This solar and battery planning checklist helps UK households prepare for a professionally installed rooftop solar photovoltaic system, home battery or combined installation. Use it to define your goals, record electricity use, compare quotations and check what must happen before, during and after installation.
This resource covers fixed, professionally installed systems. It does not cover portable power stations, plug-in solar products or do-it-yourself electrical work. Solar panels, batteries, inverters and backup equipment should be designed, installed and commissioned by competent professionals.
Before requesting quotations, measure your household electricity use. If power-cut resilience is one of your goals, also read the guide to backup power for a UK home. Backup operation must be included in the system design because an ordinary grid-connected solar installation normally shuts down when the grid fails.
Solar and battery planning checklist: record the project
| Planning detail | Your information |
|---|---|
| Main goal | ________________________________ |
| Property type and ownership | ________________________________ |
| Proposed panel location | ________________________________ |
| Annual grid electricity use | ________________ kWh |
| Typical daytime electricity use | ________________ kWh |
| Existing solar generation | ________________ kWh per year |
| Planned electric vehicle, heat pump or other major load | ________________________________ |
| Is backup power required? | Yes / No / Unsure |
| Maximum project budget | £________________ |
| Target installation date | ________________________________ |
| Permission needed from another owner, freeholder or landlord | ________________________________ |
1. Define what the system needs to achieve
- ☐ Rank your main goals: reducing electricity imports, using more solar at home, earning export income, shifting use to a cheaper tariff, providing backup power or supporting future electrical loads.
- ☐ Collect at least 12 months of electricity bills or supplier data where available.
- ☐ Record annual electricity use in kWh, not only the amount paid.
- ☐ Use half-hourly smart-meter data, an in-home monitor or plug-in monitoring to identify when electricity is used.
- ☐ If solar is already installed, distinguish household consumption from electricity imported from the grid.
- ☐ Record seasonal differences, including electric heating, cooling, garden equipment and holiday periods.
- ☐ Include expected changes such as an electric vehicle, heat pump, electric shower, induction cooker or additional occupants.
- ☐ Decide whether the immediate project is solar only, battery only or a combined system.
- ☐ If installing solar without a battery, ask how the design could accommodate battery storage later.
- ☐ If backup power is required, list the circuits or appliances that genuinely need to operate during an outage.
Essential loads for possible backup
| Load | Running watts | Starting surge | Hours required | Essential? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fridge or freezer | ________ W | ________ W | ________ | Yes / No |
| Lighting | ________ W | ________ W | ________ | Yes / No |
| Broadband or communications | ________ W | ________ W | ________ | Yes / No |
| Medical or care equipment | ________ W | ________ W | ________ | Yes / No |
| Heating controls or circulation pump | ________ W | ________ W | ________ | Yes / No |
| Other | ________ W | ________ W | ________ | Yes / No |
2. Check the property, roof and equipment locations
- ☐ Confirm who owns the roof, walls, meter position and proposed equipment locations.
- ☐ Obtain any required consent from a landlord, freeholder, factor, managing agent or other owner.
- ☐ Check whether the property is listed, in a conservation area or subject to another local planning restriction.
- ☐ Ask the local planning authority whether permission or prior approval is required rather than relying on a general assumption.
- ☐ Record the roof orientation, pitch and approximate usable area.
- ☐ Identify chimneys, vents, roof windows, aerials and other obstructions.
- ☐ Assess shading from buildings, trees and roof features at different times of day and during different seasons.
- ☐ Consider whether nearby trees or planned development could change shading later.
- ☐ Check the age, condition and remaining life of the roof covering before installing panels over it.
- ☐ Complete necessary roof repairs first and check whether the work could affect an existing roof warranty.
- ☐ Ask who will assess the roof structure, wind loading and fixing method.
- ☐ Request a structural engineer’s assessment where the roof is unusual, its condition is uncertain or the competent assessor recommends one.
- ☐ Confirm how roof penetrations, fixings and cable entries will remain weather-tight.
- ☐ Record safe access requirements, scaffolding arrangements and any shared access restrictions.
- ☐ Identify practical cable routes between the panels, inverter, battery, consumer unit and meter.
- ☐ Check whether the meter position, consumer unit or existing earthing arrangement requires additional work.
Battery and inverter location
- ☐ Ask the installer to justify the proposed battery and inverter locations.
