Questions to ask when choosing a solar power company in Şanlıurfa

Who will handle the application and the correspondence with the distribution company?

This is the first question, because in a grid-connected system this process sets the timeline. According to the text of the Regulation on Unlicensed Electricity Generation in the Electricity Market published in 2019, the application is made to the relevant grid operator with the specified information and documents; then come technical evaluation, the invitation to the connection agreement, project approval, the connection agreement and acceptance steps. The same text says that the main principle in unlicensed generation is that the producer meets their own needs. In Şanlıurfa, electricity distribution is carried out by Dicle Elektrik (DEDAŞ), so it is the counterpart for rooftop and field applications.

The regulation was amended several times after 2019. Timelines, required documents and priority rules should be checked against the current text on the application date. Ask the company: who is preparing the application file, which engineer is drawing the electrical project, who is following up the correspondence with the distribution company, and are these jobs included in the quote? For details of the steps, you can look at our article on permit processes.

An irrigation pump system that never connects to the grid, or a fully independent (off-grid) system, does not fall under this application process. The company should be able to tell you clearly which path it recommends and why.

Expert note: Do not pay in full for the panel and inverter order before the connection opinion is issued. See in writing in the quote which stage each payment depends on.

Which documents should you ask for on the panel and inverter?

It is not enough for the quote to state only power. The brand and exact model name of the panel and inverter must be written, and the manufacturer's technical datasheet for each should be attached to the quote. On installation day, check whether the model on the label of the panel that arrives on site is the same as the model in the quote.

In the panel datasheet, look at three lines: power tolerance, efficiency and the temperature coefficient of maximum power (Pmax). The temperature coefficient matters for Şanlıurfa. If the datasheet gives the coefficient as a loss of 0.35 percent per degree and the cell temperature rises to 65 °C at summer noon, the difference from the test condition of 25 °C is 40 degrees: 40 × 0.35 = a 14 percent power loss. For a panel with a coefficient of 0.30 percent, the same calculation gives 40 × 0.30 = 12 percent. Cell temperature is different on every roof; the calculation is so that you can compare two datasheets under the same assumption.

In the inverter datasheet, look at the number of MPPTs, the DC input voltage range, the operating temperature range and the protection rating (IP). If there are two roof surfaces facing east and west, each surface should be able to connect to a separate MPPT input. Also ask whether the inverter will be mounted in a shaded, ventilated place; an inverter that heats up on a wall that gets sun at summer noon can reduce its power. Also put the panel datasheet's power-over-years curve side by side for the two quotes.

What assumptions was the production estimate made with?

The annual production figure in a quote is a calculation, and the inputs of the calculation can be asked about. Which software or irradiance data was used, what panel orientation and tilt in degrees was taken, were shade and cable losses taken into account?

You can do a simple check. If a quote says 16,000 kWh a year for a 10 kWp system, production per installed power is 16,000 / 10 = 1,600 kWh/kWp. If another quote for the same roof says 19,000 kWh, that is 1,900 kWh/kWp. If two companies looked at the same roof and found results 19 percent apart (19,000 / 16,000 = 1.19), ask the company giving the higher figure for the details of the calculation. A high estimate does not mean the system will produce more.

Will remote monitoring be set up, and whose name is the account under?

Monitoring lets you see the system's production on your phone or computer and is the easiest way to notice a fault. When the connection of a string of panels breaks, the system keeps running and just produces less; without monitoring, you would find out months later from the bill.

The account on the inverter's monitoring portal should be opened under your email, and the company should be added only as an authorized user. If there is no Wi-Fi in the field or on the farm, ask what connection (such as a 4G modem) the monitoring will use and whether that connection is in the quote. Also find out whether an email or notification alert will be set up for when production drops.

What should you ask about the structure, protection and dust?

The support structure under the panels and the cabling are items that have no datasheet but determine the lifespan of the system. In an irrigation system on the Harran Plain, wind and dust stand out; on a rooftop in the city, static load does. Check whether the quote lists the following items separately:

• Structure material (galvanized steel or aluminum) and coating information
• DC cable type and cross-section made for solar use
• Fuses, disconnectors and surge protection on the DC and AC sides
• Earthing and, if needed, lightning protection
• A safe access route to the panels for cleaning
• How structural suitability on the roof is assessed

How will faults and maintenance be handled after installation?

Ask who you should notify of a fault and through which channel, and how the replacement process works if the inverter fails. Whether the inverter brand has an official distributor and service network in Türkiye directly affects this process.

Dust that builds up on the panel surface blocks light from reaching the cell and builds up fast in Şanlıurfa's dry summer. Talk about who will clean the panels, how often and with what water; cleaning with hard water can leave marks on the glass surface. Ask for a maintenance option that covers a check of connections, fuses and earthing at least once a year. In agricultural irrigation systems, having this check done before the irrigation season starts reduces the chance that a fault falls in the months when water is needed most.

How do you check the company itself?

Verify the trade name, the address and whether it will issue an invoice. Call the owner of an installation of similar size, ideally of the same type (rooftop, agricultural irrigation or factory), and ask whether the production expectation was met and how they got support during a fault. If you see a completed site in person, you also see the cable layout, the structure connections and where the inverter is mounted.

Desa Bilişim has been based in Karaköprü since 2010 and does work including solar power and low-voltage jobs and is ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 certified. You can reach us at 0 (414) 312 33 72 to compare our quote with others using the questions in this article.

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