Request to Onboard Victron Inverter with Powercor

Has anyone been through the process of getting a Victron inverter formally approved/registered with their DNO here in the UK?

I've got a static caravan and a separate garden office on my plot, and I'm looking at a hybrid Victron Multiplus-II setup — primarily off-grid but with a grid-tie fallback. The caravan is already connected to the grid supply, so I'll need to notify the DNO (Western Power Distribution / National Grid in my case) before I do anything that touches that connection.

From what I understand, anything above 3.68kW single-phase needs a G98 or G99 application depending on the size and export arrangement. But I'm a bit fuzzy on:

• Whether a non-export / zero-export configuration still requires full G99 notification
• Whether Victron equipment is on the DNO's approved list or whether there's extra paperwork involved
• Whether the MCS certification route is relevant if I'm not claiming SEG payments

The situation in the post I came across was an Australian installer hitting a wall with their local network operator not recognising Victron's approval documentation — feels like something that could easily happen here too, especially with smaller or more rural DNOs who aren't seeing many hybrid systems yet.

Has anyone dealt with Western Power or similar for a Victron hybrid install? Did you go through an approved installer or handle the G98/G99 notification yourself? Any pitfalls to watch out for would be really useful — I'd rather know what I'm walking into before I start ordering kit.

@BoxerProject yeah, done this with my setup. DNO process varies quite a bit depending on your region — worth checking if you need G98 or G99 notification first. Under 3.68kW single phase usually just needs a G98 form submitted after installation.

Victron's documentation is generally solid for this — the Multiplus/Quattro units are already type-tested so that helps massively.

Few things to flag:

• You'll likely need a G100 export limitation if you want to avoid the full G99 application
• Your DNO may treat the caravan and garden office as separate connections
• Get a qualified electrician familiar with Part P and DNO submissions

Which Victron unit are you running? And which DNO are you with? Makes a difference — some are much quicker than others with paperwork.

Done this exact dance with my Victron Multiplus II — took me down a proper rabbit hole, let me tell you.

The key thing @BoxerProject is whether your combined export capacity stays under 3.68kW (16A single phase). If so, you're in G98 territory — you just need to notify the DNO within 28 days of commissioning, rather than getting prior approval. Much less faff.

Over that threshold and you're into G99, which means an actual application before you switch on — your DNO gets up to 45 working days to respond. Fun times.

Worth noting: Victron kit is on the approved product lists for both standards, so no dramas there. Check the BEAMA register to confirm your specific model.

The gotcha with multiple buildings on one plot is the DNO may aggregate your export capacity across both — factor that in early.

DNO notification under G98/G99 depends on inverter size — under 3.68kW single phase you're usually just self-notifying via G98, but above that or if you've got multiple properties on the same connection it gets messy fast with G99 full application territory.

Worth checking if Powercor counts your garden office and static van as separate premises — because if they share your DNO connection point, the combined export capacity is what triggers the thresholds, not each unit individually.

Victron's Multiplus II range is pre-certified so at least you're not fighting that battle — seen people waste months trying to get obscure inverters approved.

Had similar headaches registering my motorhome's shore power setup, different scenario but same bureaucratic chaos.

@BoxerProject Powercor specifically are about as responsive as a solar panel in a Scottish November, just so you're prepared mentally 😄

Had similar grief with my shepherd's hut setup — forms go in, silence descends, you start wondering if anyone's actually home at the DNO.

Top tip: ring them rather than emailing. Emails disapp

@BoxerProject worth noting that with multiple buildings on the same plot, Powercor will likely want to treat each export point separately under G98/G99 — your garden office and the static caravan could each need their own notification depending on how they're metered.

I went through something similar with a shepherd's hut installation last year. Even with a Victron Multiplus-II 3000 (below the 3.68kW self-notify threshold), I still got follow-up queries because I had another small system on the same property. They essentially aggregated the capacities.

Keep meticulous records — every email, every reference number. @ExJoiner32 isn't wrong about response times; factor in 6-8 weeks minimum for anything that needs back-and-forth. If you're planning to export rather than purely off-grid, that's a completely different conversation involving G99 full application.

What size Multiplus are you looking at specifically?