This fact sheet answers most of the practical questions you might have about a solar installation. If you've got a different question or want to talk to an expert, please call 0845 052 2765 or send us a message.

Do solar panels need full sunlight?

No. Solar PV or solar photovoltaic systems generate electricity from daylight. You do not need full sunlight to produce electricity. Solar panels will generate electricity in any weather as long as there is daylight. The greater the intensity of daylight, the more power you'll generate. Shading affects power output, so nearby trees need to be well pruned to ensure optimal performance.

Ideal Solar Positioning

For an installation to be effective you should have a South facing (south west through to south east) aspect but this does not need to be the roof of your house. It could be the roof of any building - garage or outbuilding or it could be an area of land or garden suitable for a ground mounted installation.

How much can solar power save me each year?

Savings can be substantial. A 2 kWp system (about 16m²) could provide around 50% your electricity needs as well as generating enough income through the feed-in tariff to say goodbye to electricity bills.

At current rates you can expect to earn over a £1,000 a year with a 2.5kWp system. In addition you will save upwards of 1,000 kg of CO₂; a year. The bigger your system the more you save.

Do I need planning permission for a solar panel system?

In most cases, planning permission isn't required unless your property is listed, situated in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, in a local conservation area or a World Heritage Site.

Aren't solar panels and installations all the same?

No. Only certain solar panels and equipment is accredited for use if you want to claim the feed-in-tariff. Because we constantly monitor over 100 installations nationwide, we've amassed considerable data about what works best in each location. Over the 25 year lifetime of an installation, even small performance advantages will add up to considerable savings.

The main components in a solar PV system are the choice of panels and the choice of inverters. Both of which must be MCS accredited to access the Feed-in tariff and will have an impact on the amount of power (and profit) your system can generate.

Grid Connected or Off Grid Power?

We can build grid connected systems and off grid systems.

Off grid systems are not connected to the national grid. Do not export electricity to the national grid and need battery storage. You can still be paid for the energy you generate under the feed-in tariff.

Grid connected systems mean you can use solar power for electrical items when it's available. When you're producing electricity and not using it, you'll export power to the national grid. When your system isn't providing energy (for example, at night) your electrical items will use energy from the national grid.

My energy needs far exceed the amount of energy I could generate given the size of my roof. Is there any point in getting solar PV?

Yes. Under the feed-in tariff, you'll get paid for all the electricity you produce - even if you don't export any of it to the national grid.

In addition, because electricity is often generated during the day (and most electricity consumption is usually at night) you are likely to find that you'll be exporting about 50% of your power to the national grid.

Even a small system can be a worthwhile investment because you get paid the feed-in tariff even for generating electricity that you use yourself!

What kind of maintenance will it need?

Very little - panels need to be kept relatively clean (rainwater generally does the trick!) And you don't have to keep an eye on it all the time either. Our monitoring system means that if anything ever goes wrong, we'll know first and will contact you immediately.

How much space do I need?

The space you need to install a solar PV system starts at around 14sqm for a roof mounted system. This gives you enough room for a 1.8kWp system.

For larger systems you will require 8sqm. for each additional kWp fitted. So for example a 3kWp system will require 24sqm. of space.

We also fit ground mounted and flat roof solar panels. Ground mounted systems and flat roof systems are different and need more space to avoid solar panels shading each other.

What about "free solar panels" offers by large companies wanting to rent my roof space?

Large companies have cottoned on to the fact that solar PV technology is a good investment for them. They offer to rent your roof space for up to 25 years and in return you get to keep the savings on your electricity bill.

This is usually a fraction of the actual income you might have generated had you installed your own system. If you can possibly afford your own system and benefit from all of the profits of your own installation - we recommend you invest in your own system.

If you are considering any company offering "free solar panels", we suggest you read the details of the contract carefully before committing yourself to any long term agreement.

How do I find out more?

Simple. Just call us on 0845 052 2765 or send us a message and we will contact you.