So what is Solar PV and how can it help me?

Using your solar power to generate cheap,
green energy.

Solar panels convert the power from the sun which lights our world into a flow of electricity we can then harness this and use it to supply your home or business just like your normal supply through your meter. These work even when not directly sunny and although are best on a south facing roof they can still be very effective if you roof space faces to east or west.

The Energy Saving Trust has a great site dedicated to Solar PV, as well as lots of other ideas for saving energy.

There are many reasons so many people are deciding to install panels;

Earning money

Due to the feed in tariffs they provide a safe investment with a high ~8-10% return every year for 25 years

Protect against energy price rises

How many more 10-18% prices rise will there be?
With new infrastructure to be built the big companies still want to make big profits.

Enviromentally sound

Each system can save 1000+kg of CO2 per year.
It’s a big saving and a great way to reduce your carbon footprint.




Anything you generate:

  • Gets paid for through the inflation linked, tax free, 25 year Feed-in-tariff scheme,
  • Goes into your home to power your lights and appliances so you that you save money.
  • Any left over gets fed back into the grid which the energy companies will pay you for.

The Energy Saving Trust has a great site dedicated to Solar PV, as well as lots of other ideas for saving energy.

Suitable for me?

With the correct design there is often a system that will be right for you. Click on the follow sentences to open the responses.

Panels ideally face due south and are not obstructed by any form of
shading throughout the day.

Although panels work without bright sunshine their performance is restricted so the location should be unshaded. A shading analysis will show up what level of shading will occur throughout the year.

South facing is best but systems can be installed in any orientation. Knowing your roofs orientation as part of a site survey will show precisely its effect on your panels output.

Panels ideally face due south and are not obstructed by any form of shading throughout the day.

The roof structure should be sound and weatherproof. As a rule of thumb the weight of the panels is are spread over the roof and your roof beams and joists take little extra loading. If your beams are sound then there should be no problems.

There are some variation in methods of fixing the panels to your roof in a watertight method. These need be specified according to your own situation and depend on loading and structure of the roof and its covering (slates, tiles or sheeting).

Loading calculations will be performed to ensure the panels are stable and secure.

Some properties may require a structural survey.

Planning permissions and building regulations have been simplified so in the main they are not required unless your property is in a conservation zone, is listed or is in a block of flats.

These will all be checked prior to work being carried out.


Costs and savings.

The costs of a system have reduced over the past years and is likely to cost between 4,000 and 6000 per Kwp (peak production). Bigger systems are cheaper per KW than smaller ones.

The larger the system the greater the income return you will see every year. An average 2.7KWp system could see a return of £1,170 per year and 1200Kg of CO2. See below for some more typical array sizes and returns, all the calculations are based on SAP2005, South facing, 30 degree pitch and no shading.

  • Access costs can vary. From a bungalow with easy access to a 3 story, sharply inclined roof built on a hill.
  • The system cost can vary according to the panels fitted, to maximise your generation the latest SANYO hybrid panels have the highest efficiency and power output but also come with a higher price tag.



Entry

1.32 kW

10m2 Array


Sharp 220W


SMA Sunny Boy


985 kWh/year

Contact Us

Mid sized

2.2 kW

12.5m2 Array


Sanyo HIT 240W


SMA Sunny Boy


1,612 kWh/year

Contact Us

Large domestic

3.8 kW

24.3m2 Array


Hyundai HiS250W


Power-One


2,799 kWh/year

Contact Us

Commercial

16 kW

110.5m2 Array


Suntech 280W


SMA tripower Tl


11,913 kWh/year

Contact Us

Bluestar Electrics,
Speak to people that install not people that sell – contact us