For homeowners, this means lower electricity bills and more sustainable living from day one.
In most cases, the solar panels are already fully installed and working by the time you move in. They start generating electricity immediately and help power your home from the start.
What is less obvious is that while they are already saving you money, they are not automatically earning you money. If you want to be paid for the electricity you export back to the grid, there are a few important steps and documents you need to be aware of.
What Comes with a New Build Solar Setup
Most new-build homes come with solar panels already installed, but batteries are not usually included as standard.
In our case, we have a Mixergy tank with photovoltaic transfer. Instead of storing electricity in a battery, it uses excess solar energy to heat water. This works particularly well on sunny days and helps reduce how much energy we export while still making good use of the energy we generate.
It is worth understanding what system your home has, as this affects how much electricity you use yourself versus how much gets exported.
Why You Are Not Earning Yet
Even if your solar panels are already working, you will not automatically receive payments for exported electricity.
To get paid, you need to enrol with an energy supplier that offers a Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) tariff. Suppliers such as Octopus Energy and E.ON Next offer export tariffs, and you are free to choose a different provider from your main electricity supplier if you wish.
Before you can enrol, you need to make sure your solar installation has been correctly certified and registered, and that you have the right documentation.
These details are not always clearly explained during the buying process, and not all sales staff are familiar with them.
The Documents You Need
You can usually find most of these in your handover pack. If anything is missing, the sales office or installer is a good place to start.
MCS Certificate
This is the most important document.
It confirms that your solar installation is certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS). Without it, suppliers will not allow you to join an export tariff.
For David Wilson homes, the installer is often Eco2Solar. Their details are typically included in the handover documents.
G98 Notification / Network Approval
For standard domestic solar installations, the installer is responsible for notifying the network operator under the ENA G98 process.
This is not something the homeowner normally has to arrange themselves.
Eco2Solar or the installer should submit the notification confirming the system complies with the required engineering standards. In most cases, this is handled automatically during installation.
If confirmation is missing from your handover documents, the installer should be your first point of contact. It is worth confirming not only that the G98 notification has been submitted, but that it has been acknowledged by GTC. This acknowledgement is what allows the export process to move forward, including the creation of the export MPAN.
For larger or non-standard systems, a G99 application may be required instead, but G98 covers the vast majority of new-build domestic solar installations.
Understanding the Network Operator
One point that often causes confusion is the network terminology.
At Wintringham, GTC operates the local inset electricity network as an Independent Distribution Network Operator (IDNO). The regional Distribution Network Operator (DNO) is UK Power Networks (UKPN), which the GTC network ultimately connects into.
For practical purposes relating to your property connection and export MPAN, GTC is usually still the correct organisation to contact.
Export MPAN
This is one of the most commonly missed pieces of information.
Your export MPAN is separate from your import MPAN, and you need it to enrol on an export tariff.
For homes connected through the GTC inset network, the export MPAN is issued through GTC’s MPAS arrangements.
If it is not included in your handover documents, GTC can usually provide it fairly quickly when requested.
Applying for an Export Tariff
Once you have your MCS certificate and export MPAN, you can enrol with an energy supplier offering a Smart Export Guarantee tariff. You will also need an export-capable smart meter (typically a SMETS2 meter), although most new-build homes will already have one installed.
The supplier will typically ask for:
- Your MCS certificate
- Your export MPAN
- Details of your export-capable smart meter (usually a SMETS2 meter
Once the supplier processes your application, your export payments can begin for any excess electricity sent back to the grid.
There is no separate regulatory approval process for homeowners beyond providing the required information to the supplier.
Things Worth Checking Early
Most delays happen because of missing paperwork rather than technical problems.
It is worth reviewing your handover documents carefully soon after moving in and asking specific questions if anything is unclear.
If documents are missing:
* Contact the installer first for certification or G98 confirmation
* Contact GTC regarding export MPAN details for properties on the inset network
Step by Step Checklist
- [ ] Find your MCS certificate in your handover documents
- [ ] Identify your installer, often Eco2Solar for David Wilson homes
- [ ] Check whether G98 notification confirmation is included
- [ ] Contact the installer if paperwork is missing
- [ ] Request your export MPAN from GTC if you do not already have it
- [ ] Choose a supplier offering a Smart Export Guarantee tariff
- [ ] Enrol using your MCS certificate and export MPAN
- [ ] Wait for the supplier to activate your export payments
Once everything is set up, your solar panels do more than just reduce your bills. They also provide a simple way to earn from electricity your home is already generating.