Solar PV for Homes

Solar Panels

Photovoltaic (PV) cells are made from layers of semi-conducting material, usually silicon. When light shines on the cell it creates an electric field across the layers.

Groups of cells are mounted together in panels or modules that can be mounted on your roof. The power of a PV cell is measured in kilowatts peak (kWp).

A typical domestic installation will be rated somewhere between 3.5kWp and 4kWp – but the exact specification will depend on a variety of factors, such as the size of the house, number of occupants and current/future electricity needs.

There are numerous products on the market to choose from. We will help you select the very best panels for optimal performance and to suit each individual’s requirements in terms of energy needs, property size and budget.

Inverters

The main component of a solar PV installation is the inverter.

Solar inverters convert the electricity from your solar panels (DC, or direct current) into power that can be used by the plugs in your house for your TV, computer and other wired products (AC, or alternating current).

Solar panels cannot create AC power themselves, they need to be fitted with an inverter. Product leaders are the Sunny Boy inverters produced by SMA and Fronius.

The typical warranty on these products is 5 years however this can be extended to 25 years.

Solar PV panels are well worth considering if you have a mainly south-facing roof with little or no shade.

The maximum power output from solar panels will be achieved for a south-facing roof with a tilt angle of between 30° and 45° with no shade.

Although a south-facing roof would yield the best power output, a south-west or south-east-facing roof would also be beneficial. Solar panels work on both sunny and overcast days. Most roofs are suitable for solar panels regardless of pitch, velux windows or chimneys.

Planning permission is generally not required for domestic solar panels. Exceptions apply for listed buildings and buildings in conservation areas.

The Met Office website has useful radiation maps. The higher the radiation figure, the more electricity your PV system will produce.

Whether or not we’ve installed your Solar PV system, they do require maintenance, albeit minimal. If the panels are kept relatively clean and are not overshadowed by larger trees or other unforeseen obstructions your panels will work at their optimum capacity.

In the UK panels that are tilted at 15° or more have the additional benefit of being cleaned by rainfall to ensure optimal performance. Debris is more likely to accumulate if you have ground mounted panels. If dust, debris, snow or bird droppings are a problem they should be removed with warm water.

However we would recommend that a system health check is carried out every 3 years as systems that are not inspected over this time period could be up to 30% less efficient than when they are new.

Our Solar PV Maintenance packages will ensure that your system is safe and preforming to its full capability.