The Mercedes of solar panel technology, that lasts longer than your mortgage
Extra incentive - Most of us are used to paying our energy suppliers, but under a new HotRocs scheme from Good Energy and is now paying its customers to heat using solar heating panels. You can learn more about this on our 'Green Energy Schemes' page.
"When you purchase our Photovoltaic solar system, you can be sure that you are buying a product of the highest possible quality. Installing PV solar panels will provide hassle-free, no-maintenance needed, which allow you to enjoy the benefits of solar energy for many years to come."
FAQ's about PV solar panels
Are pv solar panels suitable for my home?
Most homes are suitable, if you have a S/SE/SW facing roof space, then probably. Your internal electrical set up will need to be checked for compatibility and this can be done through our free home survey and quote service.
What is a feed-in tariff?
In a nutshell, you will be paid by the governments Clean Energy Cash Back Scheme for your surplus energy produced and used. 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. Already these tariffs are used in many countries, including Germany, Spain, Australia and some US states with great success.
What is the 'clean energy cash back scheme' or 'Fits scheme'?
The 'Clean Energy Cash Back Scheme' is a feed in tariff is for all units of electricity produced (private or business) regardless of whether it is used in the property or not. The feed in tariff will be paid for 25 years. These tariffs will cover the initial cost and earn a return of around 8%, according to the Government. The Scottish equivalent is the 'Fits scheme'.
Why apply sooner rather than later
The 'Clean Energy Cash Back Scheme' is a scheme to encourage early take up of PV solar technology and just like Germany's similar pioneering scheme, early adopters of the scheme will get much better feed-in tariff rates than later uptakers, eventually finishing altogether once demand has been achieved.
The new governments Clean Energy Cashback Scheme commonly called the
feed in tariff is available for UK home owners
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.
How much will my PV system cost?
The cost of a solar electric system depends on several factors but is usually based on system sizes. Contact us for our PV price list...Quotes & suitability >
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. This will end April 2010, so be quick.
What about payback?
A 2kW system is likely to cost around £10,863 to install and could generate around 1,800 units of electricity per year. This would translate into an annual profit of around £808 (Savings and Income from Feed in tariff). Based on these figures, it would take a household around 10-15 years to recoup its investment. Proven life spans for this technology is 30-40 years.
"People who install PV solar panels acknowledge energy prices will rise continually 5, 10, 15 even 30 years from now. People inversting today will benefit from cheaper installation and product cost"
Solar installations will get cheaper with time, won't they?
Unfortunately the indicators are that price's will rise.
As a recent Financial Times article points out, the cost of energy, resources, materials and manufacturing is rising globally. It's likely that solar panels will never be cheaper than they are now as future panels and installations will consist of inputs {energy + materials} that cost far more than today.
Although we do our best to keep prices reasonable, their are customers we spoke to 2 years ago who wished they had bought back then.
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.
Is my home suitable for Photovoltaics?
Photovoltaic (PV) 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. Learn more >>
The innovative PV array technology and mounting systems means that PV can be retro fitted on existing roofs or easily incorporated into new builds.
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.
The 3 main types of PV cells, which is best?
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.
Monocrystaline PV solar is the most efficient solar sold around the world.
How much roof space do I need?
The system does take a lot of roof space, but (photovoltaic) pv solar can be installed within your garden area using 'A' frames, facing south, if roof space is a problem.
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.
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.
Do solar panels work on cloudy days?
This depends on the type of solar panel and the density of cloud. In moderate cloud density solar energy can still be collected and used. In heavy density cloud, probably not. Take your solar calculator out on a cloudy day. It will still work.
Can I sell my surplus energy?
Yes, feed in tariffs (Clean Energy Cashback Scheme) will credited and reward you. The scheme is time sensitive designed to reward the earlier takers with bigger feed in tariff rewards.
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.
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.
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.
Do you send salesmen round to my house?
Many solar companies claim to send surveyors to your home, but really they are only salesmen. We properly survey your home and provide you with a tailored quotation based on your individual homes specifications.
Our trained technicians are just that, technicians. The complexity of making sure homes are suitable require experience. Our technicians however, will be happy to sit with you and explain the technologies to you.
What makes your panels better than your competitors'?
We know our solar panels are the best because they have been shown to out perform any of our competitors products. Sharp engineered quality with full European Solar Keymark accreditation.
How long does a PV solar system last?
With a good quality PV system, it will easily last 30+ years and it has recently been proved that PV solar installed in the 1960's is still working.
20 years warranty applies on our PV systems.
The longer term benefits of a PV installation
Now, the costs of installing a system. A modest but well-sited 1.8kWh PV system, suitable for an average, costs about £11,500.
You can expect to earn £657 for the feed-in tariff and an extra £45 from electricity sent back to the grid and save £118 on your annual electricity bills. The panels would pay for their costs in 10 years, though you would not have your capital. If you did have £8,000 in the bank, as the years tick by, solar slowly catches up, and overtakes the bank deposit by year 26.
After 30 years, compound interest would turn the £8,000 in a savings account to £27,568. Assuming the money from solar (the feed-in tariff and electricity savings, etc) is deposited in a bank after the installation costs have been paid off at year 10, harnessing the power of the sun would be worth £40,654 after 30 years.
Get a solar quote
We will inspect and tailor a quotation to fit your individual needs and supply you with a premium quality solar system which will benefit you for many many years.
We only promote the highest quality and best performing solar panel technology available. All our installers adhere to strict quality criteria and have extensive experience in domestic and largescale installations.
A word about quality
There are some companies who are importing and selling poor quality Chinese systems in the UK. Heat my Home 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.
We're confident that our exclusive solar panels offer unrivalled quality. That's why we stand behind our solar panels with a full 10-year guarantee on performance.
Heat my Home offers a 'no quibble' guarantee on quality.
EXTRA incentives after you have solar panels installed
Good Energy's award winning HomeGen scheme allows you to have your cake and eat it. They are now paying people with PV solar panels 15p for every unit of electricity generated. We pay you 15p for all the units you generate - even the units you use. Not only are you saving money by buying less electricity, we pay you for using the electricity you generate. If you are are generating some of the electricity you use at home, we would love you to join HomeGen.
With solar panels, solar energy can be collected, harnessed & used