- ☐ Make sure the equipment will not obstruct a doorway, corridor, stairway or escape route.
- ☐ Consider fire safety, ventilation, impact protection, moisture, flood risk and the manufacturer’s permitted temperature range.
- ☐ Check that the wall, floor or mounting structure can support the equipment.
- ☐ Leave the clearances required by the manufacturer and sufficient access for inspection, maintenance and replacement.
- ☐ Confirm whether the location requires fire detection, physical protection or other measures under the proposed design.
- ☐ Ask how noise from cooling fans, relays or other components could affect bedrooms, neighbours or shared spaces.
- ☐ Do not place equipment in a loft or other difficult location without confirming safe access, temperature limits, structural support and fire considerations.
3. Record each proposed system design
Ask each installer to provide the following information in writing. Installed solar capacity, annual generation, battery capacity and inverter output are different measurements and should not be treated as interchangeable.
| Design detail | Proposed specification |
|---|---|
| Solar array capacity | ________________ kWp DC |
| Panel number, manufacturer and model | ________________________________ |
| Rated output per panel | ________________ W |
| Panel orientation and pitch | ________________________________ |
| Estimated annual generation | ________________ kWh |
| Shading assumption or assessment | ________________________________ |
| Inverter manufacturer and model | ________________________________ |
| Inverter continuous AC output | ________________ kW |
| Proposed export limit | ________________ kW |
| Battery manufacturer and model | ________________________________ |
| Nominal battery capacity | ________________ kWh |
| Usable battery capacity | ________________ kWh |
| Continuous charge and discharge power | ________________ kW |
| Peak battery output and permitted duration | ________________________________ |
| Minimum reserve setting | ________________% |
| Backup or island operation included | Yes / No |
| Circuits supplied during an outage | ________________________________ |
| Can solar recharge the battery during an outage? | Yes / No / Conditional |
| Monitoring method | ________________________________ |
| Panel, inverter, battery and workmanship warranties | ________________________________ |
4. Check the generation estimate and battery plan
- ☐ Request a site-specific solar generation estimate rather than relying on the panel rating alone.
- ☐ Check that the estimate reflects the roof orientation, pitch, local irradiance, shading and proposed equipment.
- ☐ Ask for expected monthly generation as well as an annual total.
- ☐ Confirm whether predicted savings assume that electricity use will be moved into sunny periods.
- ☐ Check the assumed import tariff, export rate, self-consumption percentage and future price changes.
- ☐ Ask whether inverter losses, battery losses and expected equipment degradation are included.
- ☐ Request separate estimates for solar without a battery and solar with the proposed battery.
- ☐ Compare battery usable capacity with the amount of electricity that could realistically be shifted between charging and use.
- ☐ Compare battery power output with the appliances that may operate at the same time.
- ☐ Confirm whether the system can charge from the grid and whether this is compatible with the intended tariff and warranty.
- ☐ Check the battery’s permitted depth of discharge, reserve setting, expected cycle life and warranty limits.
- ☐ Record any warranty limit based on years, cycles, energy throughput or remaining capacity.
- ☐ Ask how very hot or cold conditions affect charging, discharging and equipment life.
- ☐ Do not assume a larger battery automatically produces better savings or longer practical backup.
If backup power is part of the design
- ☐ Confirm explicitly that the quotation includes backup or island operation.
- ☐ Identify whether the whole property or only selected essential circuits will be supplied.
- ☐ Check the maximum continuous output, short-duration peak output and switching behaviour.
- ☐ Confirm whether high-power appliances will be disconnected or excluded during backup operation.
- ☐ Ask what happens if the battery is empty when the power cut begins.
- ☐ Confirm whether the panels can continue generating and recharge the battery while the grid is unavailable.
- ☐ Ask whether backup starts automatically and whether clocks, broadband equipment or computers may still restart.
- ☐ Confirm the earthing, isolation, changeover and protection arrangements with the installer.
- ☐ Ask how the system should be tested and how often the manufacturer or installer recommends a test.
- ☐ Treat estimated runtime as a planning figure because load, temperature, battery condition and conversion losses affect the result.
5. Confirm permissions, grid connection and metering
- ☐ Ask the installer to identify the relevant Distribution Network Operator in Great Britain or NIE Networks in Northern Ireland.
