DNO Application Service

A DNO application is a formal request made to your local Distribution Network Operator to connect a solar or battery system that can export electricity back to the grid. It tells the DNO what inverter capacity you plan to install so they can check whether the local electricity network can safely handle the export without causing voltage issues or overloading infrastructure.

A DNO application is required whenever you install a solar or battery system with an inverter that can export electricity to the grid above the permitted limit of 3.68 kW per phase. This applies even if you do not plan to export or expect to use all the electricity on site, as any grid tied inverter has the potential to export and must be assessed by the DNO before installation.

Think of grid capacity like a cake that has been cut into slices. The local electricity network can only handle a fixed amount of exported power, and each solar or battery system that connects takes a slice of that capacity. The first people to apply get the biggest slices, but as more systems are added, fewer and smaller slices remain. Once the cake is gone, anyone applying later has to accept a smaller slice in the form of export limits, or pay to make a bigger cake by upgrading the local network.

After a DNO application is assessed, there are a few typical outcomes. You may be approved for the full inverter capacity you applied for, approved with an export limit that restricts how much electricity you can send back to the grid, or approved for a smaller inverter size than originally requested. In some cases the DNO may offer additional capacity if network upgrades are paid for, but at domestic scale this is uncommon.

Yes, you can reapply for more capacity later and there is no risk in doing so. A DNO cannot remove or reduce capacity that has already been approved and installed, and the worst outcome is simply being told that the existing limit still applies. Because the electricity network is constantly being upgraded, a restriction today may no longer exist in the future, which makes reapplying worthwhile, especially for older installations.

Spirit Energy offers a fixed price DNO application service for £150, even if you are not having an installation with us. We submit the application to your local DNO, handle any follow up questions, and then tell you exactly what inverter capacity and export limit you are approved for, so you can choose the right equipment and avoid getting stuck with a restricted system later.

Learn About Spirit Energy

Spirit Energy has been installing solar systems for homeowners and businesses since 2010, making us one of the UK’s most established and experienced renewable energy contractors. All design, project management, engineering, and installation work is carried out in house, allowing us to maintain complete control over quality and performance. Our focus is to maximise the generation a client can achieve from their roof space while ensuring the system performs reliably for over 25 years.

Our team brings together more than 165 years of combined industry experience, with long term leadership in operations, installations and system design. We employ some of the industry’s finest engineers and invest heavily in training, ensuring every installation is delivered with exceptional workmanship and meticulous attention to detail.

Although care is taken to ensure that the information on our website (www.spiritenergy.co.uk) and any guides, calculators or checklists provided by us, electronically or otherwise, are accurate and up-to-date, we cannot accept any responsibility for mistakes or omissions. We enter into no express or implied conditions, warranties, terms or representations regarding the quality, accuracy or completeness of the information. We exclude to the extent lawfully permitted all liability for loss or damage, whether direct, indirect or consequential arising out of your use of our website or any guides, calculators or checklists provided by us, or from any information or omission contained in our website or any guides, calculators or checklists provided by us.

Under 50kW	Over 50kW
£120+VAT	£220+VAT

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