About STS Solar Tech Support · Independent solar engineer · UK-wide

Ronald — why this brand exists

I'm Ronald. BEng Electronic Engineering, in UK solar since 2014, founder of STS Solar Tech Support. I built and ran the engineering team at a sales-led solar company that scaled from £700k to £14M a year — commissioning more than 1,000 systems a year at the peak. This brand is my return to the work, focused entirely on the people the industry has left behind.

Book a remote diagnostic Call 07944 877 329

In UK solar since 2014 · 1,000+ systems a year at peak
BEng Electronic Engineering · diagnostics-first, not script-first
No manufacturer or installer commissions — engineering only

5.0

13 Trustpilot reviews

Trustpilot Google

I have a GivEnergy system consisting of two batteries, two inverters and a controlling EMS (Energy Management System) which has not worked since Nov 2025. After six months I discovered Solar Tech Support, reached out to them and Ron phoned me back – how often do you get that service? Could not be more helpful – worked directly with me over the phone, outside what I would call normal working hours. Lucid explanations and we were able to discuss the issues and history using camera and email history. As this was a very rare setup, Ron was able to access an EMS expert in the field to confirm the solution. One sunny day in, I am now only paying for standing charge and a few pence for spikes in grid consumption while battery catches up with house demand.

Ian · May 2026 Trustpilot

When my GivEnergy system had an issue, I was completely left without support and had honestly lost all hope. Thankfully, I searched online and found Ron, which completely turned things around. After sending him a message, he responded incredibly fast and called me to assure me that he would get the problem fixed. I really admire his dedicated, supportive nature and his determination to find a solution. With this kind of outstanding attitude and customer service, he has absolutely secured a future customer in me.

Sree · May 2026 Trustpilot

Ron want out of is way to help, nothing was to much. He was very thorough in what he did Very knowledgeable I would highly recommend Ron and his company He did a fantastic job for me. if you have any problems, he'll do his best to help you out and resolve your problem. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them

Dennis Brown · May 2026 Trustpilot

Ron took me through a diagnostic to confirm my GivEnergy Inverter had a fault. A common one as it turns out with the AC Inverter. As GivEnergy is defunct there is no immediate fix, aside from sourcing 2nd hand replacement. It may be that a fix becomes available over the summer which would make a lot of GivEnergy customers happy (Again)

Tony Deacon · May 2026 Trustpilot

Contacted Ron with a problem and he sorted it out quickly with no problems at all. Very knowledgeable on anything solar/ batteries. I would recommend him to anyone

Phill · May 2026 Trustpilot

I've spoken to Ron a couple of times with issues with my Givenergy installation. Such a friendly knowledge guy very highly recommended. Thank you very much for resolving my issues

michael fairhurst · May 2026 Trustpilot

Contacted Solar Tech Support in desperation. After explaining the issues I had with my system a diagnosis was made and a solution proposed. Fantastic service, even contacted a manufacturer to arrange replacement parts for me. Great communications, explained all they were doing and what I had to do, clearly and precisly. Followed up to confirm all was ok. Excellent service.

Mr Machin · May 2026 Trustpilot

After GivEnergy went into liquidation, just my luck, my battery started playing up (internal board crashed). Contacted my installer - not interested! Found Solar tech support on a Google search. Sooo glad I found this company! Ron is extremely helpful and has plenty of experience. He soon confirmed what the fault was, and helped me to get my system up and running again. Now moved my GivEnergy account to Solar tech support, and will definitely use again if I have more issues. Unusual to find such a helpful company in these times, no morons reading scripts, just direct contact with the engineer.

Keith Ballard · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

Contacted Solar Tech Support when trying to understand what my Givenergy inverter problem might be and what might be my options. Received good/honest advise which backed up my thoughts.

Hugh Speirs · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

Ron is a super star. Two months ago my GivEnergy battery failed a firmware upgrade leaving it a brick. My installer couldn't/wouldn't fix it. GivEnergy couldn't/wouldn't fix it. Then they went into administration and all hope was lost. A flurry of emails later and Ron had diagnosed the fault (failed USB flash drive, something I'd suspected) and talked me through resolving it. Two months of nothing resolved in about 3 hours. It's great to work with someone who pays attention to the details, knows that they're doing (not just following a script) and gets stuff sorted without a fuss or up-charging.

