What the Solar + Active Monitoring Service delivers
An active monitoring service is a provider, often the installer or an O&M contractor, who watches the inverter platform's alarms and generation data on your behalf and acts when something goes wrong. Specifying it with the install means the monitoring hardware, data access and response terms are agreed before handover.
Standard Solar + Active Monitoring Service scope
What a typical scope covers, to compare against the offers you receive: regular review of the portal; a stated response time for high-priority alarms; remote diagnosis where possible; the trigger and cost for a site visit; monthly or quarterly performance reports; and an annual review against the modelled yield. Ask for each of these in writing.
Economics in 2026 prices
Service cost: £200-£600/year depending on system size and required response SLA. ROI: a single missed inverter trip lasting 30 days on a 200 kW system loses approximately 16,000 kWh worth £3,500-£4,500 in generation. Monitoring service pays for itself in fault-detection alone. Plus peace of mind for critical-load installations and supplier-audit positioning value.
Why specify it with the install
Agreeing the monitoring scope with the install keeps one monitoring portal, one set of warranties and one point of contact for the inverter data. Ask whether the price includes the monitoring hardware and the first year of the service.
Before you ask for quotes
Gather your half-hourly meter data and a short brief on your goals: fleet electrification plans, supplier-audit requirements, capital position and planned building work. Ask each installer for a desk feasibility study and what it costs. This site is independent guidance, not an installer: send your details through the form and we reply by email.
Common questions
What's the total capex for a typical Solar + Active Monitoring Service?
Varies by farm scale. Most installs range £80,000-£500,000+. The installer delivers fixed-price proposals of receiving meter data.
Can the Solar + Active Monitoring Service be financed?
Yes — asset finance over 5-10 years for the entire bundle is typically EBITDA-positive from month one for installs with strong daytime baseload. PPA available for systems above 250 kW. Capital purchase with 100% AIA for incorporated farms.
How long does the bundle take from contract to commissioning?
Most bundles complete in 6-9 months from contract signature. The longest item is typically DNO G99 grid connection (6-14 months on most rural feeders, running in parallel). Physical install on-site is typically 4-8 weeks.
Is the bundle eligible for AIA tax relief?
Plant and machinery components (panels, inverters, batteries, EV chargers, heat pump units) are 100% AIA eligible up to the £1m annual cap. Building fabric (re-roofing, structural reinforcement) typically isn't but may have other tax treatment. A good installer provides itemised invoices supporting clean accountant claim.