- ☐ Confirm whether the installer must notify the network after connection or obtain approval before installation.
- ☐ Record whether the proposed system is being handled under G98, G99, G100 or another applicable network process.
- ☐ Do not allow work that requires advance network approval to proceed until the installer confirms that approval has been received.
- ☐ Ask whether an export limitation scheme is required and record the approved export limit.
- ☐ Confirm who will submit the network application or notification and when you will receive a copy.
- ☐ Check the building-control, building-standards or building-warrant requirements applicable in your UK nation.
- ☐ Obtain planning, listed-building, conservation-area and property-owner permissions where required.
- ☐ Check whether the electricity meter can record export and whether a meter change is needed.
- ☐ In Great Britain, compare Smart Export Guarantee terms and ask what installation evidence the chosen licensee requires.
- ☐ In Northern Ireland, check current export-payment and metering arrangements with the relevant electricity supplier and network operator.
- ☐ If altering an existing solar installation, check how the work could affect existing export payments, Feed-in Tariff records, warranties and network approvals before agreeing to changes.
6. Compare installer quotations consistently
Obtain at least three quotations where practical. Give each installer the same electricity-use information and ask them to quote against the same priorities.
| Comparison point | Quote A | Quote B | Quote C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total price including VAT | £________ | £________ | £________ |
| Scaffolding included | ________ | ________ | ________ |
| Solar capacity | ________ kWp | ________ kWp | ________ kWp |
| Estimated annual generation | ________ kWh | ________ kWh | ________ kWh |
| Usable battery capacity | ________ kWh | ________ kWh | ________ kWh |
| Continuous battery output | ________ kW | ________ kW | ________ kW |
| Backup operation included | ________ | ________ | ________ |
| DNO or network work included | ________ | ________ | ________ |
| Estimated annual import saving | £________ | £________ | £________ |
| Estimated annual export income | £________ | £________ | £________ |
| Workmanship warranty | ________ | ________ | ________ |
| Deposit and payment stages | ________ | ________ | ________ |
| Important exclusions | ________ | ________ | ________ |
- ☐ Check that each quotation names the exact panel, inverter, battery, mounting and monitoring equipment.
- ☐ Verify the installer’s current MCS certification for the technologies being installed.
- ☐ Ask who will complete the roof assessment, electrical work, commissioning and network paperwork.
- ☐ Confirm whether any part of the work will be subcontracted and who remains responsible for it.
- ☐ Check that scaffolding, access equipment, roof repairs, consumer-unit work, meter work and network charges are either included or clearly excluded.
- ☐ Compare the assumptions behind savings and payback figures, not only the final result.
- ☐ Be cautious if a quotation guarantees a particular bill reduction without examining consumption patterns and tariff details.
- ☐ Read deposit, cancellation, finance, warranty and dispute-resolution terms before signing.
- ☐ Confirm how long the quotation, equipment allocation and estimated installation date remain valid.
- ☐ Keep sales claims, design changes and promised features in writing.
7. Complete these checks before installation
- ☐ Obtain the final system design, panel layout and equipment schedule.
- ☐ Agree the battery, inverter, isolation-switch and cable locations.
- ☐ Confirm that required planning, owner, building and network permissions are in place.
- ☐ Complete necessary roof repairs before scaffolding and panel installation begin.
- ☐ Confirm access arrangements, working hours, parking and scaffolding restrictions.
- ☐ Ask whether electricity will be interrupted and prepare household members for the planned outage.
- ☐ Tell the installer about medical equipment, telecare, server equipment or other loads that must not be disconnected without preparation.
- ☐ Photograph the roof, meter area, consumer unit and agreed equipment locations before work begins.
- ☐ Move possessions away from work areas without blocking exits or communal routes.
- ☐ Confirm who will make good walls, ceilings, roof coverings or decorative finishes affected by the installation.
- ☐ Record the installer’s site contact and the person authorised to approve unexpected changes.
- ☐ Do not accept a significant design substitution without receiving the revised specification, performance estimate and price in writing.
8. Commissioning and handover checklist
Do not treat the installation as complete until the system has been commissioned, demonstrated and documented. Keep electronic copies of important documents as well as a paper record that can be found during an outage.
- ☐ Ask the installer to demonstrate normal solar generation, grid import, grid export, battery charging and battery discharge.
