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Grid Guru June 2026 Newsletter

Solar & Heat Pump Industry Updates


June 2026 newsletter cover with ruler and binder clip on white paper, titled Solar PV & Heat Pump Industry Updates

UK Solar & Heat Pump Industry Update — June 2026


From Neil Avery at Grid Guru — renewable energy compliance specialists for MCS-certified solar PV and heat pump installers across the UK.


Bills up 13%, grid reform biting and GivEnergy gone — a busy month for the industry.

Welcome to the June 2026 Grid Guru newsletter. This month the energy price cap rose sharply, one of the UK's most-installed battery brands entered administration, and the ongoing grid connection reform is starting to reshape how commercial solar and storage projects get to market. Across all four technologies there is plenty to keep up with — read on for the full picture.



Solar PV


Market


UK Solar on Course for 50% Growth — Again

The UK solar market is forecast to add 5–5.5 GWp of capacity in 2026 — a second consecutive year of 50% year-on-year growth and comfortably the best year on record.

Ground-mount is the engine, with that segment alone expected to approach 4 GWp for the first time.

The UK has now surpassed two million MCS-certified solar installations, with over 5,250 MCS-certified contractors active nationwide, the highest number since MCS began in 2008.

The Clean Power 2030 target of 45–47 GW requires roughly 5.5–6 GW of new solar per year — the industry is now delivering at that rate.


Energy Bills


Price Cap Jumps 13% in July — Your Best Sales Window Yet

From 1 July 2026, Ofgem's energy price cap rises by 13.5% to £1,862 per year for a typical dual-fuel household paying by Direct Debit.

That is an extra £221 a year, driven by wholesale gas market volatility linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Further increases are forecast for October.

For solar and storage installers, this is the most compelling selling environment in years. Households are acutely aware of their energy costs, and a system that generates and stores its own power has never been easier to justify financially.

If you are not leading with this in your sales conversations, now is the time to start.


Technology


2.5 Million MCS Installations — and the Redeveloped Scheme Rolls Out

The UK has hit 2.5 million MCS-certified renewable installations — a landmark that underscores just how mainstream the market has become.

Alongside this, the MCS Redeveloped Installer Scheme is now being phased in throughout 2026. Your certification body will contact you when the transition applies to your business.

Key changes include a reduced paperwork burden, risk-based assessment frequency, standardised audit processes, centralised complaint management and a more direct relationship with MCS.

Consumer Code Membership will no longer be mandatory under the new scheme.

If you have not heard from your certification body yet, expect contact before the year end.



Battery Storage


Industry Alert


GivEnergy Enters Administration — What Installers Need to Know

GivEnergy Ltd — for years one of the most widely installed residential battery brands in the UK — entered administration on 9 April 2026.

Christopher Brooksbank of CB Business Recovery was appointed administrator following a rapid deterioration in trading conditions, driven by falling hardware sales, increased competition from lower-cost overseas manufacturers, and financial pressure from a recently introduced recurring software fee model.

The company has ceased trading and all employees have been made redundant.

Key points for installers with GivEnergy systems in the field:

Installed systems are expected to continue operating normally for now.

The GivEnergy app and portal are currently unaffected — but this could change.

No further hardware warranties will be honoured by GivEnergy Ltd.

Customers should revert to their installer for support in the first instance.

The administrator's Statement of Proposals is available via Companies House.

The UK Energy Storage Association has published consumer FAQs, which are worth sharing with affected customers.

The collapse highlights a structural tension in the residential storage market: rapid hardware growth does not automatically translate into sustainable recurring revenue for manufacturers.

Installers recommending products to customers should now be paying closer attention to manufacturer financial stability, warranty structures and long-term support models — not just upfront cost and feature sets.


Market


Grid-Scale BESS: UK Capacity at 12.9 GWh and Climbing

On the commercial and grid scale, the picture is far more positive.

The UK grid-scale battery storage market grew 45% by operational capacity in 2025, with 4 GWh coming online during the year, bringing total installed capacity to 12.9 GWh.

The market is shifting towards larger sites — average submitted project capacity in 2025 was over 400 MWh, compared to 257 MWh the previous year.

There is also growing interest in long-duration energy storage projects beyond the usual two-hour duration, supported in part by the government's Cap and Floor Scheme.

For installers handling commercial projects with co-located solar and storage, this is a maturing and increasingly viable market.



Air Source Heat Pumps


Grants & Funding


BUS Confirmed to 2030 — £400m Allocated for 2026–27

Legislation confirmed in April 2026 extends the Boiler Upgrade Scheme to 2030, providing the long-term certainty the market has needed.

