The solar endorsement every installer now needs — explained

There’s a change to who can legally connect your solar system that most homeowners have never heard of — and it sits right at the heart of the industry’s biggest challenge. It’s called the Mains Parallel Generation Systems endorsement.

What it is

Connecting solar or a battery to the grid is high-risk electrical work with its own specific hazards — you’re turning a home into a small power station that feeds the network. To recognise that, the Electrical Workers Registration Board created a dedicated licence endorsement: ‘Electrician (Endorsed Mains Parallel Generation Systems)’. Without it, an electrician can no longer legally sign off grid-connected solar and battery installs.

How electricians get it

There are two routes: a period of grandparenting for experienced installers (now closed), or completing NZQA micro-credentials in grid-connected PV and battery-storage design and install, on top of holding electrician registration for at least two years. The deadline for electricians to hold the endorsement has been extended to 1 September 2026.

Why it matters to you

If you’re getting solar installed, it’s a fair and important question: does the electrician doing the work hold the Mains Parallel Generation endorsement? It’s your assurance the person connecting your system is specifically qualified for the risks involved — and it’s tied to whether your install can be properly certified and inspected.

The bigger picture: a workforce that needs to grow

The endorsement exists for good reason, but it also highlights the industry’s real bottleneck. As demand for solar climbs, New Zealand needs far more electricians with these specific skills — not just any sparky, but ones trained and endorsed for solar and battery work. It’s the exact gap Brad has spoken about publicly, and the reason SolarLink puts so much into training: getting more of the trade up to speed, safely, before demand outstrips the workforce.

The takeaway

The endorsement is a good thing — it lifts safety and quality. For owners, it’s a simple question to ask. For the industry, it’s a reminder that the workforce has to keep pace with the enthusiasm for solar. Closing that gap is what SolarLink’s training and consulting work is all about.

Sources

• Mains Parallel Generation Systems endorsement — EWRB
• Certification requirements for PV systems — WorkSafe New Zealand