One of the first technical checks on any commercial solar project is grid capacity.
Connecting a PV system requires approval from the local network operator. They need to assess whether there is capacity to accommodate export from the site.
Why it can catch projects out
This is not always straightforward, and it can influence timelines significantly if it is not addressed early. Application processes take time. Constrained parts of the network take longer. And a system designed on the assumption of unrestricted export, then granted a limited connection, is a system that no longer matches its own business case.
The good news is that there is usually a way forward. It just takes planning.
Designing around known constraints
Early engagement allows systems to be designed around known constraints rather than discovering them partway through a project. Where export is limited, options include export limitation, sizing the array to self-consumption rather than roof area, or adding storage to shift generation into the site's own demand.
All of those are reasonable engineering answers. All of them are much cheaper to adopt at design stage than after order.
We handle DNO applications as part of the service, and we start them early for exactly this reason.
Wondering what your own roof could support? We will model it against your half-hourly data and tell you straight.
Get a free assessment