Solar Power FAQs

What does photovoltaic mean?
Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels convert light energy (photons) into electricity (voltage), hence the name photovoltaic.

What does MCS Certified mean?
The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) is an independent scheme that certificates microgeneration products under 50kW and installers in accordance with consistent standards. Basically this ensures that the solar panels you buy are of good quality and also ensures that they are installed by professionals with the necessary skills and qualifications.
All our solar panels and solar panel installers are MCS certified. More details of MCS can be found here http://www.microgenerationcertification.org/

What does a Solar Photovoltaic System consist of?
Solar photovoltaic systems consist of 4 components:

• The array – this is a collection of solar panels which convert light into a direct current (DC).
• The mounting – the array can sit on top of the existing roof tiles or alternatively can sit flush with the roof, replacing the existing tiles.
• An inverter – this converts the direct current (DC) into an alternating current (AC). This is necessary because domestic electricity supplies use AC.
• The system is connected to your fuse box and a meter so you can see how much energy is being generated, how much you are using, and how much is being exported to the grid.

How long will the solar panels last and will they need any maintenance?
Modern solar panels have an expected life span of about 40 years. They require very little maintenance – usually they just need to be cleaned once a year. The electric cabling used for the solar panel installation will need to be replaced after approximately 25 years.

Will the solar panels still generate electricity if it’s cloudy?
Yes, some electricity will still be generated on cloudy days, although not as much as when the sun is shining.

Do I need a south facing roof?
So long as your roof faces within 90 degrees of south and is not overshadowed by other buildings or trees, then your roof should be suitable for solar panels. As each building is different we offer a full no obligation assessment of your property to determine its suitability. This assessment also allows us to determine how many solar panels you will need and what the overall cost will be including installation.

How many panels will I need and how much will it cost?
An average household will need about 8 panels and the cost including installation would be in the region of £10,000 to £15,000.  Each property is different so these figures are guide figures only – we will be happy to provide a full no obligation quotation for your property.

How long will it take for me to make a profit on my investment?
It depends on a variety of factors such as how many panels you have, how much power they generate, how much energy costs increase in the coming years, but an accurate guide figure would be in the region of 7 to 10 years. After that you would be making a profit. The return on investment for a solar PV installation making use of the new Feed-In Tariffs is about 8%. Because of this many people are now seeing investment in solar panels as a wise financial investment rather than simply an environmental concern. An 8% on return (tax-free), with income guaranteed for 25 years offers a much better return than many savings and investments currently available.

What are Feed-In Tariffs (FITs)?
Feed-In Tariffs (FITs) were introduced by the previous government in April 2010 as an incentive for householders and businesses to install renewable energy systems in their properties. The government used existing powers in the Energy Act 2008 to encourage small scale (less than 5 megawatts) low-carbon electricity generation. Under the FITs scheme, also known as the Clean Energy Cash back Scheme, electricity providers are obliged to pay a fixed rate to householders, communities and businesses for every unit of electricity they generate (regardless of whether they use that energy or export it to the national grid).

How much will my electricity provider pay me for the solar energy I produce?
If you fit solar panels to your home before April 2012 the electricity company will pay you 41.3 pence for every unit (kWh – kilowatt hour) of energy you produce. In addition to that 41.3 pence, they will pay an extra 3 pence for every unit you export to the grid.
Let’s look at an example: a property owner currently paying an average of 13p for every unit of electricity, has a solar PV system fitted before April 2012 which generates 1700 kWh per year. 900 units are used on-site with the remaining 800 being exported to the grid. The calculations for this example are:

• Amount saved by producing your own electricity and not having to pay the electricity company 13p for every unit you use – 900 x 0.13 = £117 saving per year
• 1700 units of electricity generated, for which the electricity company pays you 41.3p per unit - 1700 x 0.413 = £702
• Out of a total of 1700 units you use 900 which leaves 800 units to be exported to the grid. For these 800 units you get paid an additional 3p each – 800 x 0.03 = £24
• Total value of savings and income = £843 per year.

How do I get paid by my energy supplier?
Once your solar PV system has been installed we will present you with a FIT eligibility certificate which you will need to show to your energy supplier.

