Solar PV installation

 Following the closure of the Feed-in Tariff scheme to new solar PV system applicants in March 2019, the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) was introduced to provide financial support to small-scale renewable energy generators for the electricity they export to the grid. The savings from solar PV with the SEG are considerably higher than without it.

 In Great Britain, the Smart Export Guarantee pays you for the electricity you generate.

 In Northern Ireland, you can get paid for any surplus you export – usually estimated based on how much you generate. Several organisations offer this service, so if you’re interested, we recommend researching their offers to find one that works for you.

 The amount you will pay is influenced by the size of array and will be affected by any difficulty with access to your roof. Some of the installation costs can be shared if you already have scaffolding up for roof repairs or if you are building a new house. Costs are also affected by whether you choose panels or tiles, and whether you opt for building-integrated panels or choose panels that sit on top of your roof. Panels on top of the roof are the cheapest option, while tiles are the most expensive for the equivalent system.

 The cost of ground-mounted systems is more difficult to predict, as there are more variables such as the type of mounting frame, and how far away it is from the house.

 Costs can vary between installers and products, so we recommend getting quotes from at least three installers.

 Simple payback with vs without the Smart Export Guarantee in London, South East England

 Simple payback with vs without the Smart Export Guarantee in Aberystwyth, Wales

 Most households will use about 15-25% of the energy you generate, though this can change quite dramatically based on:

 Whether you heat your home or hot water using a heat pump or other electrical heating.

 Instead of sending surplus electricity to the grid, a PV diverter switch can power the immersion heater in your hot water tank, storing hot water for you to use later. On its own, excess solar energy is unlikely to meet all of your hot water needs, but it can help reduce your bills.

 Solar PV systems need little maintenance. Keep an eye on nearby trees to ensure they don’t begin to overshadow your system.

 In the UK, panels that are tilted at 15 degrees or more benefit from being cleaned by rainfall, which helps to ensure optimal performance. Debris is more likely to build up if you have ground-mounted panels, or if you live in an area with more dust in the air. In these cases, you might need to have the panels cleaned occasionally.

 Once fitted, your installer should leave written details of any maintenance checks that you should carry out to ensure everything is working properly. This should include details of the main inverter fault signals and key troubleshooting guidance. Ideally, your installer should demonstrate this to you once the system has been installed.

 Keeping a close eye on your system and the amount of electricity it’s generating (alongside the weather conditions) will help you understand what to expect and alert you to when something might be wrong.

 The panels should last 25 years or more, but the inverter is likely to need replacing sometime during this period, at a cost of around £800 (depending on system size and the manufacturer). Some inverters have online monitoring functions and can warn you by email if the system fails.

 Most inverters have warranties of five years as a minimum, which can often be extended up to 15 years. Speak to your installer about the likely lifespan and benefit of an extended warranty. You might find that a 15-year warranty costs almost as much as a replacement inverter, so consider it carefully.

 Consult with your installer for exact maintenance requirements before you commit to installing a solar PV system.

 Photovoltaic (PV) systems are a commonly used solar panel system in the UK. Photovoltaic systems convert sunlight directly into electricity.

Solar Panel Company

 Solar cells are made of semiconductors, such as silicon, which absorb the sunlight and convert it into electricity.

 Solar cells are connected electrically and packed together in a frame, commonly known as a solar panel. When you connect multiple solar panels together, they form a solar array. And, finally, when you add the cabling, brackets, inverter, and so forth, the entire system forms your solar panel system.

 The electrical conductors are attached to positive and negative terminals, thus forming an electrical circuit. From there, the electrons can be captured in the form of an electric current (electricity). This current, together with the cell’s voltage (which is a result of its built-in electric field or fields), defines the power (or wattage) that the solar cell can produce, and is how solar panels convert sunlight into electricity.

 Grid-connected systems make use of the local utility grid to ensure you are never without electricity. If your residential solar panel system generates more electricity than your household requires in a day, this surplus energy can be exported back to the national grid. On the other hand, if you need more electricity than your solar panels have generated, the grid can supply this.

 Stand-alone PV systems are not connected to the grid, but instead charge a solar battery system. These batteries store the electricity generated by your panels. To operate your appliances, the stored electricity from these batteries will be used. Stand-alone systems are used in areas that cannot be connected to a grid, and are typically more expensive than grid-connected systems because solar batteries are still quite costly.

 Solar batteries store electricity generated by solar power and let you use it during the evenings when your solar panels are not generating electricity. You can make use of solar batteries whether you are connected to the grid or not.

 Solar battery storage system costs are not low, ranging from £1,200 to £6,000, depending on the size and capacity. However, technological advancements are leading to new solutions year after year, and may likely lead to a reduction in solar battery prices.

 Solar battery storage system costs are not low, ranging from £1,200 to £6,000, depending on the size and capacity. However, technological advancements are leading to new solutions year after year, and may likely lead to a reduction in solar battery prices.

 Solar thermal panels use sunlight to heat up water that is stored in a cylinder, which can then be used for your home heating needs. Solar thermal panels are roof-mounted, just like electric solar PV panels, but look slightly different, as instead of cells they have multiple pipes that heat up water. A related technology is thermodynamic panels, which extract heat from the ambient air.

 Both solar thermal and thermodynamic panels can be used for space heating, but most commonly they provide the domestic hot water (DHW) needs of households.

 Are you considering investing in solar panels for your home or business? If so, you’re not alone. Solar power is becoming more and more popular as people become more aware of the benefits. Not only does solar power help reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, but it also saves money in the long run.

 But with so many options available, it can be tricky to know which solar panels are the best for your needs. That’s where MaxPower come in. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about solar panels, including the different types available and the benefits of each. We’ll also walk you through maintenance so you can add life years to your solar panels.

 You should consider solar panels for your home for a number of reasons.

 First of all, investing in solar panels ultimately makes clean solar energy which is a renewable resource, which means that it’s sustainable and won’t run out. Second, using solar energy helps reduce your dependence on fossil fuels, which is great for the environment.

 And finally, installing solar panels can actually save you money in the long run. You may think that the initial investment is too high, but when you consider the cost savings you’ll get from not having to buy electricity from the grid, it’s really a no-brainer.

 When it comes to solar panels, there are a few factors you need to consider.

 The most important factor is the size of your home or business. You’ll need to calculate how many kilowatts your property requires in order to produce the desired amount of energy and to know how much solar panels you would require for your needs.