In the UK, an increasing number of businesses are looking to make the transition to renewable energy sources. In fact, in 2019, a report revealed that one in three businesses were using solar PV to generate their own energy.
The reality is that this figure will only continue to rise, as companies across the UK seek to decarbonise operations, reduce their carbon footprint, and lower the cost of their energy bills.
But if you type into the search engines, “solar panels for my business”, you’ll find lots of information about the panels themselves, but not so much about the application process to get your installation approved.
From dealing with District Network Operators (DNOs) to incurring local infrastructure costs, there are many hurdles you could face – as well as lots of jargon to get your head around – if you’re dealing directly with the Grid on your solar energy generation project.
At Shawton Energy, we understand that you want to focus on running your business – reaping the environmental, financial, and operational benefits of commercial solar panels, without the added bureaucratic headache.
Commercial Solar Energy Solutions and G99 Paperwork
Firstly, when looking to install commercial solar PV panels in your business, you need to submit a G99 application to your Distribution Network Operator (DNO) to obtain approval.
This Engineering Regulation is what is needed for systems exceeding 3.65kW per phase.
The form requires details about the proposed system, export requirements, and other data relating to the panels.
As a rule of thumb, the larger the installation, the more complex the connection requirements – and the documentation.
The G99 application process can also take up to three months, but with a dedicated partner like Shawton Energy acting on your behalf, you don’t have to worry about getting your head around lengthy technical discussions or chasing the DNO up, as we would handle this whole process for you.
And if there could also be costs incurred to reinforce local infrastructure
Having been in the industry for over 20 years – and over 100 years of industry experience between the team – we speak to DNOs on a daily basis and have an in-depth understanding of their concerns on a specific project.
There’s a chance that your solar PV application could get rejected, or there may be a long wait for grid connection.
However, we can anticipate their questions and have the answers ready, as well as having the learned experience to come up with alternative solutions to ensure that your project can go ahead as quickly and trouble-free as possible.
By having the right commercial solar panel provider in place, they can take responsibility for the project and manage it on your behalf – from funding and EPC wrap through to operation and maintenance.
If you’re looking for ways to reduce emissions and boost your business’s bottom line, or just have some more questions about G99 applications, our team of solar experts are always on hand to help. You can either email hello@shawtonenergy.co.uk, call +44 (0) 1925 794 874 or contact us via our online form.