Your guide to the right generation connection

If the distributed generation being installed is under 30 kilowatts your supplier will arrange your export MPAN.

If distributed generation between 30 kilowatts and 50 kilowatts the network planner will be able to provide your export MPAN.

If distributed generation above 50 kilowatts your Account Manager will provide this.

The Microgeneration Certificate Scheme (MCS) is an internationally recognised quality assurance scheme, supported by the Department of Energy and Climate Change. It certifies microgeneration technologies that produce heat and electricity from renewable sources.  For more information, please see the Microgeneration Certification Scheme.

To find out what applications we have, please visit our guide here. 

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If you do not have any generation connected to your property, then you do not need an Export Limiting Scheme.

If the total capacity of generation connected to your property is not greater than 3.68kW then you do not need an Export Limitation Scheme.  Most domestic solar PV installations do not exceed this limit, but you should check with your provider if you are unsure.

If you are planning to install generation but don't want to be able to export the power to the grid then, unless the total capacity of the generation connected to your property is less than your minimum demand, you will need an Export Limitation Scheme to ensure that you do not export power to the grid at any time.

If you are planning to install generation and want to export some of your generated power to the grid and we inform you that there is enough spare capacity in our network to accommodate all the power produced by the generation connected to your property, then you will not need an Export Limitation Scheme.

If you are planning to install generation and want to export some of your generated power to the grid, but we inform you that there isn't enough spare capacity in our network to accommodate all the power produced by the generation connected to your property, then installing an Export Limitation Scheme may be significantly cheaper than paying to reinforce our network.  

Installing an Export Limitation Scheme may also mean that you can connect your generation more quickly rather than waiting for us to reinforce our network.

Exporting too much power to the grid can result in our network being overloaded and/or voltages rising to unsafe levels.  These conditions could damage both our network and our customer's equipment.  An Export Limitation Scheme is designed to ensure that the power exported from a customer's property doesn't exceed a safe limit

If your installation is rated at less than 3.68 kilowatts, your installer should notify us by completing an Installation Commissioning Confirmation Form on your behalf. They can notify us by email:

In Scotland: Notifications.northmicrogen@sse.com

In England: Notifications.southmicrogen@sse.com 

If you are planning to install a generator rated above 3.68 kilowatts, or multiple generators, at multiple premises, we will need the full technical details of the generation equipment proposed and its location. The connection process varies according to the size of the generation equipment. For guidance, please use our Generation Connection Guide.

If you are planning to install a generator or multiple generators, we will need the full technical details of the generation equipment proposed and its location. The connection process varies according to the size of the generation equipment.

For guidance, please use our Generation Connection Guide.

We class your generation scheme as Distributed Generation (DG) if it operates while electrically connected to our distribution network. The term “Embedded Generation” is sometimes used. You can use the electricity you generate from your DG scheme to reduce your consumption from the network. Alternatively, you can export some or all of it to our network.

In Scotland: Notifications.northmicrogen@sse.com

In England: Notifications.southmicrogen@sse.com 

You can contact us using the following options: 

• Meet with us at our events
• Chat with us on Facebook

We need to be notified about each generating unit you install and commission. Your installer must provide us with an Installation Commissioning Confirmation within 28 days of each generating unit being commissioned. 

Once you have planned the project and exchanged information about your plans with us, your installer should submit the application to us form on your behalf. Your application should include technical details of the plant. This information helps us assess the impact of your generating plant on our network. After these assessments, we will specify the conditions for your connection. Your generating plant can then be installed and commissioned in accordance with G99 and any specific requirements of ours.

If your installation is to be carried out in accordance with G99, we recommend that your installer completes the appropriate notification form on your behalf.

If your installation is to be carried out in accordance with G98, we also recommend that your installer completes the appropriate notification form on your behalf. The application will need to include the technical details to help us assess the impact of your generating plant on our network. After this assessment, we will specify the conditions of your connection.

If you are looking to get paid for exporting to the grid check with your supplier if they offer an export tariff, this was previously known as a Feed-in Tariff which was a government incentive to encourage small scale low carbon electricity generation under five megawatts. This is no longer available, but some suppliers now offer their own export tariffs.

Most suppliers will require a ‘DNO Response’ in order to apply for an export tariff, this is the email which is sent from us to confirm that we have logged your commissioning documents on our system and confirm the system is compliant with G98/G99. Once you have received this email you will be able to apply for an export tariff.

When you apply to us to connect your new generation, if you are planning to install an Export Limitation Scheme then you should include details of the scheme with your application.

Alternatively, if our design team determines that you will need an Export Limitation Scheme then they will include this requirement in our connection offer to you.

The total capacity of generation that you can connect to our network is subject to a number of requirements set out in our code of practice and will vary depending on the type of connection you have to our network and where you are connected to our network.  For domestic customers, the maximum amount of permitted generation will typically be between 5kW and 15kW.

The maximum permitted amount of generation you can connect is the lesser of the following two values:

• 125% of your import or export agreement (whichever is greatest)
• The amount of exported power required to cause the voltage at any customer's point of supply to exceed the statutory voltage limit by 1%.

G98 and G99 specifically refer to different kinds of protection settings regulations that generator or storage assets must comply with to connect to the network. The protection settings are an important fail-safe mechanism that protects both the network and the asset from potential faults. 

From 27 April 2019, all generating equipment connected to any electricity distribution network, regardless of whether that network is owned by a Distribution Network Operator (DNO), such as SSEN, or by an Independent Distribution Network Operator (IDNO), must comply with the requirements of the ENA’s new engineering recommendation documents G98 and G99.

Full details of these changes can be found on the Energy Networks Association website.

G98 and G99 specifically refers to different kinds of protection settings regulations that generator or storage assets must comply with to connect to the network. The protection settings are an important fail-safe mechanism that protects both the network and the asset from potential faults. 

From 27 April 2019, all generating equipment connected to any electricity distribution network, regardless of whether that network is owned by a Distribution Network Operator (DNO), such as SSEN or by an Independent Distribution Network Operator (IDNO), must comply with the requirements of the ENA’s new engineering recommendation documents G98 and G99.

Full details of these changes can be found on the Energy Networks Association website.