Solar does not have to be installed the same year a renovation happens to benefit from it. While walls are open, roofs are being re-covered, or a consumer unit is being replaced anyway, the cost of preparing for solar is a fraction of what it would be as a standalone project afterwards.
What is worth doing during the build
Even where the array itself is a later phase, a small number of provisions made during a renovation remove most of the cost of adding solar afterwards.
- Running an empty conduit from the roof to the intended inverter position
- Reserving space in a new or replaced consumer unit for solar and battery circuits
- Reinforcing a roof section that will later carry panel mounting, if the structure needs it
- Confirming the roof covering and structure are suitable before it is finished and closed up
Re-roofing is a particular opportunity
If a roof covering is being replaced as part of the renovation, that is close to the ideal moment to fit solar mounting, since the roof will not need to be reopened for it later, and any structural work can happen while the roof is already stripped back.
A new consumer unit changes what is easy later
A consumer unit installed without spare capacity or a considered layout can make adding solar, a battery or a charge point later more disruptive than it needs to be. Discussing future circuits at the point a board is being replaced anyway costs little extra.
Extensions and changes of use
An extension changes the roof, the electrical load, and sometimes the shading on the existing roof as well. Where an extension is planned, it is worth having the solar conversation before the extension's design is finalised, not after.
On permits and regulations
Requirements for building and electrical work vary by municipality and can change over time. This article does not state specific rules, since they need to be confirmed for your project and location at the time you build. Raise solar plans with whoever is managing the renovation's permissions, so they can be checked alongside everything else.
Related: Residential Solar
This article is general, technical background written for the Solara Energy demonstration website. It is not project-specific advice.
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