How long will FIT payment last?
FIT payments are guaranteed for 25 years from the date of installation. For installations carried out before April 2012 the rate per unit of energy generated is 41.3p. This figure reduces to 37.8p for installations carried out after April 2012.

In other words, if you have solar panels fitted before April 2012 you will be guaranteed 41.3p for every unit of electricity you generate for 25 years. If you have solar panels installed between April 2012 and April 2013 you will receive 37.8p per unit of electricity you generate for 25 years.
The amounts vary for new build installations and small scale commercial installations – see table below:

* Prices shown are in pence per kilowatt hour (p/kWh). The dates refer to the installation date.
** Standalone systems only feed electricity back into the grid.
*** ‘Retrofit’ means installing into an existing building (most installations) whereas ‘new’ refers to installations in new build properties.

All generation and export tariffs will be linked to the Retail Price Index (RPI) which ensures that each year they follow the rate of inflation. In other words you are guaranteed at least 41.3p per unit, but could get more, depending on the rate of inflation.

What happens if I move into a house that already has solar panels fitted – will I still receive the tariff payments?
FIT eligibility applies to the installation, regardless of who owns the building. So long as the installation is eligible for the tariff you will receive tariff payments, even if it has not yet been registered.

What happens if I move home?
Ownership of the installation would transfer to the new owner, as would the eligibility to receive the feed-in tariffs.

Who receives the FITs payments if the property is rented?
The owner of the property would receive the payments, but it would be up to the landlord and tenant to come to an agreement between them regarding how much the tenant would pay for the electricity they use.

Will I need a special meter to be able to claim FITs?
You will need a meter to measure how much energy is being generated, exported to the grid and imported from the grid. This is necessary for FITs payments to be calculated. However, until a suitable meter can be installed, the DECC have said that the amount of energy being exported, and therefore the level of payment, can be estimated until such time as specifications for smart meters have been finalised. These arrangements would not apply if export meters already exist or have been provided at the generator’s expense.

My system is not connected to the electricity grid – can I still claim the Feed-in Tariff?
Yes you will be eligible to receive payments from the generation tariff based on the amount of energy you are generating.

Do FITs apply only to Solar PV installations?
The scheme covers the following electricity-generating technologies, up to an installation size of 5 Mega Watts:

• Solar electricity (PV) (roof mounted or stand alone)
• Wind turbine (building mounted or free standing)
• Hydroelectricity
• Anaerobic digestion
• Micro combined heat and power (mCHP) (limited to a pilot at this stage)

It does not include solar thermal water heating installations, air-source heat pumps, ground-source heat pumps, biomass boilers. These will be supported from April 2011 by the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). An FAQs document for the Renewable Heat Incentive can be found here: http://www.decc.gov.uk/assets/decc/consultations/rhi/1_20100329163438_e_@@_rhifaqs.pdf

What’s the difference between Solar Photovoltaic and Solar Thermal?
Solar photovoltaic panels convert the sun’s rays into electricity, whereas solar thermal installations convert sunlight into heat. There are 2 types of solar thermal installations: flat plate and vacuum tube collectors. Vacuum tube collectors are more efficient and more widely used.

Heat generated from solar thermal installations can be used to heat domestic water supplies and also some under floor heating systems. Solar thermal installations do not generate electricity and therefore no power can be exported to the grid.

If I have a solar PV system, could I store the excess power it generates in batteries rather than exporting it to the grid?
In theory yes, but the cost and environmental implications of storing the energy in batteries would make it prohibitive. Batteries are usually only used where there is no connection to the national grid, otherwise known as off-grid systems, for example very remote areas.

What about wind turbines? Wouldn't I be better off having one of those rather than solar panels? There always seems to be more wind than sun in the UK.
Wind turbines are best used on a larger scale. Most households are not ideally suited for wind power generation. Although it may seem windy, the power generated from a small wind turbine that you could have in your garden would not be that great. As solar technology has improved, solar photovoltaic and solar thermal systems are able to generate electricity (solar PV) and heat (solar thermal) even when it’s cloudy.

If you have a question that we haven't yet answered please contact us and we will be happy to do so.