What is Photovoltaic (PV)
Solar PV is electricity produced from an endlessly renewable and plentiful resource in – the sun. Sunlight is converted to electricity by photovoltaic (PV) cells, which are usually made of silicon. Solar PV systems require almost no maintenance, produce virtually no pollution or greenhouse gases, operate silently and generate electricity whenever the sun is shining, even on a cloudy day.
How does solar PV work?
PV cells, electrically connected in series into modules, are typically mounted on a south-facing roof. When sunlight strikes the modules, DC electricity is generated and transported through wires to an inverter. The inverter changes the DC electricity into AC electricity for use in the house to power appliances, lighting and electrical and electronic equipment.
What kinds of solar PV systems are there?
Solar PV has long been used in off-grid situations – such as for remote buildings, cottages and recreation vehicles – where the electricity is stored in batteries for use at night. An increasingly significant option is to connect the system to the national grid through the building’s existing fuseboard. This allows solar PV owners to export surplus electricity to the grid and to draw electricity from the grid when the sun isn’t shining or producing enough power for the home’s needs. In other words, the electric grid acts as a storage device (instead of expensive, inefficient batteries), thus providing a stable supply of electricity.
What do I need to do to connect a solar PV system to the electric grid?
Green Home Energy Solutions takes care of notifying the District Network Operator DNO for connecting your solar PV system to the grid. This includes installing an Ofgem approved meter that keeps track of how much electricity your solar PV system is generated.
How much does a solar PV system cost?
It costs £4.500 to £6000 per kilowatt of installed capacity, with the first kilowatt costing a bit more. Note: Prices continue to fall as the technology improves and the use of the technology increases.
Once installed, how much maintenance is needed?
Very little in fact, the whole installation is designed to be maintenance free. The panels are self cleaning and there are no moving parts. Because we use top quality products with 5 years product warranty and 2 year workmanship you will have many years of trouble free energy generation
Can I obtain a government grant?
You can only obtain a government grant if your PV system is installed by an accredited microgeneration certification scheme approved installer displaying the MCS logo. Green Home Energy Solutions was the first company in the Norwich area to achieve its accreditation. You can apply for a grant online via the low carbon buildings program/ Energy Savings Trust websites. You will receive confirmation, generally within 24 hours, if your application is approved. You should seek this approval prior to entering into a contract with us.
How much grant will I receive and is it taken off the cost of installation?
The amount of grant is dependant on the Kwp output of your installation and the cost of the installation. To obtain the maximum grant available (£2,500) for the least outlay you would need to install a 1.23Kwp (about 6 modules). The full cost of the installation is payable to Green Home Energy Solutions, we then provide you with all the necessary documentation to claim your grant directly from the Energy Savings Trust.
I have heard about a new feed-in tariff would I quality for this and what is it?
From April next year the Government has announced a new feed-in tariff. This tariff is an incentive structured to encourage the adoption of renewable energy through government legislation. The higher prices help to overcome the cost disadvantage. Whilst the final figures have yet to be agreed it is estimated that a home owner would received 36.5p per unit generated and a further 5p on top for any units exported. It is estimated that on a 2.5Kwp system producing an estimated 2125 units (Kilowatt hours (kWh)) of electricity per year you could receive somewhere in the region of £775,also take into account that half of the units you produce you will export at 5p per unit (1062 x 5p= £53) with the savings on avoided electricity purchases (1062 x 13p = £138) TOTAL ANNUAL SAVINGS + INCOME £966.00 back a year on your investment as well as reducing your energy costs. This makes the returns on your investments greater than most saving accounts. Again your installation would need to be completed by an accredited installer.
Can I claim for both the Government grant and the new feed-in tariff?
Yes, it is expected that the Government grants will remain available until the new feed-in tariff is launched. You will be able to claim both if your installation is competed by an accredited installed, thus making this an optimum time to have PV installed.
Why should we choose Green Home Energy Solutions to install our PV system?
Green Home Energy Solutions is a family run company that is passionate about renewable energies. We specialise in the installations of photovoltaic's. We pride ourselves on the quality of our products, workmanship and our excellent customer service.
To ensure we maintain our high levels of customer service we ask our customers after completion if they would complete a customer satisfaction survey. We are delighted to say we’ve received some fantastic feedback. Below are a few recent comments:
October 09 - Mr C from North Norfolk, "The installation went very smoothly and performance since has been trouble free"
October 09 – Mr H from North Norfolk, "Great value & excellent service".