Thinking about getting solar panels installed in Northern Ireland at your home or business? At First Class Solar, we aim to make the process of switching to solar energy as straightforward as possible. From your initial enquiry to installation day and aftercare, our team will guide you through every stage to help you find the right solar PV system for your property.
We install solar PV systems across Northern Ireland, providing tailored solutions to suit your energy usage, property and future plans. Whether you’re considering solar panels alone or exploring options such as battery storage or an EV charger, here’s what you can expect when working with First Class Solar.
1. Get in Touch with First Class Solar
The first step towards solar panel installation is to contact our team. You can get in touch through our website, by phone or by email to discuss your requirements and find out more about the solar PV systems we offer.
First Class Solar covers the whole of Northern Ireland from Belfast to Derry/Londonderry, Portadown, Antrim and beyond, and our team are always available to help you explore your options.
Once we receive your enquiry, we’ll begin gathering the information needed to recommend a solar PV system that suits your property and energy needs.
2. Discuss Your Solar PV Requirements
Following your initial enquiry, one of our technical team members will contact you to discuss your requirements. Your dedicated First Class Solar representative will ask a few questions to help us understand your property, electricity usage and expectations.
This may include information about:
- Your roof type and property layout, including number of storey’s
- Your current electricity bills and energy consumption
- The type and size of solar PV system you’re considering
- Whether you’re interested in adding battery storage
- Whether you would like an EV charger installed
- When you typically use the most electricity, such as during the day or in the evening
Understanding these details helps our team design a solar PV system around your circumstances, rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.
For example, if you use more electricity in the evenings, battery storage may be worth considering as part of your solar system design. Your First Class Solar representative can discuss the available options and help you understand what may work best for your household or business.
3. Arrange a Site Survey
If you would like an in-person assessment of your property, your First Class Solar representative can arrange a site visit at a convenient time no matter where you are in Northern Ireland.
We’ll travel to you and during the visit, we can discuss important practical considerations for your solar panel installation, including potential locations for your inverter and battery, cable routes and other equipment requirements.
A site survey also gives you the opportunity to ask questions and discuss how the proposed system will work in your home or business.
Taking the time to consider these details helps ensure the proposed installation is planned around your property and requirements.
4. Review Your Solar Installation Proposal
Following discussions with our team and site visit, you can contact your First Class Solar representative if you have further questions or would like to explore alternative system designs.
We understand that choosing a solar PV system is an important decision. You should feel comfortable with the proposed design and understand the equipment being recommended before proceeding.
Once you’re happy with your system design and ready to move forward, you can accept the proposal and sign the contract.
5. Pay Your Deposit and Arrange Installation
Once you have accepted your proposal, our office team will be notified and will contact you with a welcome email and a deposit invoice.
For most installations (G98 and G99/Fast Track), a 25% deposit invoice is issued at this stage. However, systems requiring full G99/G100 approval follow a different process, as explained below.
The next steps depend on the type of solar PV system being installed and whether approval from Northern Ireland Electricity Networks (NIE Networks) is required.
Understanding G98 and G99 solar installations
Solar PV installations in Northern Ireland may fall under different grid connection requirements, depending on the system’s inverter capacity and configuration.
G98 installations
G98 applies to smaller, compliant generating systems with an inverter capacity of up to 3.68kW per phase. These installations can typically proceed under the applicable fit-and-inform process, without prior approval from NIE, provided the relevant requirements are met.
If you accept and sign for a G98-compliant system, our office will reach out with a welcome, 25% deposit invoice and a proposed installation date.
Larger or otherwise qualifying systems may require G99 approval from NIE Networks before installation or connection. The application process and timescales depend on the requirements of the proposed system and the network operator.
For installations requiring G99 approval, First Class Solar submits the relevant application once the required deposit payment has been received. The installation date can then be arranged in line with the applicable approval process.
G99/Fast Tracks: At the time of writing, our experience is that G99 Fast Track applications can take approximately 16 weeks to process, with installation often scheduled around 18 weeks after the proposal is signed to allow for this. These are indicative timescales only and may change depending on NIE Networks’ processing times. You’ll receive a 25% deposit invoice, which includes the application fee and an administration fee in this.
Full G99 or G100: For standard G99 applications, installation dates cannot be confirmed until the necessary approval has been received, as processing times can vary by several months. Once you’ve agreed on a system, you’ll receive an invoice to cover the application fee to NIE, as well as an administration fee.
Your First Class Solar representative will be able to explain the relevant process and expected next steps for your proposed system.
6. Your Solar Panel Installation Day
Once all necessary approvals and arrangements are in place, your installation date can be confirmed.
We’ll contact you the week before your scheduled installation to remind you of the date and provide information about what to expect on the day.
Our installation team typically arrives between 8am and 8.30am. Most domestic solar panel installations are scheduled to be completed in one day, although larger or more complex systems may require additional time. If your installation is expected to take more than one day, we’ll let you know when arranging your installation.
To help the day run smoothly, we recommend being at the property for the first few hours. This gives you the opportunity to confirm equipment locations and cable routes directly with the installation team before work progresses.
You may also need to clear some space in the areas where our team will be working, allowing safe and convenient access to the relevant equipment and installation points.
Our aim is to make your solar installation as straightforward as possible while ensuring the system is fitted according to the agreed design and applicable requirements.
See what some of our past customers have to say about our quick installations:
“Courtney in the office was extremely efficient from start to finish and arranged a very professional and pleasant team to come and install the solar panels, battery and inverter. It was all done in one day without any hassle at all.” – Simon Giles McGowan
“The communication throughout the entire process was brilliant. We were kept fully informed at every stage and any questions we had were answered quickly and clearly. The installation itself was smooth, efficient and tidy, with the team going above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect before they left (both my husband and I were really impressed!).” – Akvile Petke
7. Post-Installation Visit and Solar App Setup
Our support doesn’t end when the installation is complete.
Following your solar panel installation, your First Class Solar representative will get in touch to check how everything went and arrange a follow-up visit.
During this visit, we can help you connect your solar PV system to your Wi-Fi, set up the SolisCloud solar monitoring app and explain how to monitor your system’s performance.
The monitoring app allows you to view available system information, helping you understand how your solar PV system is operating and how much electricity it is generating.
This is also an opportunity to ask any questions you may have about using your new system, including how to monitor generation and make the most of the equipment installed.
8. Receive Your Handover Documents
Once your installation is complete, our office team will email your handover documentation and the final balance invoice.
Your documentation includes the relevant information for your installed equipment, such as product datasheets and manuals. As these documents can amount to hundreds of pages when printed, we provide them electronically for easier access and storage.
We recommend keeping these documents somewhere safe so you can refer to them whenever needed.
9. Ongoing Support and Aftercare
At First Class Solar, we want you to feel supported throughout your solar energy journey, even after your system has been installed.
If you have questions about your equipment, monitoring app or installation documentation, you can contact our office directly or get in touch with your First Class Solar representative.
Whether you need clarification on how your system works or assistance with a post-installation query, our team is available to help.
Start Your Solar Journey with First Class Solar
Getting solar panels installed doesn’t have to be complicated. At First Class Solar, we guide you through each stage, from understanding your electricity usage and designing a suitable system to installation, handover and aftercare.
With coverage across Northern Ireland, we can help you explore solar PV, battery storage and EV charging options tailored to your property and energy requirements.
Ready to find out more about solar panel installation in Northern Ireland? Contact First Class Solar today to discuss your requirements and take the first step towards generating your own electricity.