Ground Mounted Tracking Solar Panels

It can be overwhelming when you start to research the pros and cons of a solar power solution, there is so much information available. However, it is important to undertake some research and understand the advantages and disadvantages of installing a solar power system.

Advantages

• Significantly reduced electric bills

• Insurance against rising energy costs

• Cheaper power source

• Return on investment

• Environmentally friendly, provides clean renewable energy.

• Energy independence

• No VAT payable until 2027 on solar installations for domestic properties

• Low maintenance costs

• Can increase home value

Disadvantages?

• High initial cost

• Not financially viable if you plan to move house within the next few years

• Small amount of pollution during manufacture, transport, and installation.

• The roof of your property may not be suitable for solar panels either due to the tiles, available space, or orientation.

You do not need to have a battery for your solar PV panels to work. However, energy storage allows you to use more of the eco-friendly energy you generate in your home rather than exporting it back to the grid.

If you are out most of the day and use most of your electricity in the evenings, it makes sense to store the power generated in the day in a battery for use at night.

You are also able to store cheaper power from the grid at night to store for use the next day.

Check your latest electricity bill or smart meter

It is useful to know your estimated annual usage before contacting us, this will then allow us to create a system specifically for your needs.

Example: Your average usage is 3,300kW hours annually,we quote for a 4kW system, which would generate approximately 3,300kW hours annually.Your panels would not be performing at 4kW 24/7;therefore, it is always wise to have some extra power to generate more kilowatt hours than required and to futureproof your property. You may at some point buy an electric car.

If you are on a single-phase supply your Distribution Network Operator (DNO) has set an installation limit of 4kW at peak performance, this is generally the phase most domestic properties are on.

If you are on a three-phase supply, generally a business and usually a farm, your DNO’s limit is a 12kW installation.

We can, however, install a larger system with permission from your DNO, we can request this permission on your behalf using your MPAN. This service is generally free of charge.

There are a few ways to decipher whether you are on a single or three-phase supply:

• It is written on the meter face – ‘single-phase,’ ‘mono-phase,’ ‘1-Phase.’ Or ‘Tri-Phase,’ ‘Polyphase,’ ‘3-Phase.’

• Give your electricity supplier a call – do make sure you have your bill in front of you to verify your account details!

• Have a look at your Main Switch, is it 1-pole wide (single phase) or 3-poles wide (3-phase)? A 1-pole is 18mm wide and a 3-pole is 54mm wide

Single Phase

3-Phase

There are currently no grants available, although the Chancellor did abolish VAT on domestic solar installations from April 2022 until April 2027, to encourage homeowners to switch to green energy.

Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is provided by electricity suppliers, where their customers are paid a standard flat rate to sell their excess electricity back to the grid. It is worth exploring the best provider with the highest flat rate, as these can change. You will also need a smart meter to take advantage of a SEG.

Most installations come under permitted development. You will require planning permission if your house is a listed building or in a conservation area.

You will also require planning permission for a ground mount installation.

For further information on planning permission for single and three phase installations please clik here.

The inverters, batteries, and workmanship have a 10-year guarantee. The solar panels are guaranteed to be working at least 80% efficiency after 25 years.

We generally use our own scaffold, which enables us to be more efficient and the scaffold around your house not to be up for any longer than necessary. The team of roofers will install the scaffold before they start work and dismantle upon completion.

For more complex projects we use external scaffolders, who would install the scaffold a couple of days before installation.

You will need your MPAN if you request to have an installation bigger than the 4kW limit for a single-phase supply, which your Distribution Network Operator (DNO) has set. We can request approval on your behalf. This is usually a free service.

You will find your MPAN number on your electricity bill in a series of boxes with a letter ‘S,’ to the left, the MPAN number is the long number on the bottom row.

MPAN