Frequently asked questions
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Solar technology reacts to daylight, not sunlight. Our country’s overcast weather is well suited for solar, as it also offers the ideal operating temperature. Today, London generates the same amount of solar power as Madrid and the UK is Europe’s fastest-growing adopter of solar energy.
Not necessarily. South-facing panels offer the best performance but installations facing east and west come a very close second. Our consultants will assess your property to ensure that solar will be viable for you.
A typical Solar PV system for the home is made up of 10 solar panels producing about 4,000*kWhs of free electricity per year. (*a kWh is a unit of electricity). Most of our customers use between 4,000 and 6,000kWh per year in their home.
Yes, we can install solar panels on outbuildings including barns, sheds, and garages. We can also install ground-mounted systems.
Roof-mounted, home solar panel installations are seen as ‘permitted developments’, so the majority of customers will not need to apply for planning permission; unless your home is listed, or you wish to have a ground mount. Planning consent might still be required in a conservation area so it is advisable to check with your local planning authority/portal.
Most home installations take a day (or two) at the most. Our consultants will be able to provide a more accurate estimate once they’ve carried out your initial survey.
A 20m² roof will typically fit a 4kWp system comfortably. We install systems from 4kWp to over 100kWp and will be able to advise on the best size to suit your needs and roof space.
Many of our customers choose to add a battery system to their solar array to enable them to store any excess power generated, when normally it would have been lost back to the National Grid.
Instead, any excess power can be utilised to help meet your energy needs in the summer, manage additional consumption in the winter and improve self-reliance throughout the year, particularly in the event of a power cut.
With all battery storage systems, we will need to seek permission from your DNO, (District Network Operator), which will be the National Grid (previously Western Power) or SSE.
More information about our battery offerings can be found
Adding a battery to your solar array will enable you to store any excess power generated when normally it would have been lost back to the National Grid.
Instead, any excess power generated can be utilised to help meet your energy needs, manage additional consumption and improve self-reliance; particularly in the event of a power cut.
For additional peace of mind, some of our batteries have a “reserve” setting, which ensures there will always be stored power within your battery, available when required.
With all battery storage systems, we will need to seek permission from your DNO, (District Network Operator), which will be the National Grid (previously Western Power) or SSE.
Depending on the type of system, batteries can be installed both inside and outside of the property.
An average storage system will require approximately 1 – 2m² of wall space.
Glossary
Industry language, simplified
Array
This refers to grouping solar panels to maximise their energy absorption. The 'array' is how many panels are used and where they are installed for efficiency.
Export
Sending energy elsewhere. In a solar context, this usually means sending the electricity you've generated back to the National Grid.
kWh
Shorthand for kilowatt-hour, this is the standard unit used to measure electrical energy usage (consumed or produced) during a one hour period.
PV
An acronym for photovoltaic. This refers to technology of solar: how sunlight is convertly directly into electricity using solar panels.
Single-phase
An electrical setup that uses one alternating current (AC) waveform to deliver power, typically used for residential or small-scale solar installations.
Double-phase (or three-phase)
An electrical system that uses multiple AC waveforms, providing more consistent power delivery, commonly used in larger commercial or industrial solar installations.
Battery
A battery bank allows you to harness all the solar energy generated. Instead of sending excess back to the grid, your battery will automatically bank that energy for your future use.
Ground mount
A ground mount solar system is where solar panels are installed on the ground, supported by a frame. It is an alternative to rooftop solar systems and is often used when there is ample land available.

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