MTFD Guides
30 plain-English guides on commercial solar, PPA structures, planning, grid connection, finance, and operations.
PPA & Contracting
Solar PPA explained — how it works for commercial sites
A plain-English guide to commercial solar Power Purchase Agreements: what they are, how the economics work, what to look out for in the contract, and when they're the right choice.
Take-or-pay clauses in solar PPAs — what they mean and how to negotiate
How take-or-pay obligations work in commercial solar PPAs, why they exist, what percentage levels are standard, and how they impact your business.
Framework PPA vs bespoke deal — what's the difference?
How framework PPAs differ from one-off bespoke negotiations: speed, flexibility, pricing implications, and when each makes sense.
Choosing a commercial solar installer in the UK
What to look for when selecting an installer for a commercial solar project — accreditations, experience, references, warranty terms.
Commercial solar on rented property — landlord and tenant considerations
Permissions needed, lease implications, who benefits from the solar, and how PPA structures address split incentives.
What happens at the end of a 25-year solar PPA?
Asset transfer options, repowering, system extensions, and how end-of-term provisions typically work.
Technical
Ground-mount commercial solar — what's involved
Ground-mount solar PV for commercial sites: when it makes sense vs rooftop, planning considerations, typical economics, and grid connection challenges.
G99 grid connection — what commercial solar projects need to know
How the G99 connection process works for commercial solar above 16A per phase, typical timelines, costs, and how DNO area affects everything.
Battery storage with commercial solar — when does it pay back?
Co-locating battery storage with commercial solar: typical sizes, costs, payback periods, revenue stacks (arbitrage, frequency response, capacity market).
Combining commercial solar with EV charging
How on-site EV charging consumes solar generation, the economic benefits, and how to size the systems together.
UK DNO areas explained — and why they matter for solar
The 14 UK DNO regions, who runs each, and how connection capacity varies dramatically by region.
Solar PV vs solar thermal for commercial sites
When solar thermal (hot water) makes sense vs solar PV, and when both can sensibly coexist.
Solar panel degradation — what to expect over 25 years
Typical degradation curves (~0.5% per year), warranty thresholds, and how to factor degradation into projections.
Solar shading on commercial roofs — how it impacts performance
Why even small amounts of shading dramatically reduce output, and how modern bypass diodes and string design mitigate it.
Finance & Tax
Self-consumption vs export — why it matters for solar PPA economics
Why the share of solar generation consumed on-site (vs exported to the grid) is the single biggest driver of commercial solar economics.
Capital allowances on commercial solar — the tax angle
How capital allowances apply to commercial solar PV in the UK: AIA, special rate pool, full expensing, and how this affects buy-vs-PPA decisions.
How developers calculate solar PPA IRR
The mechanics of project IRR for commercial solar — capex assumptions, opex, generation forecasts, escalation, and target return bands.
Commercial solar payback periods explained
Typical payback for outright purchase vs PPA, the variables that drive it, and what 'good' looks like by sector.
Solar PV and business rates — the rate liability situation
How solar PV affects commercial business rates, the recent reforms, and what to expect.
Funding commercial solar — the four main routes compared
CAPEX outright, asset finance / lease, PPA, and grant-funded routes — what each looks like in practice.
Buying an existing commercial solar asset
What to look for when acquiring a previously-installed solar system: technical condition, contract status, and economic structure.
Planning
Operations
Solar PV warranties — what's covered and for how long
Panel performance warranties (typically 25-30 years), product warranties (10-12 years), inverter warranties (10-12 years), and installer workmanship warranties.
Insuring a commercial solar installation
Coverage for the asset, liability, business interruption, and ongoing operations under a PPA structure.
Commercial solar maintenance — what's involved over 25 years
Cleaning, inverter replacements, monitoring, and the operational rhythm of keeping a commercial PV system performing.
Commercial solar development timeline — start to energisation
From feasibility study to commissioning. The sequence of planning, grid, design, and build phases for typical commercial projects.
Monitoring commercial solar output — what good looks like
Real-time monitoring platforms, alerting, and the typical operational cadence for catching underperformance.
Commercial solar feasibility checklist
The factors to assess at the start of any commercial solar project — roof, demand, grid, planning, finance.
Policy & Regulation
REGO and SEG — the certificates and tariffs around your solar generation
Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin and the Smart Export Guarantee — what they are, what they're worth, and who claims them under a PPA.
MCS certification for commercial solar — what it is and when it matters
When the Microgeneration Certification Scheme is required, what it covers, and the implications for SEG eligibility.