The 2026–27 allocation is £400 million, processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

The grant structure as of May 2026 is:

Air-to-water heat pumps — £7,500

Ground source heat pumps — £7,500

Biomass boilers — £5,000

Air-to-air heat pumps — £2,500

The £7,500 ASHP grant reduces the typical install cost to around £2,500 for an eligible household.

Over 80,000 BUS vouchers have been issued since the scheme launched in 2022, totalling over £563 million in grants.

Applications remain strong — if you have a pipeline of jobs, submit voucher applications promptly.


Warm Homes Plan


£15bn Warm Homes Plan — Low-Interest Loans Now in Scope

Published in January 2026, the Warm Homes Plan sets aside £15 billion across a range of schemes, including increased BUS funding and £2 billion in low-interest loans to support universal adoption of heat pumps, solar PV and batteries.

This signals a long-term government commitment to fabric-first decarbonisation.

For heat pump installers, the combination of BUS grants, low-interest finance and 0% VAT until March 2027 creates a compelling package for customers who may have previously been put off by the upfront cost.

MCS certification remains mandatory for all BUS applications — both the installer and the product must be certified.


Regulation


Future Homes Standard: Heat Pumps and Solar Effectively Mandated from March 2027

The Future Homes Standard Approved Documents come into force in March 2027, effectively mandating heat pumps and solar PV as the primary heating and generation technology for new-build homes in England.

For heat pump installers, new-build pipeline volumes will grow substantially ahead of that date.

DNOs are already being put on notice to prepare for significantly higher distributed generation from residential developments.

If you are not already working with house builders and developers, now is the time to build those relationships — and to ensure your MCS certification covers the design and installation scope required for new-build programmes.



EV Chargers


Regulation


Smart Charging Now Mandatory — and DNO Notification Is Not Optional

Under the Electric Vehicles Smart Charge Points Regulations, all new domestic EV chargers installed in England, Scotland and Wales must now be smart-enabled — capable of scheduling charging and responding to grid demand signals.

Compliance with BS 7671 and the IET Code of Practice for EV Charging Equipment is required for all installations, which must also be on a dedicated circuit with appropriate fault protection.

Building Regulations approval is mandatory for every installation — even where planning permission is not required.

Certified installers operating under an approved competent persons scheme can self-certify.

DNO notification remains a requirement; your installer registration number and equipment certification documents should be to hand before submission.


Planning


Driveway Chargers: Permitted Development Extended in England

Most homeowners in England can now install a domestic EV charger on their driveway without planning permission, as the installation falls under permitted development rights — provided the unit is wall-mounted and within standard size limits.

Listed buildings and conservation areas remain exceptions.

For properties without off-street parking, on-street charging is funded through separate local authority LEVI schemes rather than OZEV home grants.

For renters and flat owners, written consent from the landlord or freeholder is still required, and the OZEV grant scheme remains available to eligible applicants via OZEV-authorised installers.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland operate under different planning regimes — check with the relevant authority.


Technology


Solar-Integrated EV Charging: The Add-On Conversation Worth Having

With off-peak electricity tariffs typically sitting at 5–10p/kWh versus 24.67p/kWh on the standard variable rate — and that rate rising further in July — the economics of pairing an EV charger with solar and battery storage have never been stronger.

Smart chargers can be configured to charge automatically from solar generation during the day, drawing from the battery or grid overnight when rates are lowest.

For installers already fitting solar and storage systems, EV charger add-ons represent a natural upsell that is increasingly straightforward to execute under a single visit and competent persons notification.



DNO & Grid Connections


Grid Reform


Grid Queue Slashed by Two-Thirds — But New Gate Process Creates Fresh Pressures

The National Energy System Operator has now implemented the reformed grid connection process, reducing the UK's connection queue from 722 GW to 283 GW — removing the “zombie projects” that were blocking viable schemes.

Under the new gated system, projects must demonstrate financial viability, planning progress and realistic construction timelines to receive a Gate 2 offer, which gives a confirmed connection date.

Projects that cannot demonstrate readiness receive only a Gate 1 indicative offer.

Ofgem has acknowledged frustration with delays in issuing formal offers and has declined to provide network operators relief from their obligations.

The impact ripples through to distribution-level projects: residential and commercial G98/G99 connections are generally less affected, but any large-scale commercial solar or storage project in your pipeline should be reviewed against the Gate 2 criteria.


G98 / G99


G98 vs G99 — The Threshold That Catches Installers Out

It is worth a reminder as enquiries grow: the G98/G99 threshold sits at 3.68 kW per phase based on inverter AC output rating — not panel capacity.