- ☐ Learn the location and purpose of each isolator, but do not open equipment or remove covers.
- ☐ Ask what warnings, alarms and status lights mean and who to contact when a fault appears.
- ☐ Confirm that system labels and shutdown information are complete and legible.
- ☐ Take ownership of the monitoring account and verify that you can sign in without using the installer’s personal credentials.
- ☐ Record who owns the monitoring data and what happens if the monitoring provider changes or closes.
- ☐ If backup is included, ask the installer to demonstrate it under controlled test conditions.
- ☐ During the backup demonstration, check which circuits remain live and which high-power appliances are unavailable.
- ☐ Confirm whether the system returns to normal operation automatically when grid power returns.
- ☐ Record the initial battery reserve, charging schedule and tariff settings.
- ☐ Receive the final design, equipment schedule, circuit information and commissioning results.
- ☐ Receive the MCS certificate where the installation is within the MCS scheme.
- ☐ Receive the relevant electrical installation certificate and test documentation.
- ☐ Receive copies of the DNO or network application, approval and completion notification.
- ☐ Receive any structural assessment, roof report, planning decision or building-compliance documentation.
- ☐ Receive product manuals, datasheets, serial numbers and warranty-registration information.
- ☐ Receive the solar generation estimate and the assumptions used to produce it.
- ☐ Receive written workmanship, panel, inverter and battery warranty terms.
- ☐ Record maintenance requirements and the installer’s fault-reporting contact.
- ☐ In Great Britain, complete any separate Smart Export Guarantee application after the required installation and export-meter evidence is available.
Handover document record
| Document or record | Received | Stored at |
|---|---|---|
| Final design and panel layout | Yes / No | ________________ |
| MCS certificate | Yes / No / N/A | ________________ |
| Electrical certificate and test results | Yes / No | ________________ |
| DNO or network documents | Yes / No | ________________ |
| Building or planning documents | Yes / No / N/A | ________________ |
| Structural or roof assessment | Yes / No / N/A | ________________ |
| Equipment manuals and datasheets | Yes / No | ________________ |
| Product and workmanship warranties | Yes / No | ________________ |
| Commissioning and backup test results | Yes / No / N/A | ________________ |
| Installer and emergency contact details | Yes / No | ________________ |
9. Check performance after installation
- ☐ Check the monitoring system regularly during the first month so installation or configuration problems can be reported promptly.
- ☐ Confirm that solar generation, household use, grid import, grid export and battery flows appear logical.
- ☐ Compare performance over weeks and months rather than judging the system from a single cloudy or sunny day.
- ☐ Check that tariff schedules, battery reserve levels and grid-charging settings match the plan.
- ☐ Confirm that export payments are being recorded correctly after the export account is active.
- ☐ Investigate repeated warnings, unexplained shutdowns or a persistent difference between expected and recorded performance.
- ☐ Keep ventilation openings and required equipment clearances unobstructed.
- ☐ Inspect panels visually from ground level after severe weather. Do not climb onto the roof.
- ☐ Arrange professional inspection if panels, cables, roof coverings or mounting components appear damaged.
- ☐ Test backup operation only in the manner and at the interval specified by the installer or manufacturer.
- ☐ Review settings after changing tariff, installing an electric vehicle or heat pump, or making another major change to electricity use.
- ☐ Keep monitoring access, warranty records and installer contact details available to future owners.
Official solar and battery planning resources
- Energy Saving Trust rooftop solar installation guide explains roof assessment, shading, installer selection, grid registration and the typical installation process.
- Energy Saving Trust battery storage guidance explains battery capacity, operating principles, installation considerations and questions to ask an installer.
- MCS Solar PV Standard MIS 3002 sets technical requirements for the design, installation, commissioning and handover of MCS solar PV systems.
- MCS Battery Installation Standard MIS 3012 covers battery design, location, fire and electrical safety, grid interaction, commissioning and handover.
- GOV.UK energy-device registration guidance explains DNO registration responsibilities and the G98, G99 and G100 processes in Great Britain.
- Ofgem Smart Export Guarantee guidance explains eligibility and the process for receiving export payments in Great Britain.
- UK Government solar guidance and UK Government battery guidance provide an overview of suitability, planning, installation and network registration.
