Digital Solar PV Certificates on Your Phone
A solar PV installation certificate is the formal document that records the system specification, DC and AC commissioning test results, and evidence of compliance with BS 7671 Section 712, G98/G99, and where applicable, MCS requirements. It is required for every new PV installation before the system is handed over to the client.
The complete solar PV certification app for UK electricians and MCS installers. DC and AC side testing, inverter specs, string configurations, G98/G99 documentation, and professional PDF certificates.
What Is a Solar PV Installation Certificate?
A solar PV installation certificate is the formal documentation produced when a photovoltaic system is installed and commissioned. It records the system specification, the test results obtained during commissioning, and provides evidence that the installation complies with BS 7671 (the IET Wiring Regulations), the relevant grid connection engineering recommendation (G98 or G99), and where applicable, MCS requirements.
Solar PV installations are unique in electrical work because they involve both DC and AC circuits, each with different hazards and testing requirements. The DC side — from the PV panels through to the inverter input — operates at voltages that can exceed 600 V DC in domestic systems and cannot be switched off during daylight hours. The AC side — from the inverter output through to the connection point in the consumer unit or distribution board — follows standard AC installation practices but with additional considerations for the generation source.
The certificate must therefore document both sides of the installation comprehensively. On the DC side, this means recording string configurations, measured open-circuit voltages, short-circuit currents, insulation resistance values, and earth continuity. On the AC side, standard electrical installation tests apply — earth fault loop impedance, prospective fault current, RCD operation, insulation resistance, and polarity.
Beyond the electrical testing, the certificate also records the system specification: panel type and quantity, inverter make and model, string configurations, rated system capacity, generation meter details, and the grid connection arrangements. This information is needed for the DNO notification, MCS registration, and building regulations compliance.
DC Side Testing for Solar PV Systems
The DC side of a PV installation presents unique testing challenges. Unlike conventional electrical circuits, PV arrays generate voltage whenever they are exposed to light — they cannot be de-energised by switching off a supply. This means all DC testing must be carried out with careful attention to safe working practices and awareness of the voltages present.
Safe isolation (Regulation 712.410.101): BS 7671 is explicit that safe isolation of the DC side is not satisfied solely by disconnecting the AC supply from the grid, or by disconnecting the inverter from the DC side. DC-side voltage must be independently verified with a suitable voltage indicator before any work is carried out on DC conductors or equipment.
Open-Circuit Voltage (Voc)
The open-circuit voltage of each string is measured with the inverter disconnected (DC isolator open) and compared to the calculated expected value. The expected Voc is the panel rated Voc multiplied by the number of panels in the string, adjusted for temperature using the panel temperature coefficient. A measured value significantly below the expected value indicates a faulty panel, a poor connection, or a wiring error. The irradiance level should be noted at the time of measurement.
Short-Circuit Current (Isc)
The short-circuit current of each string is measured using a DC clamp meter or by briefly short-circuiting the string through a suitable ammeter (PV modules are designed to withstand short-circuit conditions). The measured Isc is compared to the panel rated Isc adjusted for the actual irradiance level. All strings with the same configuration should produce similar Isc values at the same irradiance — a significant difference between strings indicates a problem.
Insulation Resistance (DC)
Insulation resistance is measured between positive and earth, negative and earth, and positive and negative, with the inverter disconnected and the string cables isolated. The test voltage depends on the system voltage — typically 500 V DC or 1000 V DC. The minimum acceptable insulation resistance depends on the system configuration but must demonstrate adequate isolation between live conductors and earth. Low insulation resistance indicates potential earth faults in the cabling or panels.
Earth Continuity & Polarity
The continuity of the protective earth conductor from the PV array frame back to the main earthing terminal is verified. All exposed conductive parts of the array mounting system and any metallic cable containment must be effectively earthed. Polarity of each string must be confirmed — reversing positive and negative connections on a PV string will damage the inverter. The DC isolator polarity is also verified.
G98 and G99 Grid Connection Requirements
Any electricity-generating installation connected to the public distribution network must comply with the relevant Engineering Recommendation published by the Energy Networks Association (ENA). For solar PV, this means either G98 or G99, depending on the size of the installation.
G98 (which replaced G83) applies to installations with a rated output up to 16 A per phase. For a single-phase installation at 230 V, this equates to approximately 3.68 kW. For a three-phase installation, the limit is approximately 11.04 kW (3.68 kW per phase). G98 uses a simplified notification process — you notify the Distribution Network Operator (DNO) within 28 days of commissioning using the standard G98 form, and connection is permitted automatically provided the installation meets the technical requirements. No prior approval is needed.
