process.
Rural substations frequently have limited export capacity. When a network study reveals export constraints, we negotiate export limitation agreements on your behalf — allowing your system to generate and self-consume at full capacity while limiting exports to the agreed level. For farms with high self-consumption (dairy, poultry, processing), export limitation rarely affects savings because most electricity is used on-site.
Three-phase supply upgrades are common on larger farm installations. Many older farmsteads have single-phase supplies inadequate for 50kW+ solar systems. We coordinate supply upgrades with the DNO, managing costs and timescales to avoid project delays. For very remote farms, we assess whether the grid connection cost makes on-site storage with limited export more economically viable.
Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) registration is handled as part of our service. MCS certification — required for SEG eligibility — is included with every installation. We advise on the best SEG tariff based on your export profile and system size, with current rates ranging from 4-15p per kWh depending on provider and tariff structure.