What should a renewable energy quotation include?

A useful renewable energy quotation lets you see exactly what will be installed, why it suits your property and what you will pay. It should leave no important design decision hidden behind a system size, a projected saving or a single total.

The proposed system

Your quotation should name the technology, the main equipment and the way the parts work together. For solar PV, that normally means the panel arrangement, inverter, monitoring equipment and any battery. For a heat pump, it should cover the heat pump, hot water cylinder, controls and the changes needed to distribute heat around the house.

We explain the proposed system in plain terms rather than describing it as a package. The quotation should also state the equipment capacity, battery storage capacity where relevant, and any limits on what the system can do. A battery may store energy for later use without providing whole-house backup during a power cut, for example. That distinction belongs in the quotation.

How the design fits your property

Your roof, heating system and electricity supply affect the design. A quotation based only on floor area or a satellite image may miss important work.

• For solar panels, we consider roof direction, pitch, shading, roof condition, access and the position of cables and equipment.
• For battery storage, we consider household electricity use, the existing solar system, the consumer unit and the expected charging and discharge pattern.
• For an air source heat pump, we calculate the heat loss room by room and assess radiators, pipework, insulation, hot water demand, controls and the outdoor unit position.

An older, solid-wall, listed or barn-conversion property may need a different approach from a modern house. If the design depends on insulation work, radiator changes, a new cylinder or electrical upgrades, we identify that before you decide. We do not treat those items as optional extras when they are needed for the system to work properly.

The work included

The quotation should describe the installation rather than just list equipment. It should say where the panels, inverter, battery, cylinder or heat pump will go, how cables and pipework will run, and what preparation we will carry out.

For a heat pump, that may include removing the old heating equipment, altering radiators, fitting new controls, adapting pipework and commissioning the system. For solar and batteries, it may include mounting equipment, cable routes, consumer unit work, testing and system setup.

Your property may need scaffolding, lifting equipment, roof repairs, asbestos checks, tree work or an upgrade to the incoming electrical supply. We state whether each item is included, excluded or subject to a separate assessment. The same applies to making good, decorating and removing old equipment.

A clear cost breakdown

A single figure makes it difficult to compare quotations. Look for a breakdown showing equipment, labour, electrical work, plumbing or heating work, access equipment, commissioning and any required certification. The quotation should also state VAT and explain any assumptions behind the price.

We provide a written quotation before work starts. It should show what the price covers and identify possible extra costs that depend on information not yet available. If the design changes after a survey, we explain the change and its cost before carrying out additional work.

Check the payment stages, quotation validity period and arrangements for cancelling or postponing the work. These terms should be easy to find, not buried in general conditions.

Grants, export payments and financial assumptions

A quotation may refer to a grant or payments for exported electricity, but it should not treat either as guaranteed income. The document should state which scheme the calculation uses, whether the property and system appear eligible, who submits the application and what happens if approval is refused or the rules change.

Our MCS certification allows us to make a Boiler Upgrade Scheme application on your behalf where the installation meets the scheme requirements. It also makes eligible renewable installations suitable for the Smart Export Guarantee. Your quotation should still separate the installation price from any grant or future export payment, so you can see the cost before those assumptions.

Projected savings should be based on your property and expected energy use. We explain the assumptions about electricity or fuel prices, system output, self-consumption, battery use and export. A forecast is not a promise of a particular bill reduction or payback period.

Performance and monitoring

The quotation should state what performance has been estimated and how you will monitor the system after installation. For solar, this may include expected generation based on the roof and shading assessment. For a heat pump, it should explain the design temperature, intended flow temperature and how the controls will operate.

We distinguish between the system’s designed capacity and the energy it will produce in changing weather. A heat pump’s electricity use depends on the property, weather, hot water demand and control settings. Solar output changes with season, orientation and shade. A credible quotation makes those limitations clear.

Approvals and electrical requirements

Your quotation should identify planning, building control, landlord or conservation requirements that may apply. Listed buildings and properties in conservation areas need particular care, while an outside heat pump unit also has siting and noise considerations.

We state who deals with the distribution network operator where an application or notification is required. The quotation should also include inspection, testing and handover paperwork. For electrical work, that can include the relevant electrical certification and details of any consumer unit or supply upgrade.

Installation arrangements

The document should explain what you need to do before work begins, such as clearing access, moving stored items or arranging permission for scaffolding. It should give a realistic outline of the installation stages and identify disruption to heating, hot water, electricity or parts of the property.

We explain how we protect floors and furnishings, remove redundant equipment and leave the work area. If the installation requires several trades, the quotation should make clear who coordinates them and who remains responsible for the finished system. Our electricians and heating engineers are directly employed, so the work is carried out by the same team rather than passed between unrelated subcontractors.

Guarantees, warranties and aftercare

A quotation should separate three types of protection:

• Manufacturer warranty: cover provided by the equipment manufacturer, including its length and any registration requirement.
• Installation workmanship cover: what applies if a fitting, connection or installation fault needs attention.
• Performance commitment: whether any estimated output or system performance is covered, and what exclusions apply.

It should also explain how to report a fault, who handles the first investigation and whether maintenance is recommended or required. Ask what happens if one part fails while the rest of the system continues to operate. A clear handover should include operating instructions, commissioning records, certificates, warranty details and monitoring access.

Questions to ask before accepting a quotation

• Has the design been based on a site survey and the property’s actual energy or heating needs?
• Which work is included, and which items depend on a further inspection?
• What assumptions have been made about grants, export payments and future energy costs?
• Will the electrical supply, radiators, pipework, roof or consumer unit need changes?
• Who will complete the installation, testing, commissioning and paperwork?
• What do the equipment warranty and workmanship cover each include?

If a quotation answers those points, you can compare proposals on design and total scope rather than on equipment size alone. The right choice is the quotation that explains what your property needs, what the installation involves and which assumptions remain yours to check.