Frequently Asked Questions

1. Will Solar PV work in the UK climate?
All our panels are designed to work in our climate. Our panels only require daylight to work, and will even generate energy on cloudy days (more efficient on sunny days). The UK has similar irradiance levels to Germany where PV has proved extremely successful and is earning owners money and cutting their electricity bills.
 
2. My roof doesn’t face south, is that a problem?
A south facing roof does give the maximum energy. Roofs facing SW or SE still give 95% of the maximum and even E or W facing roofs can give 86%.

3. Can solar panels go on Flat Roofs?
The very best angle is around 35o. Surprisingly flat roofs are still pretty good and give 90% of the maximum and that’s still worth doing. However unlike pitched roofs planning permission does have to be gained when dealing with flat roofs.
 
4. It makes electricity during the day, but isn’t most electricity used at night?
Of course we use lighting at night, but that’s actually a fairly small part of an electricity bill. Some appliances are on continuously such as fridges and freezers. People with Solar PV learn how to use their electricity at the best time. You can run dishwashers, washing machines and tumble-dryers in the daytime in the week and at weekends; if you run the energy hungry appliances during the day on free electricity you’ll really cut your electricity bill.
 
5. It seems expensive so does it make any financial sense?
Most people who have Solar PV think of it as an investment. The FIT scheme is designed to give a return on investment of around 7-10% tax free. This is guaranteed for 25 years. What’s more, payments will go up each year by the RPI inflation rate. The Feed in Tariff makes solar PV the ideal investment - zero risk and a guaranteed high rate of return for a long period. It beats ISAs hands down. There are few better investments in uncertain economic times such as these.
 
6. Can the panels blend in with the roof?
There is a variety of choices, ranging from solar tiles, black panels, in-roof and on-roof systems. It is possible to integrate the Solar PV into the roof should this be your preferred choice.
 
7. I’m not going to stay at my property for 25 years; what about added value to the property?
In the 1980s, most houses did not have double glazing. Would you buy a house today without double glazing? If you did would you install it? Solar PV is set to become really common in the UK as it is in Germany and Austria where it increases the value of a house. People will be attracted by a house that gives them a guaranteed tax-free income and free electricity. Everyone is predicting that electricity prices are going to keep on rising and this will become even more important in future. Having installed solar panels to the front of our showroom to power our offices and coffee shop we believe it has certainly increased the value of our property.

8. Do the Solar panels diminish with performance as they age?
As long as solar PV panels are not installed in shaded places they work well. Solar PV has been around for a long time and there are lots of panels still producing electricity after thirty years or more. All the panels we use have a 20 or 25 year performance guarantee. In practice their useful life is likely to be far well beyond that.

9. Will it increase the rateable value of my house and therefore the rates may go up?
We’ve not heard of any cases where this is happening. The local council has not altered the rateable value of any houses that have solar thermal or solar PV installed and says it has no plans to do so.
 
10. What about planning permission.
Solar PV are “permitted” developments for domestic properties. You only need planning permission under the following circumstances:

• The installation rises above the height of the building
• Your property is a listed building or
• It is in an area of outstanding natural beauty
• If is on a flat roof.

 As of April 2010 there has been permitted development for commercial buildings but each District Building Control have different views on Solar panels so it is best to consult with your local office.