Warehouse solar installation is a specialised commercial discipline distinct from residential PV. The roof scale (3,000-18,000 sqm typical), structural loading considerations, sprinkler clearance compliance, DNO grid connection at G99 scale, customer audit alignment, and lease/landlord engagement all demand dedicated commercial-installer experience. We work across distribution, fulfilment, cold chain, last-mile, port, and manufacturing sub-sectors, matching each project to MCS-certified commercial installers with the right sub-sector experience.
The 5-stage installation process
Stage 1: Free desk feasibility (1 week). 12 months of half-hourly meter data + roof drawing → PVSyst yield model, 25-year DCF, recommended financing route. Stage 2: Structural and electrical survey (2 days). Engineer site visit to confirm roof condition, structural loading reserve, electrical infrastructure, sprinkler clearances. Stage 3: Permits, DNO, and insurer (4-8 months). G99 grid connection application, planning (where required), insurer pre-design review, lease addendum (where tenant). All workstreams parallel. Stage 4: Install and commission (4-10 weeks). On-site delivery scheduled around your operational windows. Stage 5: Audit pack handover. PVSyst yield model, monthly generation export, embodied carbon LCA, MCS certificate, customer-specific verification certificate.
Equipment specification
Installers should be manufacturer-independent. A sound standard specification: Tier-1 monocrystalline modules (Trina Vertex, JA Solar Deep Blue, LONGi Hi-MO, Jinko Tiger Neo) at 405-560W per panel. Inverters: Solar Edge, Huawei FusionSolar, SMA Sunny Tripower, Fronius Symo (varies by project scale). Mounting systems: K2 Systems, Schletter, Renusol (ballasted) or HellermannTyton MIRO Solar (mechanically fixed). Monitoring platforms: SolarEdge ONE, Huawei FusionSolar Smart PV Management System, plus an independent third-party PV monitoring layer (gives you customer-audit-ready exports independent of any single hardware vendor).
Warranty cover
25-year output warranty (Tier-1 manufacturer minimum). 10-12 year inverter warranty (extendable to 20-25 years on most products). 10-year workmanship warranty — covers installation defects independently of installer business continuity. 10-year structural mounting warranty. Combined warranty pack supplied at handover.
Common questions about solar installation
How long does warehouse solar installation take?
Total project: 9-14 months from first contact to commissioning. Typical breakdown: desk feasibility (1 week), structural survey (2 days), G99 grid connection (6-14 months — usually rate-limiting), permits + lease addendum (4-8 weeks parallel to DNO), install and commission (4-10 weeks). DNO is the longest item.
Will install disrupt our operations?
No. Roof installation happens above operations. Only operational impact is final grid synchronisation (4-8 hours) which the installer schedules for a planned shutdown or weekend. Q4 peak-season installs are delivered at major retailer DCs with zero operational impact.
Do you handle the DNO grid connection?
Yes. The G99 application should be submitted immediately after structural survey to start the clock. The installer manages the entire process — technical study (65 working days), connection offer review, contestable connection works coordination, G99 commissioning. Expect fortnightly progress updates throughout.
What's included in your standard scope?
Modules, inverters, mounting, DC/AC cabling, switchgear, monitoring, MCS certification, structural and electrical survey, DNO G99 application and process management, planning (where required), insurer pre-design review, customer audit pack, 10-year workmanship warranty.