Blog
Jobber alternatives for solar and clean tech installers
Jobber works well for general trades. Here's an honest look at the alternatives when solar, heat pump, or EV charger work pushes you past what it can handle.
Ben Clarke
10 September 2026
Solar
27 articles tagged with Solar
Blog
G98 vs G99: what decides which one you need
G98 and G99 are decided by one number: 16A per phase, measured across everything installed at the property, not per device. The comparison table, the G99 Fast Track route that sits between the two, and the design-capacity rule most guides get wrong.
Jamie Duncan
31 August 2026
Blog
Job costing for solar installers
Most install businesses cost jobs from the quote, not from what was spent. Where the gap opens up, and what accurate job costing needs in practice.
Alex Simon
25 August 2026
Blog
Solar installer cash flow: why profitable firms still run out of money
The cash flow maths of a UK solar install business - deposit caps, RECC advance payment rules, supplier terms and the gap between commissioning and final payment. A worked example showing how the same 20% margin job can tie up 拢4,525 or 拢250.
Jamie Duncan
12 August 2026
Blog
Best solar CRM for UK installers (2026)
An honest comparison of the CRM and job management options UK solar installers choose between, and where each one stops covering MCS and DNO work.
Ben Clarke
4 August 2026
How-to Guide
Export limitation: the G100 route that gets a bigger job connected on a constrained grid
When a full-export G99 connection would be refused or need reinforcement, an export limitation scheme (ENA EREC G100) keeps the job alive. Here is how it works and how to track it across a busy install schedule.
Jamie Duncan
24 July 2026
Blog
The Clean Flexibility Roadmap update: what it changes for solar and battery installers
July's Clean Flexibility Roadmap update sets dates that will reach installers' quotes: minimum standards for smart batteries later in 2026, a Smart Readiness EPC metric in 2027, and a landlord deadline in 2030. What to do about each.
Matt Franklin
14 July 2026
Blog
Solar PV commissioning under MCS: from survey to sign-off
What an MCS-certified solar installer has to produce by commissioning sign-off - MIS 3002 evidence, IEC 62446 tests, the EIC, DNO notification, MID registration within 10 working days, and a handover pack that unlocks the customer's SEG application.
Jamie Duncan
2 July 2026
Blog
G99 applications: when you need one, and how to get it approved first time
A G99 application covers any system above the G98 threshold and has to be approved before you install. What triggers one, how long approval takes on each network, and the errors that send it back.
Jamie Duncan
29 June 2026
Blog
Solar installer economics: where the margin actually goes
A practical breakdown of where UK solar installer margin is won and lost - from survey to DNO energisation. Covers the real cost of quoting, MCS and DNO admin, on-site overruns, and how growing installers protect 20% margins as volume scales.
Jamie Duncan
15 June 2026
Blog
We watched 30 clean-energy installers churn off HubSpot. Here's why
HubSpot wins solar, heat pump and EV installers on the way up - and loses them as soon as the install team starts using it. Five patterns we keep seeing in migration calls.
Matt Franklin
28 May 2026
Blog
Why in-house and bespoke CRMs don't survive growth (UK installer playbook)
Mid-sized UK installers spend two engineers a year maintaining a bespoke CRM that handles maybe 60% of the workflow. The other 40% is on spreadsheets. Here's what's actually being paid for, and why the build never catches up to MCS, DNO and BUS V5.
Matt Franklin
27 May 2026
How-to Guide
Migrating from HubSpot to Payaca: what actually moves (UK installer guide)
Decision-stage migration guide for UK clean-energy installers leaving HubSpot. What imports cleanly, what doesn't, what HubSpot stays good at, and how to sequence a 4-week cutover without losing project history.
Matt Franklin
25 May 2026
Blog
Pipedrive vs Payaca for clean energy installers: where Pipedrive stops, where Payaca picks up
Pipedrive works well for the sales pipeline but stops at the deal-closed line. For UK solar, heat pump and battery installers, that's where the real work begins. A side-by-side workflow walkthrough: lead, quote, DNO, MCS, BUS, install, handover.
Jamie Duncan
22 May 2026
Blog
Why solar installers are replacing their generic CRMs
Salesforce, HubSpot, and ServiceTitan weren't built for clean tech. Here's what happens when installers switch to a purpose-built platform.
Matt Franklin
4 April 2026
Blog
The Warm Homes Plan: what growing installers need to know
The UK government's 拢15 billion Warm Homes Plan is the biggest home upgrade programme in British history. This is the operational guide for growing installation businesses - what it means for your pipeline, accreditations, and operations through 2030.
Jamie Duncan
16 March 2026
Blog
Why solar companies are leaving Salesforce (and what they switch to)
Ben Clarke, Account Executive at Payaca with 10+ years in field service management, explains why solar businesses keep abandoning Salesforce and generic CRMs - and what actually works instead.
Ben Clarke
10 March 2026
Blog
Solar business management software: what solar firms run
Which platforms solar companies actually run, and what breaks as you scale past 15 installs a month. CRM, field service, design tool imports, and compliance.
Ben Clarke
11 February 2026
Blog
The future of solar energy in the UK and beyond
Where is solar energy headed? From perovskite cells to agrivoltaics, we cover the technology, policy, and market trends shaping the future of solar power in the UK and globally.
Felix Rusby
6 February 2026
Blog
String inverter vs microinverter: a guide for solar installers
String inverters vs microinverters: which should you recommend? An installer-focused comparison covering cost, performance, shading, monitoring, and when to use each.
Felix Rusby
5 February 2026
How-to Guide
Solar marketing for install businesses: 6 strategies
Google Business Profile, content, referrals, social, and email - the 6-part marketing system solar installation businesses use to fill their pipeline without relying on cold leads.
Ben Clarke
15 January 2026
Blog
Complete your solar installations faster with automated commissioning applications
Payaca now handles commissioning applications for G98 and G99 installations. Complete the full DNO compliance workflow from initial application to final energisation approval.
Jamie Duncan
13 August 2025
Blog
Best types of solar panels for domestic properties
This article compares different types of solar technology that are available to choose from.
Felix Rusby
8 August 2024
Blog
Can solar panels be recycled?
Breaks down how solar panels are recycled and some of the challenges involved in the recycling process. This article covers specific examples from the UK as well as predictions about where the industry is headed.
Felix Rusby
26 July 2024
Blog
MCS certification for solar PV and heat pumps: do you need it, and what it takes
MCS is not a legal requirement, but without it your customers lose the Boiler Upgrade Scheme and you lose most of the residential market. What certification covers, what the process involves, and what it actually costs.
Felix Rusby
1 July 2024
Blog
Where are solar panels made?
Understanding the global solar panel supply chain - from raw materials to final assembly. Learn where components originate and what this means for the industry.
Felix Rusby
24 June 2024
Blog
How do I become a solar panel installer in the UK?
Discover everything you need to know about qualifying as a PV solar installer, including training time, cost and industry insights.
Felix Rusby
5 January 2024