SCOTLAND-WIDE · SAME-WEEK DIAGNOSIS
Your System Has Stopped Generating. We Get It Running This Week.
Specialist solar inverter diagnosis and replacement across all of Scotland.
Installations are carried out by our accredited installation partner, Home Heating Services (Scotland) Ltd — MCS certified (IAA10151), TrustMark registered (3559930), Gas Safe registered (559575).
Short answer
A like-for-like string inverter replacement in Scotland costs £800–£1,500 fitted, takes 3–5 working days, and protects your Feed-in Tariff. We handle DNO notification. Call 0141 230 0198 for same-week diagnosis.
Free self-diagnosis
How to Tell It Is the Inverter — Before You Pay for a Visit
Not every generation fault is an inverter fault. Check these first and save yourself a call-out fee.
Signs it IS the inverter
- —Red fault light or no lights at all on the inverter display
- —Display shows 0W generation in full daylight
- —Inverter making a clicking, buzzing or humming noise
- —Error code on screen (earth fault, isolation fault, grid fault)
- —System worked yesterday — nothing has changed on the roof
Signs it is NOT the inverter
- —Generation meter still counting up (export meter issue, not inverter)
- —Tripped AC isolator or MCB at the consumer unit — reset and monitor
- —DC isolator on the roof turned off (check after storms or roof work)
- —Partial shading or debris on panels (generation low, not zero)
- —Smart meter not showing export (meter fault, not inverter)
The facts
Why the Inverter Fails Before the Panels
Solar panels are solid-state with no moving parts — warranted 25 years, expected life 30+. The inverter contains capacitors, fans, and power electronics that degrade with heat cycling. If your system was installed 2010–2015 under the Feed-in Tariff, the inverter is now in its failure window.
10–15 yrs
Typical inverter lifespan
25–30 yrs
Typical panel lifespan
2010–2015
Peak FIT installs now hitting inverter failure
Your options
Like-for-Like, or Upgrade to Hybrid?
An inverter replacement is the natural moment to consider adding battery storage. A hybrid inverter handles both solar and battery — but it is not always the right choice.
Like-for-like string inverter
- Fastest option — often same-day once the part arrives
- Lowest cost: typically £800–£1,500 installed
- No change to your FIT/SEG arrangement
- No additional DNO notification if same rating and type
- Right choice when the system works well and you do not want battery
Worth considering
Hybrid inverter (adds battery capability)
- Replaces the inverter AND adds battery readiness in one install
- Higher cost: typically £1,500–£3,000 for inverter alone, battery separate
- May require G99 application if total capacity exceeds 3.68 kW per phase
- FIT arrangements need written notification to your supplier
- Right choice when you were already considering battery storage
Protecting your income
What Happens to Your Feed-in Tariff or SEG
Many Scottish systems installed 2010–2019 are on the Feed-in Tariff. Changing the inverter does not cancel your FIT, but you must handle it correctly.
- Same make, same kW rating: No notification required. FIT continues unchanged.
- Different make, same kW rating: Notify your FIT licensee in writing. G98 notification to DNO.
- Different kW rating or adding battery: Notify FIT licensee. G99 application to DNO if over 3.68 kW. May need amended MCS certificate.
- SEG (post-2019 systems): Same rules apply — notify your SEG licensee. Current export rate: 12p/kWh flat (Outgoing Octopus, from 1 March 2026).
Scotland-specific
Scotland's Two DNOs — What Each Needs
Scotland is split between two Distribution Network Operators. The notification process differs.
SP Energy Networks
Central Belt, South West, Borders
- G98 notification for like-for-like up to 3.68 kW per phase
- G99 application required above 3.68 kW or for battery addition
- Online portal — typically 10 working days
SSEN Distribution
Highlands, North East, Islands
- Same G98/G99 thresholds apply
- Longer processing in constrained areas
- Island and remote Highland: 4–6 week waits for G99 approval
We handle all DNO paperwork as part of every replacement. No extra charge. Full DNO guide →
Honest advice
When Replacing the Inverter Is the Wrong Spend
We will tell you plainly if a replacement does not make financial sense:
- —Panels near end of warranted output (25+ years, significant degradation). A £1,200 inverter on a dying array may not recover its cost.
- —Roof needs work first. If slates need replacing in the next 2–3 years, the panels must come off anyway. Do the roof first.
- —System too small to justify the spend. A 1–1.5 kW system generating £100–£150/year may take 8–12 years to repay. A full replacement may be better value.
- —Inverter still under warranty. Most carry 5–10 year warranties. Pursue the manufacturer claim first — even if slow.
Solar Care Club — servicing for Scotland's solar owners
Once your inverter is replaced you want it monitored, not forgotten. Solar Care Club gives you a dedicated response team so the next fault gets caught early — before you lose weeks of generation.
Care
£19.99/mo
- ✓24-hour response
- ✓Annual on-site inspection
- ✓Generation monitoring
- ✓Member rates on all repairs
Care Plus
£26.99/mo
- ✓Same-day response
- ✓Annual on-site inspection
- ✓Generation monitoring
- ✓Member rates on all repairs
- ✓Priority scheduling
No contract. Cancel any time.
On-site visits currently available in Central Belt, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee, Aberdeen and Perth. Elsewhere in Scotland you can join Watch today and we will tell you when we reach you.
Losing Generation Every Day It Stays Broken
Call now for a same-week diagnosis. SP Energy Networks and SSEN areas covered across all of Scotland.
0141 230 0198info@scottishenergyefficiency.co.uk