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beautiful sunset over a solar array

Applications & Permits

An important part of the project planning will be to make sure your installation is permitted through various authorities, such as your local District Network Operator (DNO), planning permissions through your local Council Planning Office and quite possibly, the Environment Agency depending on the scale and nature of your project.

This can be very time consuming and stressful, especially if you are having to dig around for the relevant information.

Part of our service is to deal with the whole permit and application process for you, whether it is dealing with the DNO or local planning offices.

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District Network Operators or DNOs

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DNOs must be informed about any planned connection to their Network for a number of reasons listed below. Any connection above 3.6kW, has to get the permission to connect beforehand, where as a system below 3.6kW, can be reported once the installation has been commissioned, complying to their regulations. Whilst the Network Operators are generally very helpful, they do not take it kindly if you connect anything to their network without informing them and getting the authority to do so. In fact, you  will find that your  generating power source will be shutdown until the go ahead from the DNO has been given. It is always easier to discuss your project with them beforehand rather than dealing with problems afterwards. You may find by larger installations that the power output is more than they will allow, causing unnecessary cost and a whole lot of inconvenience to de-install part of the system as the Network has not got the infra-structure to deal with the generated power.

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Depending on how small or how large defines the application process and what application forms you will need to send to your DNO. 

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   "Just a note, the DNO or Distribution Network Operator is not your existing Energy provider, these are the people who look after the wider network and they determine what and what not can be connected to their network. If you are grid connected, then the cables coming into your house belong to the DNO, the meter belongs to your energy provider and everything from the distribution board with the fuses and breakers is your responsibility".

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Now, if your planned project is completely off-grid, meaning no physical connection to the electricity network, then you are not required to put in an application to the DNO, You are however required to make sure the installation is perfectly safe, preferably carried out by an experienced installer, and that it is not going to burn your place down or injure you or anyone else. Although that sounds like common sense, it is not always the case.

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Planning permission for renewable energy projects.

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For smaller renewable projects, generally there are no planning permissions required. If the solar array is being installed on the house or commercial buildings roof, this will be allowed under "permitted development" providing it does not fall in a Conservation area, a building within a restriction zone or its in an "Area of Outstanding Beauty" (AONBs) where it is nigh on impossible to get planning permission for any kind of renewable energy project.

For a small ground mounted solar array, planning permission will be required if the array has an area of 9 meters or more. Small scale wind turbines in a urban environment would require permits, usually these will not be permitted due to noise pollution.

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Medium-Scale projects with a generating capacity of up to 50 Megawatts require planning permission from the local planning authority. Large Scale projects exceeding 50 MW are considered "nationally significant infrastructure projects and require the development consent from the Secretary of State for Energy.

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Specific Technologies may have specific requirements, For an example, on shore wind turbines require planning permission, except for small domestic turbines that may fall under "permitted development"

A hydro power system will always be required to get planning permissions, whether it is on a domestic scale or a larger community project.

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As always, it is always a good idea to talk to the local planning office if there is any doubt that the project could cause problems down the line. 

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The Environment Agency

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Of course, putting solar panels on your roof has no cause to contact the Environment Agency, although there could be specific locations that could fall under the requirement, for an example, you have bats in the attic.

Generally, if you are planning an installation around water a river, stream or other water bodies, you you must discuss this with the Environment Agency as you may need a flood assessment or other environmental permits. If the project involves diverting water from a river or any other water course, then you will need an abstraction licence and as above, other environmental permits.

Larger Scale projects like wind farms or large solar farms will always involve an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) which could include an Ecology Impact assessment , noise pollution assessment and if in the near of Airports or large transport routes such as Motorways, a glare assessment will be required. I know of projects that have not been permitted due to glare close to a Motorway caused by solar panels.

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As with all things that may impact the nature or other people, it is always a good idea to talk to the relevant departments before starting any serious planning. 

We offer to deal with these discussions on your behalf as part of our service. Please feel free to contact us to discuss your needs or concerns using the below contact form.

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