Self install of solar panels?

[Jack Davis]

G98 allows an inverter up to 3.68kW (16 amps). You can apply under G99 for a larger inverter and see what they say. The number of panels is not relevant to the DNO.

[Jamie Daniel]

Welcome to the industry and wishing you many successes. I think you meant to write G99 and not G98 for a 10kW system. If you install the panels alone with no inverter and in a few months you install the inverter and batteries, have you considered the other way round because you’ll be able to get values immediately from the batteries by being on a smart tariff. Having panels on your roof without the inverter won’t give you any benefits until the inverter is installed.

[John Horton]

You can install as many panels as you like, as long as the inverter doesn’t exceed 3.68kW.

I self installed a Solaredge 10kW 3 phase hybrid a couple of years ago with 14.82kWp, but each phase is limited to 3.68kW. (so I’m kinda cheating) through some contacts I’ve had MCS sign off on the system after a full inspection, it went live in may 5th last year and I exported 1300 quid with octopus. If I couldn’t get it signed off I was going to add more batteries and continue to charge our EV from excess production only.

I would go as big as you can with the system, you can go massive, and limit export too. I’d fill your roofs and go as big as you can with the inverter, even if it means going G99.

[John Stone]

Out of curiosity, where did you see the price increase coming and any idea why it is coming?

[Keith Crowe]

all installers will have received this/ similar notifications from their suppliers.

This is one I received a couple of weeks ago.

It’s to do with the Chinese government reducing and removing manufacturing subsidies.

That coupled with materials costs going up and transport costs… One of my suppliers told be that they’re predicting a 20-25% increase on equipment costs over the next 6-12 Months.

[Kevin Hann]

I received an email as bellow,

Market Update

Panel Pricing in Practical Terms – January 2026

You may have seen recent industry coverage about upcoming changes in the global solar supply chain. In short, changes to China’s export tax incentives and increased silver paste prices are already feeding through into manufacturer pricing, and this is beginning to affect panel costs across Europe, including the UK.

What this means in practical terms is that module prices from manufacturers are increasing by around 10–20 percent for panels arriving in the UK before April, with a further increase of around 10 percent expected after April. These rises reflect wider market adjustments rather than short-term disruption.

[Lee Hudson]

Could you afford to install a second hand inverter for cheap so at least you’ll have some generation then install the batteries and bigger inverter later on

[Martin Barker]

20% increase on panels even at retail prices will only add £250. Probably closer to £100 extra for a tradie

[Michael Babbin]

exactly, I’d either wait and get the largest W panels in 12-18 months….or stick a g98 in now for a 2nd hand 3.6 kW string inverter (~£200) and at least get the benefit of some of panels until….when funds allow hook up the rest of the array to a bigger hybrid and storage.

[Oliver Smith]

Also bear in mind that the likelihood of the incumbent gov changing the tax regime is high especially with the no vat batteries

[Nicholas Carey]

You can fit the panels first — G99 isn’t about panel size, it’s about the inverter/export to the grid. Approval only matters when you connect the inverter.

If they won’t allow full export later, they’ll usually just give you an export limit instead, which you set in the inverter under the Energy Networks Association rules.

I’d still apply before buying the inverter though, just to avoid redesigning the system later.