Question 1

Do I need planning permission?

Accepted Answer

For most commercial rooftop solar, no, installations on commercial buildings generally fall under permitted development. Listed buildings, conservation areas and very large ground-mount systems may require an application. The installer you appoint confirms the position for your site and handles any application.

Question 2

Is my roof suitable for solar?

Accepted Answer

Most flat and pitched commercial roofs work well. Key factors are roof condition, structural capacity, orientation, shading and available space. Our free assessment gives you an indicative view, and the installer's site survey confirms it before anything is committed.

Question 3

What maintenance is required?

Accepted Answer

Solar panels have no moving parts and need minimal maintenance. An annual inspection plus inverter checks is the usual recommendation. Installers in our network typically include remote monitoring, and what is covered is set out in the proposal you receive.

Question 4

What warranties are provided?

Accepted Answer

NRG Solar is a brokerage and does not provide warranties itself. Panels typically carry a 25 year performance warranty from the manufacturer and inverters commonly 10 to 15 years. Workmanship warranties come from the installer, and the terms are stated in their proposal.

Question 5

Can I sell excess electricity back to the grid?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) means larger licensed suppliers must offer a tariff for surplus power exported to the grid. Rates vary widely between suppliers, and your installer arranges the export MPAN and metering as part of the connection.

Question 6

How does solar affect my business rates?

Accepted Answer

Most rooftop solar installations on commercial premises are currently exempt from business rates uplift in England and Wales (until at least 2035 under current legislation). We'll confirm the position for your specific site.

Question 7

Why does MCS certification matter?

Accepted Answer

MCS is a small-scale scheme. Certification of the installation applies to systems up to 50kW, and it is what makes a system eligible for the Smart Export Guarantee, so it matters on smaller arrays and on the export route. The certification itself is held by the installer company, and it says something useful about how they work. On a several hundred kWp commercial array the credentials that carry the weight are electrical competence under NICEIC, G99 grid connection experience, health and safety accreditation and insurance cover, and those are what we check.

Question 8

How long does installation take?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the size of the array, the roof and the grid connection. Design and procurement run first, then the site works, and the connection is scheduled around your operation. The installer sets out the programme in their proposal, and larger arrays take proportionately longer on site.

Question 9

What happens if a panel fails?

Accepted Answer

Modern commercial systems include remote monitoring that flags any underperformance. If a panel fails within warranty, your installer will replace it under the terms of the manufacturer and workmanship warranties supplied with your system.

FAQs.

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