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Frequently Asked Questions
We've put together some of the most common questions we get asked regarding Solar PV, EV charging, battery storage and related topics.

Solar FAQs

No, solar panels do not require direct sunlight! Of course, panels will generate more energy when situated in direct sunlight, with peak irradiance of around 1000W per m2. However, during daylight hours there is always some level of irradiance to capitalise on.

Bifacial panels capture irradiance (light) on both sides of the solar panel. This can be a huge advantage in efficiency and overall energy savings. There are certain conditions which make bifacial panels well suited to their environment. Bifacial panels absorb irradiance on both sides of the solar panel, therefore one side captures irradiance more directly, whereas the reverse side captures reflected light from nearby surfaces. It’s therefore best to situate these panels where there are highly reflective surfaces nearby.

There are a few solutions on the market for pest protection. We recommend a black mesh which is discrete and very effective at keeping birds and rodents from nesting under your panels.

Yes, solar panels work in winter. Although solar irradiance is much lower in the winter and the days are shorter, this does affect solar energy production.

Yes, solar panels and batteries can certainly be taken with you when you move. Clearly there are practical considerations to this and a better solution may be to price the cost of the system into the property sale price.

No! Great solar yields can be taken from East and West orientations. Mixing orientations is completely valid when using optimisers and separate maximum power point trackers (most inverters have at least two).

Not necessarily, but it does generally have greater structural implications. Unless your building has been specifically designed to support the new load, we may be limited in what we could install on the roof.

This greatly depends on the use case of your system. Batteries which are to charge only from a solar system will be dependent on the excess energy produced from the array, where excess energy is simply the quantity of energy left over once the solar panels have met the demand of the property. However, most batteries have the ability to charge from the grid. This can be a great way to save money if you have a dual rate tariff, as you can charge the battery when rates are lower and discharge when rates are higher (rather than buy energy from the grid during this period).

This is difficult to say as there are many variables. Commercial installations typically demand a fee of £800 – £1200 per kWp. Much depends on the scope, which can vary in complexity between sites. Of course, choice of equipment and access requirements also influence the overall cost.

PV stands for ‘photovoltaic’, it is the process of transforming solar irradiance into electrical DC energy which can be utilised to reduce energy consumption in a premises.

Solar tiles have been on the market for sometime now. Although the concept is attractive at first glance, the tiles have some downsides. The tiles are typically less efficient and the lifespan of the roof is significantly lower than that of a traditional UK roof, 25 years versus 50 years.

The payback period for a solar system is highly dependent on a number of factors. Such as, solar yield, upfront cost and proportion of generated energy which is self consumed by the property. Often, the more energy that can be consumed, rather than exported, the better the payback period. This is why battery storage has become so popular, especially in domestic properties where large proportions of energy are consumed in the evenings, when solar irradiance is not a resource.

We use our own team of experienced professionals to carry out the work. We allocate resources dependent on the scope and complexity of the installation. We pride ourselves in broad engineering expertise and project management, that goes beyond electrical and roof work.

This of course depends on the nature of the installation scope. Smaller domestic installations of up to 20 solar panels can be completed in as little as one day. Whereas, larger commercial installations of hundreds of panels can take weeks.

Solar panels have a long life span of 25-30 years. Modern panels commonly come with very good warranties and efficacy guarantees. This information is visible on the product datasheets of the equipment.

A roof structure will always be assessed prior to installation. If your roof cover is not in a suitable condition, or the underlying structure is unable to support the imposed load of the panels then we will advise accordingly.

Batteries & Storage FAQs

Yes indeed. This is known as an AC coupled system, as there would be no DC solar element as part of this system. See our article on the differences between AC and DC coupled systems for more information.

Yes, solar panels and batteries can certainly be taken with you when you move. Clearly there are practical considerations to this and a better solution may be to price the cost of the system into the property sale price.

