Solar PV

Solar panels generate electricity using the light energy (not the heat energy) from the sun. The panels produce energy from daylight – it doesn’t have to be direct sunlight - so they still produce energy on cloudy or overcast days.

An inverter then converts the electricity from DC to AC, for use in the home. The electricity produced is either used directly in the home, or when the system is producing more power than required, is exported to the grid. At night or at other times when more energy is required, power is supplied from the grid in the normal way.

The Feed-in Tariff (FIT) has been designed to encourage the installation of small-scale, low carbon technologies. Solar PV is one of the technologies included within the scheme along with others such as wind and hydro.

Any individual or business installing Solar PV is entitled to claim on this scheme as long as their installation is carried out by an MCS registered company, such as Eveco.

Payments on the FIT scheme are tax free, index linked and guaranteed for 25 years under Government backed contracts. Once an installation is on the scheme the owner benefits in several ways:-

Feed in Tariff (FIT)

This name is quite misleading as this is actually a Total Generation Tariff, which pays out for all the power produced even if it is used for free in the building. A separate meter is installed in the property which counts all the electrical power produced by the Panels. This figure is multiplied by the Feed In Tariff (FIT) level up to 41.3p/kWh and this is paid to you by the Utility companies, but backed by the Government and enforced by OFGEM the electricity and gas regulator.

Export Tariff

Pays you for any electricity you don't use, which is exported to the national grid. This is on top of the Feed in Tariff. Solar PV systems ensure the house uses any power it needs first, then exports the surplus to the grid. This surplus is brought by the Electrical suppliers who will pay an additional 3p for it. Utility suppliers will either install a special meter to monitor the power going back into the grid, or assume it will be about 50% of all the system produces.

Free Electricity

You will also benefit from savings on your electricity bill, as you will be generating part of your electricity requirements yourself and hence buy less from your supplier. The system is designed so that the property will use all the available power from the PV first before it takes any from the grid.

MCS stands for Microgeneration Certification Scheme. This Scheme approves Products and Installers within the Microgeneration Industry.

To Claim the Feed-in-Tariff Solar PV Systems must be MCS approved products and installed by MCS approved companies.

Companies such as Eveco who are accredited under this scheme are inspected to ensure they operate to a professional level and offer clients a quality product and service. Installers must also abide by the consumer codes set out by organisations such as the Renewable Energy Association (REA).

If you are considering the installation of a Solar PV system, you must make sure that the product and the installers are MCS approved. If either is not you will not qualify for the Feed in Tariff payments and cannot backdate the accreditation of an installation.

Find Eveco on the official MCS site:-
www.microgenerationcertification.org/

There are three factors which affect the output of a PV system

1. The System Size

The size of a PV system is measured in kWp and obviously the larger the system the larger the output. PV Modules normally range from 180W to 245W. A ten module system of 180W panels will give a total system size of 1.8kWp.

2. The Orientation of Collectors

PV systems gain their energy from solar radiation, so the better the orientation of the modules the greater the amount of energy they will absorb from the sun. The best orientation of modules is due south at about 30 degrees. However the modules are still very effective when orientated at anything from 90 degrees of due south and can be positioned vertically to horizontally if required.

3. The Amount of Overshading

To achieve maximum solar gain the proposed location should have no trees, buildings etc that cast shadow over the Modules. However as PV system only require light to produce Electricity rather than direct sunlight some Overshading is not a problem.

All quotations produced by Eveco will come with a full calculation of a systems performance, produced using the Government’s standard assessment procedure for energy rating of buildings (SAP). This is an approved calculation under MCS guidelines and gives clients an estimated annual figure of a systems output and financial returns.

Any business or Individual installing a PV system on their property will qualify for the Feed in Tariff Scheme. Payments through the scheme are arranged through your electrical supplier.

Eveco will deal directly with your electrical supplier and make all arrangements to set up your contracts. Leaving you to wait for the cheques to arrive.

Do you have a sunny place to put it? You'll need a roof or wall that faces within 90 degrees of south. If the surface is in shadow for parts of the day, your system will generate less energy, but is still effective. Alternatively you can ground mount panels on ‘A’ frame systems.

Is this location suitable to fit PV? PV Panels can be fitted on almost all roofs, either on raised rails or with in-roof kits similar to velux windows. Alternatively they can be fitted on walls, flat roofs or on frames. Eveco will ensure building structures are capable of taking the load, but this is only likely to cause an issue on poor building structures or with very large systems.

To encourage the installation of PV special planning concessions have been granted meaning that Planning is not required in most situations.

In England, changes to permitted development rights for domestic renewable technologies introduced on 6th April 2008 have lifted the requirements for planning permission for most microgeneration technologies.

The General Permitted Development Order (GPDO) grants rights to carry out certain limited forms of development, without the need to apply for planning permission. In brief the only time when planning approval will be required would be as follows:-

Roof Mounted:

Permitted unless;

• panels when installed protrude more then 200mm.
• they protrude above the highest point of the roof. (excluding Chimneys)
• they would be placed on the principal elevation facing onto or visible from the highway in buildings in Conservation Areas and World Heritage Sites.

Stand Allong, e.g. Field or Ground Mounted:

Permitted unless:

• more than 4 metres in height
• installed less than 5 metres away from any boundary
• above a maximum area of array of 9m²
• situated within any part of the curtilage of the dwelling house or would be visible from the highway in Conservations Areas and World Heritage Sites.

If in rare instances planning is required, Planning Authorities are under pressure to approve scheme and in most instances should be a formality.

Eveco can provide all help and advice on planning issues relating to your property and proposed development.

Eveco consistently monitor the cost of our PV installations to ensure we offer our clients the very best value for money in terms of product, installation and after sales care.

If you would like some general guidance on the cost of a PV install please call or e-mail a member of our team and we will be happy to give you our latest guide prices.

Some companies will offer a Free PV install on what is known as a ‘Rent a Roof’ scheme. These companies will pay to install PV on your property and once signed up to this scheme will typically receive all payments from the Feed In and Export Tariffs.

The advantage to the homeowner of such schemes is that you use the power generated in the home for free although sometimes this is also sold at a discounted rate.

However for those who can afford to finance the installation themselves Eveco does not believe this is a good option.

The amount of electrical energy available to the property is not as high as you might expect and will certainly not cover all your needs. Obviously there’s no power in the evenings and limited on cloudy days. The main income and benefit of Solar PV is the Feed-In tariff that you would not be entitled to once signed up.

Signing up to such an agreement can also be a confusing and detailed contract that will be placed on the property and last for 25 years. This may cause issues if trying to sell and may even devalue the property, as the new owner would effectively have to inherit the contract as it is attached the property.

Eveco’s advice if considering such a scheme is to fully consider your options. The ‘Free PV’ offer may not be as beneficial as it originally sounds. Do your calculations and consider a range of finance options. Most of all remember that these companies only offer this scheme as they understand the large returns available on the Feed-In-Tariff scheme.

Select a professional, experienced and well established company to provide you with a feasibility survey.

To arrange a no obligation, free of charge site feasibility survey please contact us.

Eveco will provide you with all the information you require to make an informed decision on the suitability of Solar PV to you and your property.