Victoria's Blog

DNO suprise decision kills my solar project :(

As mentioned a few weeks back, I had decided to get more solar panels installed on a Northwest facing roof.  The plan was to get 5.4kWp installed which would generate around the same amount of units per year as my 4kWp Southeast facing array. 

As part of the process of getting a new inverter installed, you have to apply to the local Distribution Network Operator (DNO) to make sure they are happy with their network given the extra load the new inverter could generate.  The process takes 8 weeks (the DNO has 8 weeks to respond, so they take the maximum amount allowed!). 

I received a phone call from my solar installer at the end of the 8 weeks and much to my surprise (and that of my installer), the DNO decided the network could not take 5.4kWp and I could only install a maximum of 2kWp.  Unfortunately this has made the project unviable and I’ve had to cancel the project 🙁 

I am still struggling to get my head around the DNOs decision… If the house next door decided to put panels on the southeast facing room, I’d imagine they wouldn’t be restricted to 2kWp! Plus the government’s plan to go net zero by 2050 is going to require a lot more houses to install solar panels.