A system under 3.68 kW per phase is “connect and notify” under G98, with the DNO notification submitted within 28 days of commissioning.

Anything above that threshold requires a G99 application with DNO approval before commissioning — a process that can take 45–65 working days depending on the DNO.

Three-phase supplies raise the G98 threshold to 11.04 kW.

Submitting G98 when G99 was required is one of the most common compliance errors in the market and can leave both the installer and the customer exposed.

When in doubt, check the inverter datasheet, not the panel count.



MCS Notice


Certification Bodies


Kiwa Energy UK to Cease MCS Product Certification in 2026

Kiwa Energy UK has confirmed it is no longer accepting new applications for MCS product certification and will cease operations later in 2026.

This affects product certification across solar PV, heat pumps, BIPV, solar heating and mounting systems.

If you are a manufacturer or supplier with products certified through Kiwa, you will need to transfer certification to another MCS-approved body before Kiwa ceases operations.

Installers are not directly affected in terms of their own certification, but should verify that products they are specifying remain MCS certified and that any Kiwa-held certificates are being migrated.

Contact MCS or your certification body for guidance.



This Month at Grid Guru


As the commercial solar market heats up alongside a bumper residential season, we have been busy supporting installers across the country with:


G98 and G99 applications — We manage the paperwork and DNO liaison so your team stays on site. Typical G98 turnaround within 24 hours of receiving the required information.


MCS 021 heat pump design packs — Full MCS-compliant design documentation for Daikin, Samsung, Vaillant, Mitsubishi, Panasonic and other brands, including UFH compatibility reviews.


BUS grant applications — End-to-end application support for heat pump installers, including EPC checks and eligibility review.


MCS handover packs — Compliant documentation packages for solar PV and heat pump installations, ready for your customer sign-off.

Questions about any of the above? Get in touch — details below.



Installer Question of the Month


“We have a client with a GivEnergy battery installed two years ago — what do we tell them?”

Reassure them that their system should continue to operate normally. The local battery management and safety systems are not dependent on GivEnergy's servers.

However, cloud-based monitoring and app functionality may change without warning, and manufacturer warranty claims will not be honoured.

Advise them to keep all original documentation, avoid tampering with the hardware, and contact you as their installer if any fault occurs.

Stay alert to any app store withdrawal or API changes that might affect remote monitoring.

The UK Energy Storage Association has published FAQs that are worth forwarding to affected customers.



How Grid Guru Can Help


Grid Guru supports MCS-certified solar PV and heat pump installers across the UK with technical compliance and documentation services — so you can focus on installations, not paperwork.


DNO G98 & G99 Applications — connection notification and formal application management


MCS Handover Packs — compliant documentation for solar PV and heat pump installations


Solar PV System Design — string sizing, shading analysis and design sign-off


Heat Pump Design — full MCS-compliant design packs including heat loss and UFH compatibility


BUS Grant Applications — Boiler Upgrade Scheme application support for heat pump installers


Compliance Consultancy — bespoke advice on MCS, DNO and regulatory requirements



June Offer


Free G98/G99 Application Check

With the price cap rising and enquiries increasing, now is a good time to audit your connection notification process.

Send us a recent application and we will review it for compliance issues at no charge.

Applicable to the first five installers to get in touch this month.



HOW GRID GURU CAN HELP


Six services, one point of contact. Trusted by MCS-certified installers across the UK — same-day G98 turnaround, G99 applications within 3–5 working days.


G98 DNO Notifications — Solar PV G98 notifications, all networks


G99 DNO Applications — Full G99 applications and DNO approvals


Solar PV Design — String sizing, shading analysis, technical specifications


Heat Pump Design — MCS-compliant ASHP design including MCS 021 documentation


MCS Handover Packs — Compliant solar PV and heat pump handover documentation


BUS Applications — Full BUS grant application and compliance support


Consultancy — Regulatory guidance, compliance queries and project support



SOURCES & FURTHER READING



BUS Amended Regulations & Grant Expansions



Future Homes Standard



Permitted Development & MCS 020



MCS Redeveloped Installer Scheme



Rooftop Solar Boom & Market Data



Plug-In Solar & SEG Rates



All sources are publicly available UK government, MCS, Energy Networks Association and industry publications. Always verify with the relevant body before acting on regulatory changes.



How Grid Guru Can Help


We provide a complete compliance and design service for installers:


Contact Grid Guru today and we’ll walk you through it.


Ready to Get Started?


If you’re an installer and want to hand off your admin starting today, click below to submit your next job:


or

Contact us directly

T: 02920 609009




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