Extending a DNO approved 8kW system

Somecamel · Apr 5, 2012

I have a customer that is more in love with solar than I am. We originally installed a 3.68kW back in July and have just upgraded her to an 8kW.

Had permission from the DNO for the 8kW but she wants to go bigger. Apparently she is having a competition with one of her friends on who can get the most panels. He has 120.

Anyone have any experience of this? Are we talking solar farm territory with a dedicated feed in?

Help

SolarCity · Apr 6, 2012

Is she on single phase or three phase? If she is on three phase then she can go up to 11kWp without asking for prior permission. If she wants any bigger than 16A then you'll need to go back to the DNO and ask them.

Somecamel · Apr 6, 2012

Single Phase I'm afraid and 8kW was the maximum the DNO would allow

SolarCity · Apr 6, 2012

Did they offer you a price for reinforcement works if you went above this?

We had a potential job where the DNO would only allow 8kWp and then wanted £27k (!) to upgrade the transformer. Needless to say, the job didn't get done.