Frequently asked questions

Usually, yes. Most existing solar systems can take a battery, either by fitting a hybrid inverter that manages the panels and the battery together, or by adding an AC-coupled battery alongside your current inverter. The survey confirms which option suits your system and your DNO permission.

Interest-free credit up to £30,000, subject to status. We set out the options alongside your written quote so you can compare paying upfront with spreading the cost.

Call us on 0141 230 0198 or send the quote form. We then arrange a survey of your inverter and solar system, and you receive a written, no-obligation quote. Nothing is booked until you have read the quote and decided to go ahead.

Use the fault code lookup tool above for an instant first diagnosis. Critical hardware faults (arc faults, insulation faults, IGBT failures) almost always mean replacement. Communication errors and over-voltage trips are often repairable. If your inverter is 10+ years old, replacement is usually more cost-effective than repair — we give you an honest assessment on site.

A hybrid inverter adds battery management in the same box. At replacement time you're already paying for labour and DNO notification — adding ~£500–£1,000 for a hybrid vs. standard inverter avoids a second full installation (and second DNO notification) when you later add a battery. The cost comparison section shows the numbers.

Our MCS-certified partners fit Tesla Powerwall 3, Duracell Dura5, and Pylontech. These are the three brands we're confident in for Scottish conditions. We'll always tell you our current preferred list at the time of survey.

Yes. In a tenement or flatted building, solar panels are typically on the common roof. You may need the consent of co-owners (through your factor or a majority vote at an owners' meeting) before any roof work can proceed. The inverter itself is usually inside your property and does not need co-owner consent. If your building is in a conservation area or is listed, planning consent or listed building consent may also be required before any external work — we check this at the survey stage and advise you.

Yes, and we factor it in. Scottish housing stock varies widely: granite tenements in Aberdeen, sandstone villas in Edinburgh and Glasgow, harled semi-detached homes across the Central Belt, and crofts in the Highlands and Islands. Roof pitch, orientation, and shading all affect generation. Per MCS MIS 3002, typical yields in central Scotland are around 700–810 kWh per kWp per year — but your actual figure depends on your roof. A site survey gives exact figures for your property.

Scotland is covered by two Distribution Network Operators: SP Energy Networks (SPEN) covers central and southern Scotland (Glasgow, Edinburgh, Stirling, the Borders); Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks (SSEN) covers the north, Highlands, and Islands. All inverter replacements require a G98 (systems up to 3.68 kW per phase) or G99 (larger systems) notification to the relevant DNO. We file this as part of every job. If you're upgrading capacity, we handle the additional approval process. No invoice is raised until paperwork is complete.

No — provided the replacement inverter is the same or lower export capacity than your current DNO permission. We submit the required G98 or G99 notification as part of every job. Your SEG contract with your energy supplier stays active. SEG flat rates currently run roughly 1p to 25p/kWh depending on supplier, with time-of-use peaks higher — check your supplier for current rates (checked October 2026).

Solar panels and batteries are zero-rated for VAT until 31 March 2027 under HMRC's energy-saving materials relief (VAT Notice 708/6). A hybrid inverter can qualify when it is installed together with a battery or solar panels, but a like-for-like inverter swap on its own may not. Ask us about 0% VAT eligibility for your job: we confirm the VAT position in writing on your quote before any work is booked.

Only in certain configurations. SolarEdge systems with power optimizers fitted to each panel must use a SolarEdge inverter — the DC optimizers communicate with the inverter via a proprietary protocol. If your panels have optimizers, we'll replace with a SolarEdge unit. If you have a standard SolarEdge without panel-level optimizers, some third-party alternatives are possible — we assess on site.

In most cases, no. A straightforward like-for-like inverter replacement is not subject to a building warrant in Scotland. If the work involves changes to the electrical installation that go beyond a direct swap — for example, rewiring the consumer unit or adding battery storage with significant structural fixings — a completion certificate under the eBuildingStandards system may be required. Your electrician will advise, and we help with this where needed.