G99 (which replaced G59) applies to installations with a rated output exceeding the G98 threshold. G99 installations require a formal application to the DNO before installation begins. The DNO carries out a network impact assessment to determine whether the local network can accommodate the generation without voltage regulation problems, fault level issues, or other network constraints. The DNO may approve the connection as applied for, may approve it with conditions (such as export limitation), or may require network reinforcement before connection can proceed. G99 installations also require more detailed commissioning tests and protection settings verification.
Elec-Mate helps you document the grid connection details alongside the electrical certificate. You record whether G98 or G99 applies, the DNO notification or application reference number, the rated export capacity, and the inverter protection settings. This information is included in the exported PDF certificate, providing a complete record of both the electrical installation and the grid connection compliance.
MCS Compliance and the Smart Export Guarantee
The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) is the quality assurance scheme for small-scale renewable energy installations in the UK. MCS certification covers both the products (panels and inverters must be MCS-listed) and the installers (who must be MCS-certified). An MCS-certified installation is eligible for payments under the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG), the government-backed scheme that pays generators for electricity exported to the grid.
Without MCS certification, a solar PV installation cannot be registered for SEG payments. This is a significant financial consideration for homeowners — over the lifetime of a typical domestic PV system, SEG payments can amount to several thousand pounds. MCS certification also provides consumer protection through the MCS Consumer Code, which includes requirements for quotations, installations standards, and a complaints resolution process.
To register a PV installation with MCS, the installer must upload commissioning documentation including the electrical installation certificate, the system specification, a performance estimate (predicting annual energy generation), and photographs of the installation. Elec-Mate generates certificate PDFs that include the detailed system specification and test results needed for MCS registration, reducing the administrative burden of the registration process.
How Elec-Mate Handles Solar PV Certification
Solar PV certification involves more documentation than most electrical installations — system specs, DC test results, AC test results, inverter details, string configurations, and grid connection paperwork. Managing all this on paper or across multiple separate documents is inefficient and error-prone. Elec-Mate brings everything together in one structured digital certificate.
You enter the system specification once — panel type, inverter details, string configuration — and the app calculates expected test values automatically. On site, you record test results directly into the app and it compares them to the expected values in real time, flagging any discrepancies. Both DC and AC side results are captured in the same certificate, eliminating the need for separate documents.
The completed certificate exports as a professional PDF that includes everything — system spec, string diagrams, DC test results, AC test results, G98/G99 details, and digital signatures. It is ready to send to the client, upload to MCS, or submit to the DNO, all from your phone.
Elec-Mate is part of a complete platform for UK electricians that includes 70 electrical calculators, 8 Elec-AI agents and 12 AI tools, 46+ training courses, 8 certificate types, and integration with Xero and QuickBooks for invoicing. The cable sizing calculator handles DC and AC cable sizing for solar installations, and the solar panel sizing calculator helps determine the correct system capacity before you begin. Everything in one mobile-first tool.
Complete On Site, On Your Phone
Record system specs and test results directly on your phone as you commission the system. No paper forms, no office re-keying.
DC & AC Side Testing
Separate sections for DC side tests (Voc, Isc, insulation resistance) and AC side tests (Zs, PSCC, RCD). All in one certificate.
String Configuration
Record string layouts, panel counts, and expected values. The app calculates expected Voc and Isc from panel specifications.
Inverter Specifications
Document inverter make, model, rated output, MPPT inputs, firmware version, and protection settings all in structured fields.
BS 7671 Section 712 Compliant
Certificate structure follows BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 Section 712 requirements for PV installations, covering both DC and AC side documentation.
G98/G99 Documentation
Record DNO notification details, export capacity, protection settings, and grid connection information alongside the electrical certificate.
Professional PDF Export
Generate a branded certificate PDF with full system spec, test results, and grid connection details. Email it from site or upload to MCS.
Digital Signatures
Capture installer and client signatures on screen. The signed certificate is ready to file without printing or scanning.
Auto-Save Protection
Your work saves locally every 10 seconds and syncs to the cloud every 30 seconds. Never lose a certificate mid-commissioning.
How to Create a Solar PV Certificate Using Elec-Mate
Follow these steps to complete a solar PV installation certificate using the Elec-Mate app, from entering the system specification to exporting the finished PDF.
Create a new solar PV certificate
Open Elec-Mate and tap "New Certificate" then select "Solar PV" from the certificate types. Enter the site details including the property address, customer name, DNO region, supply details (single or three phase, Ze, PSCC), and the existing consumer unit information.
Enter the PV system specification
Record the panel details (make, model, rated power, Voc, Isc, number of panels), string configuration (number of strings, panels per string), inverter details (make, model, rated AC output, MPPT inputs), and generation meter details. The app calculates expected string Voc and Isc from the panel data.
Record DC side test results
Enter the DC side test results: open-circuit voltage (Voc) for each string, short-circuit current (Isc) for each string, insulation resistance between positive-earth, negative-earth, and positive-negative, earth continuity of the array frame, and polarity verification. The app compares measured values to the calculated expected values.
