Solar PV &Wind turbines Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

a) General
b) Solar PV
c) Wind turbines

General

Q.	Do larger projects qualify for the Feed-In Tariffs?
A.	Yes installations up to 5 megawatts can qualify for the Feed-In Tariffs.

Q.	What does generation mean in respect of the Feed-In Tariffs?
A.	Generation means you create your own electricity.

Q.	What does export mean?
A.	Export means when you don’t use all the electricity your system makes you are left with surplus power, which then gets sent back into the national grid. This is called export.

Q.	Will I need to change my electricity supplier?
A.	No absolutely not. You retain the right to pick and choose your own supplier at your discretion.

Q.	Will my electricity be turned off during the installation?
A.	Your power will need to be disconnected very briefly towards the end of the installation in order for the final connection to be made by our installation team. You will of course be kept up to date and informed when this is will take place.

Q.	How much electricity will I save?
A.	This entirely depends on a few factors. Factor 1: how big your installation is in kW i.e. 3kW, 15kW, 30kW. Factor 2: how you manage your electricity usage. For instance, a typical domestic 3 bed detached house uses around 4500 kWh/year. If a 3kW Solar PV system was installed and managed correctly it could save around 60% of your annual usage. The message here is the bigger the system the more you benefit financially and save on energy bills.

Q.	In an emergency can I call you if my system is not working?
A.	Yes, we provide a standard 24-hour emergency call out during the first 12 months of post-installation. After this time has passed you will of needed to have taken out our maintenance contract where our team of highly trained engineers are on call and available 24-hours a day.

Q.	Do I still get an electricity bill?
A.	Yes you will still get an electricity bill for the electricity you use from the national grid. However this will be massively reduced.

Q.	What happens if I don’t use all the electricity the system generates?
A.	In this situation the surplus electricity is called your export and gets sent back into the national grid. Any surplus electricity exported back to the grid can be sold for a minimum of 3p per kWh. Thus, you will be paid for your export as well as your generation.

Q.	Do wind turbines and Solar PV systems add value to my property?
A.	Yes, if you think adding a new bathroom or kitchen adds value, then think what free electricity and an annual income will add to the value of the house! I’m sold, are you?

Q.	Is the work carried out by your company or is it sub-contracted out?
A.	The work is carried out by our highly experienced, qualified and fully apprenticed trained teams. There are no cowboys or rogue traders here. We are members of the National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers (NAPIT) and many other affiliated organisations. We are rigorously inspected by these organisations to ensure our staff are up-to-date and maintain the highest standards expected of them. You, our customers, are our life-blood. Pleasing you, delivering high standards of workmanship and high-end products are our top priorities.

Solar PV

Q.	If it is not a very sunny day will the Solar PV system work?
A.	Yes. Although the Solar panels work best in direct sunlight, very good performance can still be given in the ambient light (or diffuse radiation) of a cloudy day.

Q.	Will the Solar PV work at night?
A.	No, the system only works in daylight.

Q.	What is an off grid system?
A.	An off grid system is where your property is not connected to the national grid so you have no mains electric on site. In this situation the Solar PV system would power a charge controller and a PV battery bank. An inverter would then convert the DC electricity into 230 v AC electricity. This type of system would charge the bank of batteries during daylight hours and would provide power throughout the day and night. An off grid system would require a generator or other means of electric back up during the winter months. We fit theses types of systems.

Q.	Will the system still work in very cold weather?
A.	Yes, the system will work in much colder temperatures than we experience in this country. However, it will not work if the panel is covered by snow, as this will prevent light striking the Solar cells.

Q.	What should I do if it snows?
A.	Nothing. If snow collects on the surface of the panels it will rapidly melt. In fact the design will cause the snow to melt more rapidly from the panels surface than it will melt from other parts of your roof.

Q.	Who is responsible for the maintenance and up-keep of the Solar panels?
A.	Our company provide a standard 12-month installation guarantee. We also offer longer-term maintenance contracts for all the installation work carried out by our company. Throughout the term of our maintenance contract we will ensure that your system is in good working order and providing you with free electricity so you can gain maximum financial return on your investment.

Q.	Do you require access for any maintenance?
A.	Yes only if you take out our maintenance contract and it would be entirely at your convenience and we would contact you to arrange a suitable date and time.

