Electric PV Solar Panels . On grid Photovoltaic Solar Panels
. PV Systems . PV Solar UK . Photovoltaic Solar . PV Micro Generators
Frequently asked questions
What is a feed-in tariff?
In a nutshell, you will be paid by an
energy company for your surplus energy produced. Rather than storing it
in batteries, our system automatically feeds your excess to the National
Grid and you will be paid annually for your contribution.
Is PV solar best for my house ?
It would be worth finding out how much
electricity you consume on an annual basis from your energy supplier in
kWh. Use our 'Annual Contribution Guide' (bottom right graph) to see how
PV solar would benefit your household.
How much will PV generate ?
A PV system would generate approximately
750 kWh/year per kW installed. So our basic 1 kW system would generate
around 750 kWh per year, and a 5kW system will produce around 4500 kWh.
Installing PV solar is a great way of 'future proofing' your home.
Will it supply all my electricity ?
The average household consumption is 3000
kWh per year. Thus on average, our smallest 1kW system could supply nearly
25% of your electricity over the course of the year, depending on your
consumption rates and it may be possible to do more, by carefully reducing
your energy use.
What grants are available ?
There are government grants to assist
with this type of solar, offering a maximum of £2,500 per household.
What does 'grid connected' mean ?
The generated electricity, which will
obviously vary according to the level of sunlight, means the excess energy
produced will be directed out to the National Grid, and you will be credited
accordingly.
In this way the deficit between generation
and demand can simply be purchased from your electricity supplier as normal.
Advantages of installing a PV system
No emissions, no noise
No maintenance (no moving parts to wear out)
Intergrated into or mounts onto an existing building
Visually attractive
Is my home suitable ?
This is dependent on the size of your roof.
The panels can be configured in many different ways to fit, but the illustration
(right) shows you the sizes for each 1kW. If roof space is an issue, another
option is to ground mount them on a frame within your garden. Visit our online survey
for more information >>
Do I need planning permission ?
No planning permission is needed, unless
you live in a listed building or conservation area.
What maintenance is required ?
One of the advantages of PV solar over other
UK micro generation
technology is that no maintenance is required because it is a solid state
energy conversion process.
A word about quality
Because we are independent, we only showcase
the latest and highest quality solar panel systems. We are certainly not
the cheapest, but we insist on high quality at a reasonable cost. We use
Monocrystalline technology.
The 3 main types of PV cells are:
Monocrystalline: made from
thin slices cut from a single crystal of silicon. This has a typical efficiency
of 15 per cent.
Polycrystalline: made from thin slices cut from a block
of silicon crystals. This has a typical efficiency of around 12 per cent.
Thin Film: made from a very thin layer of semiconductor
atoms deposited on a glass or metal base. This has a typical efficiency
of 7 per cent.
Questions when choosing PV Solar Panels
1. How much roof space do
I need?
The system does take a lot of roofspace,
but (photovoltaic) pv solar
can be installed within your garden area using 'A' frames, facing south,
if roofspace is a problem.
2. Are they manufactured within
the UK, supporting British manufacturers?
Help us become a leading renewable energy
supplier to the up and coming worldwide industry by supporting British
industry.
3. I heard PV solar panels
are expensive?
With generous solar
grants available, the increase in your house price after installation
and relief from energy prices, investment in such a system has now become
a real option for homes across the UK.
4. Can I sell my surplus energy?
Yes, ROC's (Renewable Energy Certificates)
are credited to you and tradeable. As energy prices rise, these are increasing
in value and the more you save energy within your household, the more you
will earn.
5. Will installation have
a large impact on my home?
Once the solar panels are installed
on the roof, the inside components do not take up much space inside. Installations
usually can be done within 3-4 days, with installers being considerate,
clean and tidy.
6. What size solar panel system
will I need?
This depends on your energy consumption
rate. You can find this out by looking at your electricity bill and finding
your annual Kw consumption.
7. Do I need planning permission?
Only if you live within a conservation area,
or in a listed building. It is worth contacting your local council beforehand.
A word about quality
There are some companies who are importing
and selling poor quality Chinese systems in the UK. Solar4U has been approached
by these companies, but we refuse to sell sub-standard systems to our customers.
As with anything in life you get what you
pay for, so a cheap option will undoubtedly will be a false economy were
longevity and performance is concerned.
Solar4U offers a 'no quibble' guarantee
on quality.
for FREE