Christopher · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

I can add to the list of customers who had already 'given up' on GivEnergy due to their appalling customer service, and that was before they went into administration (their Trustpilot reviews don't lie!). So you can imagine my desperation when, having changed my ISP and my Inverter, predictably, proving to be the only device that didn't connect automatically to my new network, I found zero prospect of any customer support with GivEnergy having called in the administrators just five days earlier! The salvation came from Solar Tech Support. My IT advisor stumbled across their web site and some very helpful tips for beleaguered GivEnergy customers, as well as an offer to provide direct assistance. Nothing ventured, I decided to drop them an E-Mail, with very low expectations based on my experience of GivEnergy customer support. Within an hour Ron had responded with some pin point advice, and after a few exchanges of E-Mails he had nailed the problem, enabling the combined efforts of my IT advisor and solar installer to resolve it and reconnect my Inverter. Thank you Solar Tech Support, and Ron in particular, for coming to the aid of a deserted and despondent GivEnergy customer. Expert, razor sharp advice and first class customer service, even though I wasn't officially a customer.

customer · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

This company are a rare gem, I had a very unusual problem following a failed firmware upgrade on my GivEnergy kit. I then found out GivEnergy were in administration and had dismissed all their support staff! None of the usual fixes to try and restore my inverter comms would work, and I looked everywhere, forums, GivEnergy youtube support videos - even AI couldn't figure it out. My installer was talking about huge sums for system replacements, and being vague / evasive about if they'd even install replacement GivEnergy inverter. Enter Solar Tech Support, reassuring and knowledgeable from the very start, I've learnt loads about my solar system though the friendly chat while my engineer worked as he diagnosed the problem and figured out a fix procedure that I've not found anywhere else - amazing . If you need solar system repairs - especially if you like me have been left high and dry by GivEnergy, I cannot recommend this company enough. Give them a call.

Andy Thomas · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

I sent a message on their website regarding a problem I have on my Givenergy system. Although not supplied by Ronald, I thought it was worth an email. Within the hour on a Saturday, he phoned and we discussed the problem. He logged in remotely and gave excellent advice. I'm too far away for his on-site help but he did diagnose the problem and was happy also to chat through my thoughts about an upcoming solar/battery install I'm planning. Great bloke.... if only he was nearer!

Philip · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

Ian · May 2026 Trustpilot

Sree · May 2026 Trustpilot

Dennis Brown · May 2026 Trustpilot

Tony Deacon · May 2026 Trustpilot

Contacted Ron with a problem and he sorted it out quickly with no problems at all. Very knowledgeable on anything solar/ batteries. I would recommend him to anyone

Phill · May 2026 Trustpilot

I've spoken to Ron a couple of times with issues with my Givenergy installation. Such a friendly knowledge guy very highly recommended. Thank you very much for resolving my issues

michael fairhurst · May 2026 Trustpilot

Mr Machin · May 2026 Trustpilot

Keith Ballard · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

Contacted Solar Tech Support when trying to understand what my Givenergy inverter problem might be and what might be my options. Received good/honest advise which backed up my thoughts.

Hugh Speirs · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

Christopher · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

customer · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

Andy Thomas · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

Philip · Apr 2026 Trustpilot

From self-taught to scaling £700k to £14M

I came at solar from the wrong end of the textbook. Self-taught practical first — pulling things apart, putting them back together, learning what every wire did and why. Then I formalised it with a BEng in Electronic Engineering, which gave me the maths and the circuit-theory grounding to stop guessing and start engineering.

I entered the UK solar industry in 2014 and fell in love with it on the first install. The combination of physics, electronics, software, regulation and real-world consequences was — and still is — the most interesting engineering problem I've worked on.

I joined a sales-led solar company as their engineer. Being the technical person inside a sales-driven culture turned out to be a massive operational edge for them: I built the operations arm from the ground up — the CRM, the website, the technical team, the quotation systems, the commissioning processes. I deliberately stayed out of sales. My job was to make sure every system they sold actually worked, was safe, and stayed working.

The numbers from that era: the company scaled from £700k/year to £14M/year over three years. My team commissioned more than 1,000 systems a year at the peak. I trained engineers, ran the technical recruitment, wrote the commissioning and diagnostic procedures, and made it my job to learn every new inverter and battery the day it shipped. Several of the brands I tested early are now household names.

Why I stepped away — and why I'm back

After the exit I worked for myself for twelve months, then I had to take a couple of years out of work for reasons that aren't this page's business. STS Solar Tech Support is my return.

I came back because the inbox kept finding me. Friends, neighbours, friends-of-friends — all with the same story. Their installer had gone bust. Or stopped answering. Or sold them a system that never worked properly and disappeared with the deposit. They'd done the right thing — chosen renewable energy, paid a five-figure sum, expected it to work — and got left in the dark with a system they couldn't diagnose, an app they couldn't log into, and a warranty pointing back at a company that no longer existed.

That's an industry problem. People who chose to help make the world a better place got screwed over by people who chose to make a quick buck. There needs to be a good side to this industry, and I'm here to be part of it.

What I actually do at STS

STS Solar Tech Support is a deliberately small, deliberately focused operation. I do not sell new solar installations under this brand — those go through the sister brand. STS Solar Tech Support only does diagnostics, repairs, audits, decommissioning, ongoing care, and the technical work nobody else is willing to do.

