FAQs

Planning permission is normally only needed if the installation is ground mounted, on a listed building or in a National Park. If you are unsure about your need for planning permission, please call your local planning department or check the planning portal guidance for domestic solaror non-domestic solar.

An average domestic installation can be completed in 1-2 days. We’ll let you know if we expect yours to take longer.What is the Smart Export Guarantee?This is the new ‘Feed-in-Tariff’ which requires Electrical Energy Suppliers to pay Solar PV owners for their exported electric. Here’s what you need to know:

• You can shop around to get the best rate for your exported energy. You can find Energy Suppliers here.
• Smart Tariffs are available which pay different rates at different times of day; e.g., Octopus offers split tariffs amongst others.
• Most Tariffs will simply pay a flat rate per kWh no matter what time of day the export happens.
• Systems claiming FIT are not eligible unless they give up their export payments.
• Your energy supplier will need to install a smart meter if you don’t already have one.
• Make sure your Solar PV system is installed byan MCS accredited installer.

This is the new ‘Feed-in-Tariff’ which requires Electrical Energy Suppliers to pay Solar PV owners for their exported electric. Here’s what you need to know:

• You can shop around to get the best rate for your exported energy. You can find Energy Suppliers here.
• Smart Tariffs are available which pay different rates at different times of day; e.g., Octopus offers split tariffs amongst others.
• Most Tariffs will simply pay a flat rate per kWh no matter what time of day the export happens.
• Systems claiming FIT are not eligible unless they give up their export payments.
• Your energy supplier will need to install a smart meter if you don’t already have one.
• Make sure your Solar PV system is installed byan MCS accredited installer.

We will send you an email a month after the installation to take readings and check you are happy with everything. We also email you each year to take annual readings to ensure everything is in hand.

There are many manufacturers (many based in China, even Canadian Solar!) that are competing to have the best warranties, the highest efficiency and be the most aesthetic. Unfortunately, there isn’t a product that trumps in every area. 

The key is to buy ‘tier 1’ panels (we only use tier 1) which is effectively manufacturers who have a high ‘bankability’. I.e., they are financially secure and will therefore honour the long-term warranties in place. For example, Trina Solar has a 15-year product warranty and a 25-year performance warranty whereas Longi has a 12-year product warranty and a 25-year performance warranty. However, Longi has a 21.1% efficiency on their 500-watt panel whereas Trina has 20.5% efficiency on their 410-watt panel.

Efficiency relates to the amount of watts that can be generated from a square meter. The more output a panel can produce from the same dimensions, the more efficient they are.

Solar PV panels are sized in kWp (kilo watts peak) which refers to their performance under Standard Test Conditions. However, you need kWh (kilo Watt hours = units of electrical energy) as the more kWh your system generates the bigger the impact on your bills.

Product warranty guarantees against any manufacturing defects, i.e. physical faults with the panels. Thesewarranties usually offer a replacement panel or refund the cost of a replacement panel but don’t cover scaffold, installation or the investigation to find the fault in the first place, which can be the most expensive part of all.

Performance warranty, sometimes called degradation warranty, guaranteeshow much power a Solar PV panel will retain after 25 years. All warranties promise their panels will retain at least 80% of their power after 25 years. Some manufacturers offer better warranties that guarantee more than 90% of their power after 25 years. Check the panels datasheet for details.

Yes, we are an FCA Appointed Representative with finance options available

Yes, we provide an industry standard 2-year insurance backed installation guarantee which is governed by the Renewable Energy Consumer Code HIES.

We install Solar nationally across the mainland England, Wales & Scotland.