How long does a commercial solar installation take?
Business and farm installations take about 2 weeks for smaller projects and up to about 2 months for larger ones. Very large projects take 3–6 months. Data logging, your proposal and approvals come first.
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Typical time for each step
Every site is different. These are the times we usually see on business and farm projects.
- Your enquirySend your last 12 months of electricity billsA few days
- Site visitAn engineer inspects your roof and electrical setupPlanned with you
- Data analysisData loggers measure when and how your site uses powerAbout 1 week
- Solar designSized for return on investmentPart of your proposal
- System proposalCosts, savings, payback and ROI for your siteUsually within a week of logging
- Payment or financeFinance needs your last two years of financial statementsCash: a few days
Finance: 2–4 weeks - Approval to proceedWe apply to your municipality or EskomDepends on the utility
- InstallationAbout 2 weeks for smaller projects, up to about 2 months for larger ones, 3–6 months for very large ones2 weeks – 6 months
- Final submission and sign-offFinal documents, including the Certificate of ComplianceAfter installation
- Ongoing maintenanceOptional service plans (SLAs)Ongoing
What happens at each step
At every stage you know what happens next, what we need from you and what you get.
- Step 1
Your enquiry
We review your project and check that solar suits your site.
We review every enquiry personally
- From you
- Your details in the quote form. We’ll ask for your electricity bills straight away, ideally the last 12 months, within the first few days.
- You get
- An initial assessment of the opportunity, and a site visit planned with you.
- Step 2
Site visit
An engineer meets you on site and inspects the roof and electrical setup.
- From you
- Access to the roof and electrical boards, and time to talk through your budget and objectives.
- You get
- A proposal shaped around your actual site, budget and objectives.
- Step 3
Data analysis
Data loggers record your site’s electricity use over a set period, and together with your bills show when and how you use power.
Logging normally runs about one week
- From you
- Permission to install data loggers on your supply for the logging period.
- You get
- A clear picture of when and where your site uses power, the basis for sizing.
- Step 4
Solar design
Engineered in advanced design software and sized for return on investment.
Done as part of your proposal
- From you
- Your priorities, for example savings, backup during grid outages or room to expand.
- You get
- A system design with expected solar production.
- Step 5
System proposal
Costs, savings, payback and ROI, set out clearly for your decision.
Usually within a week of receiving your logging data and bills
- From you
- Time to review the proposal with us and your decision-makers.
- You get
- Monthly and lifetime savings, payback, ROI and NPV, the Section 12B tax benefit, and cash and finance options side by side.
- Step 6
Payment or finance
Not everyone needs finance: many clients simply pay cash. If you prefer to finance, we arrange asset finance, rent-to-own or a PPA through our finance partners once you approve.
Cash: usually a few days · Finance: realistically 2–4 weeks
- From you
- For finance through our partners, your last two years of financial statements, showing a business that is trading profitably or close to it. Not needed if you pay cash or use a loan from your own bank.
- You get
- Cash terms agreed, or finance arranged through our finance partners.
- Step 7
Approval to proceed
Before the build starts, we apply to your municipality or Eskom for approval to proceed with the installation.
Depends on your municipality or Eskom
- From you
- Your signature as the account holder, or a letter authorising us to apply for you, plus your latest electricity bill and any other documents your municipality or Eskom asks for.
- You get
- Approval to go ahead with the installation.
- Step 8
Installation
Our team installs and commissions the system.
About 2 weeks for smaller projects, up to about 2 months for larger ones, and 3–6 months for very large projects
- From you
- Access to the site and electrical boards on the agreed dates.
- You get
- A commissioned system and its Certificate of Compliance (CoC).
- Step 9
Final submission and sign-off
Once the system is commissioned and signed off, we submit the final documents to your municipality or Eskom.
After installation
- From you
- Your sign-off on the completed installation.
- You get
- The completed paperwork for your system, including its Certificate of Compliance.
- Step 10
Ongoing maintenance
Optional service plans (SLAs) keep the system performing.
- From you
- Choose a service plan if you want one.
- You get
- Electrical inspections, panel cleaning and performance reports.
What makes a project faster or slower
Most of the timeline is set by three things. The fourth is in your hands.
System size
The build is the biggest variable: about 2 weeks for smaller projects, up to about 2 months for larger ones and 3–6 months for very large projects.
Cash or finance
Cash terms are usually agreed in a few days. Finance through our partners realistically takes 2–4 weeks and needs your last two years of financial statements.
Approval to proceed
We apply before the build starts. How long approval takes depends on your municipality or Eskom.
What speeds it up
Send your last 12 months of bills with your enquiry, give us access for the site visit and logging, and if you’re financing, have your financial statements ready.
Send us your electricity bills and our engineers will show you what solar would save at your site.
Timeline questions, answered
Straight answers on how long each part takes and who does what.
Start with your electricity bills
Send us your last 12 months of bills and the site address, and we’ll plan a site visit with you.