Installing a solar-powered electric vehicle charger significantly alters the way that your home draws from, or contributes to, the national grid.
In the UK, your local Distribution Network Operator (DNO) manages the electricity infrastructure supplying your home. It may be necessary to make them aware of the upcoming changes to your electricity consumption patterns.
Some solar or EV charging installations must be notified to the DNO, while others require formal approval before installation.
The exact requirement will depend on the size of your system and the way it connects to the grid.
Your installer will usually handle the process, but it’s still useful to know what it’s all about so that you can make sure you’re asking the right questions to ensure compliance.
What is a DNO?
A Distribution Network Operator manages the electricity network in your region. Their primary role is to ensure that the grid remains stable, safe and capable of handling demand.
When new energy systems are installed, including solar-powered EV chargers, they can have an impact on grid demand at certain times of the day. You may also be exporting electricity back to the grid, which affects capacity.
DNO approval is required to help prevent overloads and maintain reliable power for everyone in the area. However, not every installation requires pre-approval.
You’ll usually need to provide notification after installation or seek approval before installation.
The good news is that many standard EV chargers require a simple notification after installation. Larger or more complex systems, particularly when combined with solar or battery storage, may require prior DNO approval.
Why bother with solar-powered EV charging?
Once you’ve got both solar panels and an EV charger up and running, the two work brilliantly together.
During the day, your solar panels generate electricity. Without an EV charger in the mix, any surplus energy you don’t use in the home either gets exported back to the grid at a fairly modest rate, or goes to waste entirely. But with a solar-compatible EV charger, that surplus gets diverted straight into your car instead. So, rather than paying for electricity to charge your vehicle, you’re using power you’ve already generated yourself. On a decent sunny day, that can mean charging your car for next to nothing.
It’s also worth thinking about the longer-term picture. The savings on your electricity bill stack up over time, and the faster you offset the cost of your solar installation, the sooner you’re in pure profit territory.
And if you pair it all with a smart tariff, your charger can automatically top up from the grid during the cheapest overnight hours, covering any gaps on cloudy days without you having to think about it.
For most homeowners, it’s one of the most practical ways to get more value from a solar investment.
Why do solar panels affect EV charger approval?
Solar systems generate electricity that can also be exported to the grid, while EV chargers add significant demand to draw from the grid. Initially, your house would have been granted permission from the DNO to draw a certain amount of power from the grid. However, once you have solar panels, you can become a supplier.
The addition of a solar-powered EV charger substantially alters the way that you draw from and export to the grid, so you need to seek permission to make changes to your use of the grid.
DNOs set strict limits on how much electricity you can import from and export. These limitations are designed to maintain the safety, stability and voltage limits of the local electricity network.
Therefore, your installer will need to consider the impact that your solar-powered EV charger could have on the amount of electricity flowing in either direction to ensure it stays within DNO rules.
Understanding G98 and G99
You might hear the terms G98 and G99 used to refer to the different types of regulations that govern how you’re connected to the grid. The type of application you require depends on the size of the system you’re using:
- G98 – This applies to smaller systems, up to around 3.7 kW, which is a typical size for most home solar systems. These can usually be installed first and notified to the DNO afterwards, making for a faster and simpler approval process.
- G99 – G99 applies to larger or more complex systems which exceed the G98 limits. These systems usually need approval from the DNO before installation, so the grid operator can check that everything will work safely. They may involve a longer assessment process.
What information does the DNO typically require?
Homeowners rarely need to submit this themselves, but installers will gather details such as:
- Property address and electricity supply details
- Proposed solar system size
- EV charger power rating
- Inverter specifications
- Battery storage capacity (if installed)
- Export limits or control settings
This information helps the DNO confirm that the local network can safely support the installation.
How installers handle the DNO application process
A qualified installer can normally manage the entire process. They will:
- Assess the electrical capacity of your property
- Determine whether G98 or G99 applies
- Prepare the required documentation
- Submit the application or notification
- Configure equipment to meet DNO requirements
DNO approval protects both you and the grid
DNO approval is designed to prevent overloading local electrical infrastructure in your local area by ensuring that systems operate safely and within regulations. While most homeowners don’t need to deal with the DNO directly, it’s still worth being aware of the processes involved.
When you work with Electrical Innovations, we manage the entire approval and notification process, taking the responsibility off your shoulders. Our team ensures your solar systems, batteries and EV chargers are designed to meet local grid requirements, helping to avoid delays and ensuring that everything works safely from day one.
Why not speak to one of our team today for advice on integrating a solar-powered EV charging system into your home?
