As businesses across Northern Ireland look for ways to reduce their carbon footprint, lower their energy costs, and do their bit to help the environment, solar power is becoming an increasingly popular solution. If you’re a business owner considering solar energy for your commercial property, it’s important to understand the steps involved in the installation process.
In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the stages of installing a solar power system for your commercial property, from when you first contact First Class Solar, right through to the final installation, ensuring you have all the information you need to make an informed decision.
Getting Started with Solar Energy
The first step in your solar journey is reaching out to a trusted solar provider, such as First Class Solar. One of our skilled technicians will ask you some questions about your business so we can understand the business’s specific needs and how solar power can best work for you. We’ll discuss key details about your property, such as the Energy Consumption. This is the key factor that we will be looking at to determine the right system size. Whether your business uses a lot of energy during the day (ideal for solar generation) or operates throughout at night, this will also influence the system design.
We’ll need to know the amount of available roof space or land for solar panels. Orientation and tilt of the roof also play a big role in ensuring your system’s efficiency will be maximised as much as possible. First Class Solar uses industry-leading OpenSolar software to measure your roof and design your system. We will also discuss your budget and potential funding options. Invest NI recently released its Energy Efficiency Capital Grant, helping to support businesses in installing energy-efficient equipment, such as solar panels. This grant could greatly reduce your initial investment (up to 50%! See further below for details).
Surveying the Property
Once we have an understanding of your business requirements, the next step is to perform a site survey. This takes place on site where the solar panels are to be installed and helps to determine whether it is suitable for solar power installation. Our experienced technical team member, alongside other professionals, will do an initial assessment of the roof height, orientation and condition, as well as the electrical infrastructure. They will discuss with you their professional recommendations on where to put the panels to maximise production, as well as any potential concerns regarding the structure (physical or electrical). In collaboration with the business owner, arrangements may then be made for any further assessments deemed to be necessary.
Designing Your Solar System
Once the site survey is fully completed, we’ll create a custom solar system design based on your energy needs, available space, and budget. This is where First Class Solar will build a proposal that makes sense financially and operationally for your business. Based on your energy consumption, we’ll calculate the ideal size of the solar array. This includes how many panels will be needed and whether you need a battery storage system to store excess energy for use at night or during periods of low sunlight. (For example, some businesses that operate 24/7 such as those with large fridge/freezer stores or those who run wireless infrastructure will need electric supply throughout the day and night). We’ll provide you with a full quote, including all the costs associated with the design, materials, and installation. Our goal is to ensure you have a clear understanding of the investment and return on investment (ROI), factoring in potential savings and energy credits, such as the payback you receive from Power NI, from any excess electricity you generate being sold back to the grid.
Applying for the Invest NI Energy Efficiency Capital Grant
To help offset the initial costs of solar installation, your business may be eligible for the Invest NI Energy Efficiency Capital Grant. This grant is available to help businesses in Northern Ireland make energy efficiency improvements, which includes the installation of renewable energy systems like solar power from First Class Solar. We’ll guide you through the application process for the grant, ensuring that all documentation and requirements are met. This grant can cover a significant portion of your investment (up to 50% depending on your business size and other factors), reducing your financial outlay and greatly improving your system’s ROI. You can easily check whether your business is eligible for this grant on the Invest NI website by answering a few simple questions.
Once your grant application is submitted, it will be reviewed by Invest NI. This process can take several weeks, depending on the volume of applications and the complexity of your project. Invest NI will keep you updated on the progress, and First Class Solar will be available to help you with any additional information required.
Applying for NIE Approval
Once the grant application is in progress (or approved), we move on to the next step: applying for NIE (Northern Ireland Electricity) G99 or G100 approval. Both G99 and G100 relate to large-scale projects that require more power than a standard domestic connection, but they do differ, as detailed below.
What is G99?
The G99 standard governs the connection of generating sources (like solar PV systems) to the electrical grid in Northern Ireland. It ensures that the system complies with safety standards and that it won’t cause disruption to the grid. This type of approval allows for export of excess electricity back to the grid.
Due to a huge number of applications, this is currently sitting at around 12 months, or longer in some cases depending on system size and complexity. NIE must review the G99 application to ensure your system meets all required standards.
What is G100?
The key feature of the G100 connection is that it is a zero export supply, meaning no excess electricity can be sent back into the grid. To achieve this, an additional export limiting device is installed to ensure that any surplus power generated does not exceed the agreed limit.
This waiting period for approval is currently around 3 months from the date that all required documentation is successfully received by NIE.
Should I choose the G99 or G100 application?
Your First Class Solar technical team member will go through both options with you in detail, but often we find it comes down to the following:
- G100: Ideal for businesses that will use all of their generated power during daylight hours, meaning there will be minimal power leftover to export to the grid.
- G99: Works for businesses that may want to export excess power or those that have different energy usage patterns such as high night-time usage.
Application Submission
First Class Solar handles the submission of the G99/G100 application on your behalf, which includes providing detailed technical specifications of your solar installation, including the inverter type, system size, and grid connection details.
NIE will review your G99/G100 application to ensure your system meets all required standards. In some cases, NIE may request further documentation or modifications to the design before granting approval.
Waiting for Approval
At this stage, there’s usually a waiting period while the various approvals are processed, including the Invest NI grant and NIE G99/G100 approval. While this can take some time, it’s essential to ensure that your system meets local regulations and safety standards.
During the waiting period, we’ll keep you informed about the status of your applications and approvals, so you’re always in the loop.
Installation
Once all the approvals have been granted and everything is in place, we’re ready to begin the installation process. Our team will schedule a date for the installation, and here’s what you can expect:
- Site Preparation: Our installation team will prepare the site by securing the solar panels, mounting hardware, and electrical equipment. This may involve roof-mounted or ground-mounted installations, depending on the design.
- Panel Installation: The panels are mounted securely on your roof or on a ground-mounted structure. We use high-quality materials and follow all best practices to ensure that the system is durable, efficient, and safe.
- Electrical Wiring & Inverter Setup: Our certified solar electricians will connect the panels to the inverter, which converts DC power generated by the panels into usable AC power for your business. The system will then be connected to the grid (if applicable) and tested to ensure everything is functioning correctly.
- Commissioning & Testing: Once the system is installed, we conduct a final inspection and testing phase. We’ll verify that the system is operating at optimal efficiency, and make sure the connection to the grid is successful.
- Handover & Training: After installation, we provide a detailed handover of the system, including training for you and your staff on how to monitor and maintain the system. You’ll also receive all necessary documentation, warranties, and guides for future reference.
The Benefits of Solar Power for Your Business
With First Class Solar, your business can enjoy the long-term benefits of solar energy. Installing a solar power system not only reduces your energy bills but also helps your business become more environmentally responsible and future-proof. With government incentives like the Invest NI Energy Efficiency Capital Grant, you can reduce upfront costs, making solar a smart investment for your commercial property.If you’re ready to get started or have any questions, contact First Class Solar today to learn more about how solar power can work for your business.