Q.	How long does it take to fit them?
A.	For domestic systems, half a day to erect the scaffolding and two days to fit the system followed by another half a day to dismantle the scaffolding. In total, three full days dependent on the weather. During the installation our highly trained electricians and engineers will need to have access to your attic in order to carry out the wiring phase and access to the consumer unit/fuse board. This is not a disruptive process as most of the work is carried out outside.

Q.	Do the Solar panels make our roof more insecure in high winds?
A.	No, absolutely not. The panels fit very closely against the roof so there is minimal space for wind to blow under them. Furthermore, the fixing system has been rigorously tested to ensure stability in even the most severe weather conditions

Q.	What happens if our roof tiles are damaged during the installation?
A.	In the unlikely event that a tile is damaged in the fitting process, we will repair it at no cost to you.

Q.	Do I need to notify my building insurer?
A.	A. Yes you will need to notify your building insurance provider as the system will become part of the building structure.

Q.	Can I install Solar panels myself?
A.	Installing the system yourself would affect the warranty and also void yourself from many grant schemes, as most require the system to be installed by an approved installer. In most cases installation costs are less than the benefits that grants would deliver.

Q.	Do you need planning permission for Solar PV systems?
A.	For roof mounted systems, planning permission is not required unless: the Solar panels project more than 20cm above the plane of the roof or above the highest part of the roof (excluding chimney), or the property is in a conservation area and the proposed installation is on the actual wall of the building, not sloping roof, and would be visible from the public highway (i.e. installations on roof slopes do not need permission, even if visible from the public highway) or if the property is a listed building. If in doubt, it is advisable to contact your local authority.

Wind turbines

Q.	Are the turbines noisy?
A.	No, the blades rotate at a relatively slow rpm and the blade aerodynamics all contribute to ensure the turbines are quiet in operation.

Q.	What happens when it is not windy?
A.	If your turbine is battery connected, power is stored in the battery, which you can use when there is no wind. If your turbine is grid connected and you sell excess power to the grid, when there is no wind, your power will come from the grid.

Q.	Q. Do wind turbines affect animals?
A.	No wind turbines do not affect animals. Wind turbines are installed on livestock and poultry farms, in wildlife parks, nature animals reserves as well as in equestrian centres.

Q.	Do wind turbines, Solar PV systems interfere with electrical equipment?
A.	No, there is no interference whatsoever with electrical equipment.

Q.	Is my site suitable for a turbine?
A.	We would recommend a site-based assessment of your proposed location. This will let you know if your site is suitable for wind turbines. When assessing a site, due care and attention should be given to high obstacles such as trees, buildings and hills, which can block the wind flow and significantly reduce the available wind speed.

Q.	What space do I need to erect the turbines?
A.	Each turbine and tower requires its own “footprint” on the ground. As a rough guide taking the tower height and multiplying it by 2.5 will give you an approximate clearance space. The width required is the rotor diameter +2m to allow enough space to raise and lower the turbine. Guyed towers might require more space. To discuss your requirements why not complete the enquiry form on our website and someone will call you back to discuss it in more detail.

Q.	Can I install a turbine myself?
A.	Installing the turbine yourself would affect the warranty and also void yourself from many grant schemes, as most require the turbine to be installed by an approved installer. In most cases installation costs are less than the benefits that grants would deliver.

Q.	Do I need planning permission for a wind turbine?
A.	Planning permission is required in the UK for wind turbines but planning regulations vary geographically. We recommend you contact your local planning office at your local authority for further clarification about planning and installation.

Q.	Can I appeal a planner’s decision?
A.	A planner’s decision can be appealed if you follow the appeal process as per the instructions on your application form.

Q.	What is the life of the turbine?
A.	The turbine has a design life of 25-years.

Q.	What is the servicing frequency?
A.	The turbines require to be serviced annually by an accredited installer to ensure that the warranty remains valid. We recommend that the turbine be serviced annually after the warranty expires. We can provide this.

Q.	Can I get a service and maintenance plan?
A.	Yes, service and maintenance plans are available and a quotation for this can be prepared for you.

Q.	Do I need to have the work carried out by an MCS accredited installer to claim the Feed-In Tariffs?
A.	Yes the only way you can claim for the Feed-In Tariffs (FITS) is if the products installed are MCS accredited and the installation company are MCS accredited.