Renewables - Commercial Solar Survey to Commissioning

Capture the inbound enquiry and record initial site details - building type, approximate roof area, indicative energy consumption from bills. Carry out a desktop feasibility check to confirm viability before committing to a full survey visit.

Conduct the on-site survey using a structured digital form. Capture roof condition, load-bearing capacity, orientation and shading data, and an electrical infrastructure assessment - incoming supply, distribution board condition, and viable cable routes.

Use survey data to produce a fully engineered proposal: system size in kWp, panel count and placement, inverter specification, expected annual output, projected ROI, and indicative DNO approval timeline. Issue with validity date.

Issue the installation contract on quote acceptance. Raise a deposit invoice - typically 20-30% of project value - and link it to the job record. Confirm that the G99 application will be submitted immediately.

Submit the G99 application to the local DNO. Allow 8-12 weeks for approval. Raise purchase orders for panels, inverters, mounting systems, and cabling in parallel, aligning delivery dates with the expected approval and installation window.

Manage the installation phase via the job record. Track labour days, material usage, and any on-site scope changes against the original specification. Record all variations in writing before proceeding with additional work.

Complete commissioning using a digital checklist: string testing, insulation resistance, inverter configuration, output monitoring setup, and G99 commissioning documentation. Generate the MCS certificate and store all test records against the job.

Compile the handover documentation: MCS certificate, G99 confirmation, system design drawings, commissioning records, warranty documents, and monitoring login. Raise the final invoice and reconcile total job costs to confirm margin.

DNO approval takes 8-12 weeks and equipment procurement needs to align with that window - without a central system installers often order panels too early, tying up cash, or too late, delaying the installation date after approval comes through.

Commercial solar proposals involve multiple cost variables - panels, inverters, mounting systems, electrical works, scaffolding - and any missed item in the quote becomes an unrecoverable cost once the project is underway.

MCS certification and G99 documentation require structured test records captured on-site - paper-based processes lead to missing signatures, incomplete data, and certification delays that hold up the final invoice.