No, although a south facing system is optimal, in the real world your property may not be orientated that way or have shading to the South. Fantastic results can be achieved with East and West facing systems that can generate power from sunrise until dusk making a good spread of generation throughout the day.

The Feed-in Tariffs (FIT) scheme closed to new applicants from 1 April 2019. From the 1st January 2020 a government backed initiative called “Smart export guarantee” was launched making it possible to get paid for excess energy exported to the electricity grid via eligible energy suppliers. Our compliant installations are supplied with an MCS certificate and correct documentation from the DNO as required for the SEG. With these, your SEG eligible energy supplier will apply for an “Export MPAN” (Meter Point Administration Number) from the DNO (District network operator) often referred to as the national grid. Once your supplier has the export MPAN you will be able to benefit from SEG. It is worth noting that you will need a smart meter (see smart meter FAQ).

In order to be eligible for SEG payments you need a smart meter that can give half-hourly export readings. The best way to be sure your smart meter has this functionality is to contact your electricity supplier who will confirm, and can arrange a free installation if a newer model is required.

Domestic solar installations are subject to a zero-rate of VAT meaning there is no VAT to be paid. The relief is set to last until 31 March 2027 in England, Scotland, and Wales.

That depends on several variables such as type of system installed, location, how much energy you use and when you use it. We have completed installations with paybacks of as little as 5 years through to well in excess of 10 years. Some customers are motivated by a return of their investment while others are more motivated by their desire to increase the use of renewable energy sources and are willing to wait for their investment to return. Some properties and scenarios are simply better suited for solar but the motivation behind it is a personal choice.

There is two parts to this question:

Firstly we can check using specialist software for suitability relating to performance which is broadly dictated by direction of the roof, area for the solar PV panels and shading. All relevant factors are calculated to give a forecasted performance in line with the MCS standards enabling us to provide a performance vs cost proposal allowing you to clearly understand the quality of your investment from both perspectives.

Secondly we will conduct a survey of your roof to understand its condition, after all it makes no sense to fit solar on a roof when its condition needs addressing. During the survey inspection we will take notes, photos and measurements and feed them back to an independent structural Engineer along with the information of the proposed additional weight of the new solar. They report on their findings with reference to weight, effect of wind and snow loads alongside the general condition, enabling an informed decision as to if the roof is suitable.

Yes. Solar panels need irradiance from the sun to work, on a sunny day it is clear that they can receive lots of this. In the UK we often have cloudy days but that doesn’t make it dark and in fact the diffused sun rays give an effect of lighting up the clouds which in turn give lots of evenly dispersed irradiance the solar panels use. Furthermore the efficiency of solar panels drops significantly in hot conditions above 25°C. In fact May is often regarded as the best month for Solar PV production in the UK due to its relatively long days and cooler temperatures.