This greatly depends on the use case of your system. Batteries which are to charge only from a solar system will be dependent on the excess energy produced from the array, where excess energy is simply the quantity of energy left over once the solar panels have met the demand of the property. However, most batteries have the ability to charge from the grid. This can be a great way to save money if you have a dual rate tariff, as you can charge the battery when rates are lower and discharge when rates are higher (rather than buy energy from the grid during this period).

Absolutely. Most products on the market are rated for outside deployment. Outside locations are often one of the best locations to situate the equipment. We would also recommend that the equipment is kept under a shelter and out of direct sunlight (this is nearly always inline with manufacturers instructions).

Most storage batteries have a lifespan of over 10 years, and most products come with warranties which cover the batteries for this period (commonly with unlimited cycles).

EV Charging FAQs

This depends on the unit rate of electricity at the time of charging. If a car has a 90 kWh battery, then charging at a typical rate of 33p per kWh means it will cost around £14.85 to charge the car by 50%. EV energy tariffs are a great way to save money, to carry out the same charge whilst on an EV tariff rate of £0.07 per kWh, means the cost is instead just £3.15!

This greatly depends on the type of charger that you have installed at your home, as EV chargers have different charge rates. It’s also important to check the rate of charge that your car can accept.

See this article for an overview of home EV charging methods.

Electric Vehicle.

Installation FAQs

See this article for an overview of home EV charging methods.

Not necessarily, but it does generally have greater structural implications. Unless your building has been specifically designed to support the new load, we may be limited in what we could install on the roof.

This greatly depends on the use case of your system. Batteries which are to charge only from a solar system will be dependent on the excess energy produced from the array, where excess energy is simply the quantity of energy left over once the solar panels have met the demand of the property. However, most batteries have the ability to charge from the grid. This can be a great way to save money if you have a dual rate tariff, as you can charge the battery when rates are lower and discharge when rates are higher (rather than buy energy from the grid during this period).

This is difficult to say as there are many variables. Commercial installations typically demand a fee of £800 – £1200 per kWp. Much depends on the scope, which can vary in complexity between sites. Of course, choice of equipment and access requirements also influence the overall cost.

Absolutely. Most products on the market are rated for outside deployment. Outside locations are often one of the best locations to situate the equipment. We would also recommend that the equipment is kept under a shelter and out of direct sunlight (this is nearly always inline with manufacturers instructions).

We use our own team of experienced professionals to carry out the work. We allocate resources dependent on the scope and complexity of the installation. We pride ourselves in broad engineering expertise and project management, that goes beyond electrical and roof work.

This of course depends on the nature of the installation scope. Smaller domestic installations of up to 20 solar panels can be completed in as little as one day. Whereas, larger commercial installations of hundreds of panels can take weeks.

Pest prevention

There are a few solutions on the market for pest protection. We recommend a black mesh which is discrete and very effective at keeping birds and rodents from nesting under your panels.

Finances

This depends on the unit rate of electricity at the time of charging. If a car has a 90 kWh battery, then charging at a typical rate of 33p per kWh means it will cost around £14.85 to charge the car by 50%. EV energy tariffs are a great way to save money, to carry out the same charge whilst on an EV tariff rate of £0.07 per kWh, means the cost is instead just £3.15!

This is difficult to say as there are many variables. Commercial installations typically demand a fee of £800 – £1200 per kWp. Much depends on the scope, which can vary in complexity between sites. Of course, choice of equipment and access requirements also influence the overall cost.

The payback period for a solar system is highly dependent on a number of factors. Such as, solar yield, upfront cost and proportion of generated energy which is self consumed by the property. Often, the more energy that can be consumed, rather than exported, the better the payback period. This is why battery storage has become so popular, especially in domestic properties where large proportions of energy are consumed in the evenings, when solar irradiance is not a resource.

Immersion Diverters

An immersion diverter works in a similar way to a battery system by diverting excess energy which would otherwise be exported to the grid for a small reward. Immersion diverters take this excess energy and energise the heating element of a water tank, so you have the benefit water heated by the sun!

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