Business Energy Assesments Limited

PV FAQS

How does solar PV work?

Photovoltaic solar panels (PV panels) convert the sun's light energy into DC electricity which may then be converted to AC, via an Inverter, and used to supply a mains electrical system.

PV cells are panels that you can attach to your roof or walls. Each cell is made from one or two layers of semiconducting material, usually silicon. When light shines on the cell it creates an electric field across the layers. The stronger the sunshine, the more electricity is produced.

The strength of a PV cell is measured in kiloWatt peak (kWp). That's the amount of energy the cell generates in full sunlight under standard test conditions.

Are there different types of solar power systems?

There are two distinct types of solar system you can install on your house:
- Solar thermal for making hot water.
- Solar electric panels (also known as 'photovoltaics' or 'PV') which make electricity.

BSolar only offers 'photovoltaics' or solar electricity systems; we do not provide solar thermal systems.

Why solar PV not Solar Thermal?

Solar thermal (according to the official OFGEN figures) can typically provide around 30% of the typical home hot water requirement. How water accounts for approximately 30% of the gas used by your boiler. You will therefore save in the region of 12% per annum on your gas bills. For a normal home this is in the region of £50 to £70 per annum. At an installed price of £3000 that equates to a 50 year payback period. As Solar Thermal panels are such a poor investment BSOLAR will not install these. Their sale is also not subject to the same strong code of practice as Solar PV and BSOLAR does not wish to be associated with the high pressure sales techniques used by Solar Thermal installers.

Why solar PV and not wind power?

Wind is great on larger scale installations or on coastal areas or windswept hills, but your average urban location means performance and efficiency is low. You need a very large turbine to make a sizeable dent in the average domestic energy bill, this has been confirmed by government testing. Urban locations do not have the correct wind speeds and vibration problems could lead to structural building damage. In an open field Wind power is an excellent choice and could realise a slightly higher return on investment than Solar PV.
"The likely output of a micro-wind turbine on a pitched roof house in a large city such as Manchester would be less than 150kWh a year; 2% of the energy consumption of an average house"

How do I get paid for the energy generated?

The energy suppliers pay the feed-in tariffs to those who generate the clean electricity. When you apply for the feed-in tariff, you should ask your energy supplier how and when payments will be made. Payments must be made at least quarterly.

What is the VAT rate?

Domestic Solar PV installations are rated at 5% VAT in order to encourage consumer investment in this area.

What warranty is provided?

All BSOLAR installations come with a free insurance-backed warranty. Your deposit is fully secured and the installation is warranted in full for 10 years. In addition to this the solar panels installed are warranted by their manufacturer to operate to at least 80% of their initial efficiency for either 20 or 25 years. As there are no moving parts there is no reason why the system should go wrong and the expectation is for a 40 years lifespan.

Do I need planning permission?

Solar roof systems fall under permitted development rights so you do not need planning permission, although if you live in an area of 'outstanding natural beauty', a National Park, Conservation Area, Site of Special Scientific Interest or in a listed building you should contact your local council.

What if I move house?

If you get solar installed and start claiming the 'Feed-in Tariff' you will have lower bills and a steady income from the 'Feed-in Tariff' payments. These benefits can be transferred to the new home owner and so when you come to sell your home you can charge more for it as it comes with an inbuilt income.

What happens if there is a power cut?

Solar electric systems for homes are entirely grid connected. If there is a power cut your system is automatically switched off. This is a safety measure designed to stop electricity leaking on to the national grid and to protect people who may be working to restore the power supply.

How durable are the panels?

You should not stand on them but they will comfortably handle the wind loads and snow weight of the UK.

Do the panels require cleaning?

Not as long as they are mounted at a steep enough angle (>20º) so that the self-cleaning glass works. In the same way Velux windows work.

Why do you get more money for electricity produced than you pay for electricity used?

The energy that you produce is from a renewable source. Solar power is free, clean and green. This is in comparison to energy produced from non- renewable sources which are rapidly being depleted and contributing to global warming. The FIT scheme will help drive the UK to meet the EU target of 20% by 2020. This also reduces our dependence on energy sources from other countries. There is an increasing demand for 'green electricity', what is the point of an electric car if the electricity is generated by a coal-fired power station?

What happens at night?

At night, when the solar roof is not generating electricity, you buy electricity from your supplier like normal (at less than 1/3 the price they pay you for it).

What effect will solar PV have on my carbon footprint?

A solar PV system can immediately help lower your carbon footprint and reduce your impact on the environment. This will also improve the energy efficiency of the property as recorded in an EPC (energy performance certificate). Solar electricity is green, renewable energy and doesn't release any harmful carbon dioxide (CO2) or other pollutants. A typical home PV system could save around 1200 kg of CO2 per year - that's around 30 tonnes over its lifetime.

What is the carbon payback period for the manufacture and transport of Solar PV?

It is generally agreed to equate to just under 3 years of the electricity production of the Solar PV system. Almost all manufacturers offer a free recycling scheme.

Is solar PV suitable in the UK with our climate?

The UK receives 60% of the solar energy compared with the equator. Each square metre of the UK receives between 900 - 1200kwh of solar radiation each year. Because the UK is generally colder the efficiency of the solar cells is increased making the UK a good climate for solar PV.

Will solar PV work in winter?

Yes solar PV will still produce energy through winter. The shorter length of day and increased cloud cover does affect your output. This is why we look at system production over a whole year. It will not work when covered by snow or leaves.

Will I still have to pay electricity bills?

Possibly not. It depends on the size of the Solar PV installation compared to your energy usage. Many installations result in just the power company paying the householder.

Do panels have to go on the roof of my house?

No. PV can easily be installed on frames within your boundaries, or out-buildings with suitable roofing.

How long do the panels last?

Solar panels have a manufacturer's performance warranty of 20 or 25 years and a working lifetime of 40 years and beyond.

Why BSolar?

With a long established background in energy saving consultancy and in training new Energy Consultants we have the credentials to only recommend installations that are truly effective.

You can rest assured with BSOLAR that the energy consultant that visits your property will look at a range of measures that will make your home more efficient and cheaper to run. We will recommend that you do not get solar PV installed if it is not suitable. If it is suitable then we will work with you to identify the options and the scale of solution that best meets your needs.

BSOLAR Energy Consultants do not use high pressure selling tactics. You will be advised of a suitable solution and a price. The price is not discounted on the day to encourage you to sign up. In fact - you cannot sign upon the day of the consultant visit. We will send you a written proposal and then contact you later to determine whether you intend to proceed.

As an ethical provider we hope to gain your recommendation to others and realise that in order to achieve this we must demonstrate that we are indeed ethical and capable of providing quality solutions. We do this!