How that breaks down day-to-day:

Remote diagnostic — Free if I can't fix it. from £75 if I can. Most faults are settings, firmware, monitoring, or a CT clamp installed backwards — and most of those I can resolve from my desk in a session.
On-site repair — from £245 minimum, complex jobs quoted in writing first. Every visit ends with a written report.
Audits + takeovers — for commercial sites, building acquisitions, or where the original installer is gone. Independent reports written for third-party use.
Decommissioning + remove-and-reinstall — properly handled including the DNO and FIT/SEG paperwork that everyone else forgets.
Solar Health Plan — £10/month ongoing care for the people who want a known technical home for their system.

What independent really means

"Independent" gets thrown around in this industry to mean "we hate our competitor". When STS Solar Tech Support says independent, it specifically means:

No manufacturer affiliations. I don't take commission or kickbacks from any inverter or battery brand. If I tell you SolarEdge is the right answer for your situation, it's because the engineering says so — not because I get a margin on it.
No installer commissions. I don't refer paid leads to installers. If you ask me which installer to use, I'll give you my honest read on the options, not the one who's paying me this month.
No trade-discount habits to protect. If a component needs replacing, I source the right part at the right price — not the one that maxes my discount tier.

The sister brand for new installs (Alectrona) is operationally separate. I keep STS Solar Tech Support clean of cross-sell so when you call me about your system, you're getting engineering — not an upsell pipeline.

Where I go deepest

I work on every major UK inverter and battery brand. If I had to name the ones I've spent the most hours on:

GivEnergy — every product, every firmware version, every cloud quirk. I worked with the brand from before it was a household name.
Solis — three-phase, hybrid and commercial. Grid-side faults, export-limit weirdness, the lot.
Fox ESS — battery diagnostics, BMS faults, commissioning issues that the installer skipped over.
Tesla Powerwall — backup configuration, gateway-offline triage, self-consumption mode tuning.
SolarEdge — optimiser diagnostics, arc-fault calls, the calls where the installer says "it's fine" and it isn't.
Complex diagnostics — the multi-fault, multi-brand, multi-vendor situations where nobody else wants to take the call. Those are the ones I want.

How to work with me

Easiest start: book a remote diagnostic. Free if I can't fix it. We talk through what you're seeing, I review your monitoring data, and we either resolve it on the call or scope the next step in writing before any money changes hands.

For commercial sites, the independent audit or system takeover pages are the right starting point. For ongoing care, the Solar Health Plan.

Or just email hello@solar-tech-support.co.uk and tell me what's happening.

FAQ

Common questions about Ronald and STS Solar Tech Support

What gives you authority on this stuff?

BEng Electronic Engineering plus a decade of hands-on UK solar work. I joined the industry in 2014 and went on to oversee the engineering team at a sales-led solar company that scaled from £700k to £14M a year over three years. My team commissioned more than 1,000 systems a year at the peak. I wrote the commissioning and diagnostic procedures, trained the engineers, and learned every new product as it shipped.

Are you MCS or RECC registered?

No — and this is deliberate. STS Solar Tech Support is a diagnostic and repair brand, not an installer. MCS and RECC are designed for new installations under government schemes. We don't fit new systems under this brand. For new installs, our sister brand (Alectrona) does carry MCS registration. For everything else — diagnostics, repairs, audits, decommissioning, ongoing care — MCS is not the right ticket, and we keep this brand focused on what it's actually good at.

Do you only work on systems you installed?

The opposite. I rarely see a system I installed — almost every system I touch was installed by someone else, often years ago, often by a company that is no longer trading. That is the work this brand exists for: independent diagnostics on whatever the installer left behind.

Which brands do you specialise in?

GivEnergy, Solis, Fox ESS, Tesla Powerwall, and SolarEdge are the brands I have spent the most hours on. I also work on every other major UK inverter and battery brand — Sunsynk, Growatt, Huawei FusionSolar, Fronius, Enphase, Victron and others. If you can find it on a UK roof, I have probably worked on it.

Are you independent? What does that actually mean?

No manufacturer affiliations, no installer commissions, no trade-discount kickbacks. When I recommend a course of action, it is because the engineering says so. The sister brand for new installs (Alectrona) is operationally separate; this brand does not feed leads to it.

Where are you based — and how far do you travel?

Based in Cudworth, Barnsley (S72 8UT). Remote diagnostic is nationwide — most UK postcodes. On-site work is core Yorkshire + East Midlands with day trips further afield for commercial sites. Travel beyond is quoted before we agree the work.

How can I get hold of you?

Phone 07944 877 329, email hello@solar-tech-support.co.uk, or the form on the contact page. Most enquiries are acknowledged same day during business hours. Remote diagnostic bookings come through the book page.

What's your honest take on the UK solar industry right now?

There are excellent installers, excellent products, and excellent outcomes for customers who get the combination right. There is also a tail of installer behaviour that has badly let down customers who did the right thing by going renewable. The industry needs more independent technical voices, more honest communication, and more engineering rigour. This brand exists to be part of that, and to be the technical home for anyone left in the dark.

Call 07944 877 329 Book free diagnostic