Solar PV and battery storage, MCS-certified.

What's included

• Site survey - roof pitch, orientation, shading (Canterbury has more late-afternoon Cathedral-tower shading than most solar surveyors realise on north-of-city plots), structural loading
• MCS-certified panels sized to your actual usage - not oversized to inflate the ticket. Typical Canterbury 3-bed roof supports a 3.6kWp to 5.5kWp system depending on pitch and orientation.
• Hybrid inverter (Fox ESS, GivEnergy, Solis, SunSynk) with battery-ready DC coupling
• Battery storage sized to overnight usage - usually 5–10kWh for a domestic install. Oversized batteries waste money; undersized batteries waste solar generation.
• Dedicated AC isolator and export meter for Smart Export Guarantee registration
• DNO notification to UK Power Networks - G98 (system up to 3.68kW per phase, post-install notify) or G99 (larger systems, pre-install notify with response time up to 45 working days on domestic)
• MCS certification issued on completion, which is the paperwork you need for Smart Export Guarantee registration with your electricity supplier
• Building Regulations compliance for the electrical side, self-certified under Part P

What honest ROI looks like

Solar salesmen quote ROI assuming you use every kWh you generate at the retail electricity price. The reality is roughly:

• A 4kWp Canterbury system generates around 3,400–3,800 kWh per year on a south-facing 30° pitch, less on east-west arrays
• Without a battery, self-consumption typically 30–40% (you use it when it's generating). Exported 60–70% at the SEG rate (varies 5p–15p depending on tariff)
• With a 6–10kWh battery, self-consumption climbs to 65–80%
• Payback period on a Canterbury 4kWp + 8kWh install, at current tariffs: 7–10 years typically. Longer with cheaper electricity, shorter with expensive electricity

I quote with your actual half-hourly usage data (pulled from your smart meter with your consent, via n3rgy or Octopus data feeds). Without that data, the payback figure is a guess and I'll say so.

Canterbury-specific notes

Listed properties and conservation areas. Solar panels on a listed elevation, or on the roof of any property inside one of Canterbury's 12 conservation areas, are Planning and (for listed) Listed Building Consent territory. Canterbury City Council is generally supportive of solar where the panels are on a rear roof pitch or not visible from a public highway, and more cautious on street-facing pitches. I quote for the planning application timeline as part of the scope on protected properties.

Roof orientation across the city. Canterbury's medieval street pattern means the older stock is often oriented awkwardly for solar. New-build stock at Thanington Park and Sturry is designed with better solar orientation. Chartham and Bridge farmhouses often have larger south-facing barn roofs that make good hosts.

DNO capacity. UK Power Networks in Canterbury has been quicker on G99 approvals in 2025–2026 than earlier - typical response now inside 30 working days rather than the maximum 45. G98 is post-install and needs no lead time.

Frequently asked

Do I need planning permission for solar?

On a standard freehold Canterbury house not in a conservation area or listed, no - solar is permitted development under the GPDO 2015 as long as it does not protrude more than 200mm from the roof surface and is on a rear or non-street-visible slope. Inside a conservation area or on a listed property, planning permission is required, and on a listed property Listed Building Consent is required in addition.

What happens to my Smart Export Guarantee payment?

You register the system with your electricity supplier under the Smart Export Guarantee and they pay you a per-kWh rate for exported generation. Rates vary - Octopus have historically been highest, some suppliers pay a flat 5p or less. The MCS certificate from the install and the DNO notification are both required to register.

Pricing

Solar and battery is quoted per property after a site visit. Panel type, roof pitch, orientation, existing consumer unit, battery size, DNO capacity and any conservation-area or listed-property planning-application scope all move the number, and a real quote reflects the actual system that will be installed. VAT on domestic solar and battery is currently zero-rated to 31 March 2027 under the Energy-Saving Materials scheme; the quote reflects that. Fixed price quoted in advance after property details and scope. No day-rate creep, no surprise extras.