Record AC side test results
Enter the AC side test results: earth fault loop impedance (Zs), prospective fault current (PSCC), RCD operating times, insulation resistance, and continuity of protective conductors for the AC circuit from the consumer unit to the inverter. These follow the standard BS 7671 test procedures.
Complete G98/G99 notification details
Record the grid connection details: whether G98 or G99 applies, the DNO notification or application reference, the rated export capacity, and the protection settings. The app helps you document the information needed for the DNO submission.
Capture signatures and export
Add your digital signature as the installing electrician and the client signature. Export the completed certificate as a professional PDF. The document includes the full system specification, all test results, and the grid connection details — ready to send to the client, upload to MCS, or submit to the DNO.
BS 7671:2018+A4:2026 Section 712 — Solar PV Requirements
Section 712 of BS 7671 sets out the particular requirements for solar photovoltaic power supply systems. It supplements the general requirements of the standard with specific provisions that address the unique characteristics and hazards of PV installations. Understanding these requirements is essential for anyone designing, installing, or certifying PV systems.
Protection against electric shock — DC side (712.410.102): Regulation 712.410.102 requires that on the DC side one of exactly two protective measures shall be applied: (a) double or reinforced insulation in accordance with Section 412, or (b) extra-low voltage — SELV or PELV — in accordance with Section 414. Automatic disconnection of supply is not a permitted DC-side measure under this regulation. Since a PV array cannot be de-energised during daylight hours, Regulation 712.410.101 further requires that DC-side equipment shall be considered energised at all times — even when the AC side is disconnected from the grid or the inverter is disconnected from the DC side. Safe isolation of the DC side requires independent voltage verification; disconnecting the AC side or the inverter alone does not satisfy safe-isolation requirements.
Insulation monitoring — DC side (712.421.101): For unearthed DC systems, Regulation 712.421.101.1 requires that an insulation monitoring device (IMD) shall be installed. The exception under Regulation 712.421.101.2 applies where functional earthing is applied to a live conductor inside the inverter on the DC side; in that case, the installer must provide a means to verify insulation status on the DC side throughout the life of the array — for example by using an inverter with integrated insulation monitoring complying with BS EN 61557-8.
DC isolator requirements (712.537.2.2.104): A DC isolator (switch-disconnector) must be provided between the PV array and the inverter to allow safe maintenance. Devices without breaking capacity that could be used to open a DC circuit — such as SPD carriages and fuse carriers — shall be secured against inadvertent or unauthorised operation to prevent DC on-load arcing. Securing may be achieved by locating the device in a lockable enclosure or by padlocking.
Reverse-current cable sizing (712.433.101): For PV arrays with more than two strings in parallel (N > 2), the maximum reverse current that may flow in a string cable is (N − 1) × Isc max. Where string overcurrent protective devices are not fitted, each string cable shall have a continuous current-carrying capacity at least equal to this reverse-current figure. Where string protective devices are fitted, the cable capacity shall be at least equal to the rated current of the protective device.
Cable selection (712.522): DC cables on the PV array side are exposed to UV radiation, temperature extremes, and mechanical stress. Section 712 requires that cables used on the DC side are suitable for the environmental conditions — UV-resistant, rated for the temperature range, and protected against mechanical damage. PV-specific cables (typically H1Z2Z2-K) are designed for these conditions.
Labelling (712.514): Clear warning labels are required at the main switch, the consumer unit, the inverter, and at any point where PV cabling passes through the building structure. These labels must warn that the PV system is a dual supply, that the PV array remains live during daylight hours even when the inverter is disconnected, and identify the DC isolation point.
Built for Working PV Installers
Elec-Mate is designed by electricians for electricians and solar PV installers. Whether you are a domestic PV specialist, an electrician adding solar to your services, or part of a larger renewable energy company, the app fits your workflow. The certificate forms cover both domestic and commercial PV installations and follow BS 7671 Section 712 requirements.
The platform includes 70 electrical calculators covering cable sizing, voltage drop, maximum demand, prospective fault current, and more — plus specific PV calculators for string sizing and expected generation. Combined with 16 certificate types, 8 Elec-AI agents, 12 AI tools, and 46+ training courses, it replaces multiple separate tools. Xero and QuickBooks integration means you can raise invoices directly from completed installations.
In the app
Manage Solar PV Certification with Elec-Mate
Quotes, certificates, G98/G99 documentation, and job tracking — built for UK solar PV installers and electricians.
Frequently Asked Questions About Solar PV Certificates
What certificates are needed for a solar PV installation?+
What is the difference between G98 and G99 for solar PV?+
What tests are required for the DC side of a solar PV system?+
What does BS 7671 Section 712 cover for solar PV installations?+
Can I complete solar PV certificates on a mobile device?+
Do I need to be MCS-certified to install solar PV?+
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