Everything Irish solar PV installers need to know about the NC6 Microgeneration Notification form — what it is, who submits it, required fields, common mistakes, and how to get it right first time.
The NC6 — officially called the Microgeneration Notification Form — is the document that Irish solar PV installers must submit to ESB Networks when connecting a grid-tied solar system with an inverter AC output rated at 6 kVA or less to the national grid. It is a legal notification requirement under Irish distribution network rules, and no residential solar installation is fully compliant until it has been submitted and accepted.
Think of the NC6 as ESB Networks' way of tracking every small-scale renewable generator that connects to the low-voltage distribution network. Without it, the homeowner's system may not receive approval, and the installer risks non-compliance issues on future SEAI audits.
An important threshold note: The NC6 applies based on the inverter's rated AC output in kVA, not the panel array's DC capacity in kWp. For single-phase systems, the NC6 threshold is ≤6 kVA inverter output. For three-phase installations, the maximum current per phase for the NC6 is typically 16A per phase, which equates to approximately 11 kVA total three-phase output (16A × 230V × 3 phases × √3 ≈ 11 kVA). Any three-phase inverter above this output requires the NC7. The vast majority of Irish domestic solar installations — single-phase inverters in the 3.6–6 kW range — are unambiguously NC6.
For inverter outputs above the NC6 thresholds, the NC7 (6–50 kVA) or NC8 (50–200 kVA) apply. This guide focuses exclusively on the NC6, which covers the vast majority of domestic solar installations in Ireland.
The installer submits the NC6 on behalf of the homeowner. This is a common source of confusion. The homeowner is the registered generator owner, but the installer, acting as a registered SEAI Solar PV installer, completes and submits the form.
ESB Networks accepts NC6 submissions by email or post. The completed, signed form is sent to:
networkservicesbureau@esb.ie (recommended for faster processing)Some installers use their own company stamp; others rely purely on the installer signature. Either is acceptable, but make sure the installer's SEAI Registered number is included — this is non-negotiable.
Let's walk through each section of the NC6 so you know exactly what's needed before you sit down to fill it in.
The MPRN is the most critical field here. An incorrect MPRN means ESB Networks cannot locate the connection point, and the form will be rejected. Always verify the MPRN against the homeowner's electricity bill or the ESBN meter.
This is where most NC6 errors occur. You need to provide:
The kWp vs kVA distinction is a known confusion point. The kWp figure refers to DC panel capacity. The kVA figure refers to the inverter's AC output. For a typical 5 kWp system with a 5 kW single-phase inverter, you would enter 5 kWp for panels and 5 kVA for the inverter. These are rarely identical, and getting them wrong is one of the most common NC6 mistakes. See our comparison guide for NC6 vs NC7 vs NC8 for clarity on when each form applies based on these figures.
The NC6 must be signed by the installer — not the homeowner. The installer's signature confirms that the system has been installed in accordance with applicable standards (including ET 101 for connection to the ESB distribution network).
After speaking with Irish solar installers who have had NC6 forms rejected or delayed, these are the most frequent issues:
Wrong MPRN — the form goes to ESB Networks with no valid way to locate the meter. Always cross-check the MPRN against the homeowner's bill.
kWp and kVA confused — entering inverter kVA in the panel capacity field, or vice versa. Panel capacity is measured in kWp (DC); inverter output is kVA (AC).
No SEAI registered installer number — without this, ESB Networks cannot verify you as a qualified installer. If you've recently registered, allow time for the registration to process before submitting.
Missing panel or inverter model — "Jinko 460W" is not enough; ESB Networks expects a full model reference. Use the full model string as it appears on the manufacturer datasheet.
Submitting before installation is complete — the NC6 should be submitted after the system is fully installed and commissioned, not before.
Wrong submission method — some installers assume post only. Email submission to networkservicesbureau@esb.ie is accepted and faster. The postal address is ESB Networks, NC6 Microgen Notifications, Sarsfield Road, Wilton, Cork, T12 E367.
The NC6 should be submitted after commissioning but as promptly as possible. There is no strict deadline tied to the homeowner's SEAI grant claim, but:
The homeowner cannot apply for the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) — the payment for surplus electricity exported to the grid — until their connection is registered with ESB Networks, which requires the NC6 to have been accepted. Read our full CEG guide.
SEAI may request confirmation of NC6 submission during grant audits.
Best practice is to submit the NC6 on the day of commissioning or within 48 hours. Keep a copy of the completed form in your records.
Filling the NC6 manually from a Scoops post-installation report means copying fields by hand — customer name, MPRN, panel model, inverter model, system size — from one document to another, with every risk of transcription error that entails.
Circaidian eliminates that entirely. Upload your Scoops PDF (or from any other survey platform — see how our integration works), and we:
The result is a ready-to-print NC6 with your installer details, the homeowner's information, and the technical spec — all accurate, all in seconds. No more re-keying. No more rejected forms.
Learn how to automate your compliance paperwork →
The NC6 Microgeneration Notification is a mandatory ESB Networks submission for residential solar installations with inverter output ≤6 kVA (single-phase), or up to approximately 11 kVA (16A/phase) for three-phase systems. It must be completed and signed by the SEAI registered installer, submitted by email to networkservicesbureau@esb.ie or by post to ESB Networks, NC6 Microgen Notifications, Sarsfield Road, Wilton, Cork, T12 E367, and filed after the system is commissioned. The most common errors — wrong MPRN, confused kWp/kVA, missing installer number — are entirely avoidable with a systematic process.
If you are processing multiple installations per week, the time spent manually transcribing data into NC6 forms is worth measuring. Circaidian automates this, along with the Declaration of Works Part 1 and ITC Part 2, from a single report upload.
Circaidian automatically generates your NC6 Microgeneration Notification, Declaration of Works Part 1, and Inspection, Test & Commissioning Part 2 from your Scoops report. One upload, three compliant forms, seconds not hours.
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