You may already know that solar offers benefits that no other energy source can – even among renewables. 

However, if you are considering installing a solar system to secure your business’ energy supply, there are a lot of questions to answer before you know if it’s right for you: mainly, if it will be able to generate the electricity your business needs to operate day-to-day. 

An Innasol Solar survey can give you those answers – and the confidence you need to make the right decision for your business.

Surveying tells you about your energy demands, the type of solar system that will be most cost-effective to install, and what return on investment you can expect from it. 

Sunlight, roof space, and even space for scaffolding matter when designing the right system. A survey leaves nothing to chance, and ensures that your solar system is designed to perform at its best in your unique environment whilst finding the information needed to streamline the installation process. 

It is a free, integral part of Innasol’s solar offer, and if you want to know exactly what a survey entails, read on. 

Ready to organise a survey? Fill in the contact form on this page, and a member of the team will be in touch.  

What is a solar survey? 

A solar survey is simply a ‘fact-finding’ process for the Innasol team and our partner installer in your local area (where available) to determine the suitability of your site to generate electricity from solar. 

In essence, the survey process will help us discover whether solar can satisfy your energy needs, and if so, what kind of system would deliver this to balance efficiency, minimise upfront cost, and reduce the expected time to deliver a return on your initial investment. 

It’s also critical to understand the layout of your site to streamline the logistical elements of the project. 

How does a solar survey work? 

The process of a solar survey can be divided up into three ‘broad’ steps: 

1) A pre-qualifying questionnaire 

Time to complete: approx. 1 hour, remote 

Once you get in touch to express an interest in solar for your business, you will be invited to complete a pre-qualifying questionnaire (PQQ). 

It’s a simple, short questionnaire about your site that gives us essential details that determine the configuration and scope of a potential solar installation on your site. 

This questionnaire asks a few questions about your energy consumption habits, as well as any factors that may affect the project (e.g. the condition of roofs on your site) or the solar system, such as shading. 

2) Initial Proposal 

Time to complete: approx. 24-48 hours, remote 

With this information, we develop an initial proposal detailing key facts and figures about the system that would be appropriate for you.  

This will include preliminary details about the capabilities of the solar system – but also other business-critical information, such as the expected time to deliver a return on your initial investment, cost savings per year, and expected CO2 reduction in tonnes. 

Note: though rare, if an efficient, cost-effective solar system cannot be designed for your site, we will flag it at this stage, and recommend more efficient, renewable alternatives. 

3) Technical Survey 

Time to complete: 2-3 hours, in-person 

If you are interested in exploring the proposal further, we will arrange for an Innasol representative or a local Innasol partner installer to visit your site. 

This in-person survey lets us refine the findings of the initial proposal, as well as understand any project restraints that might be present on your site (e.g. areas that are difficult to access). 

This information is then developed into a final project proposal, which gives the most accurate overview of the costs, project details and benefits associated with installing your solar power system. 

Should you approve it, the project will begin in earnest. 

Do I need a solar survey before installing a solar power system? 

Solar surveys are not a legal requirement – but they are essential to design a solar power system that is both effective and cost-effective. That is why they are an integral part of Innasol’s solar offer. 

Without surveying, an installer can’t account for every factor that will affect the performance of the system. This means that there will always be discrepancies between their initial proposal and the system they may be forced to install – one that may be too big, inefficient, or poorly project-managed. 

All of these incur added costs for the client and result in sub-par solar systems – likewise, these can also all be avoided by organising a solar survey. 

How do I organise a solar survey? 

The solar power surveying process is essential before any contract details are agreed. It is also completely free, and it starts by getting in touch with Innasol to discuss your business’ energy ambitions. 

Simply fill out the contact form on this page, and we will respond quickly to your enquiry.