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Chiltern Solar want to help get those questions answered from feed in tariff, solar PV panels to solar energy.

Experts in all aspects of solar energy and installation.
If you would like more information on our services please email or call us.

What is solar photo voltaics or PV ?

Solar Photovoltaic’s (PV) is a system which generates electricity from sunlight (photo meaning light, voltaic referring to electricity). Sunlight is free and endless, the energy generated is completely free and the systems have no carbon output, making them truly renewable.

When the pv panels are exposed to daylight  the electrons in the semi conducting material become energised and are able to generate an electrical direct current (DC). The direct current (DC) then needs to be converted into a 240V alternative current (AC) so it can be connected to the main electricity supply. This means an additional device called an inverter is used which constantly monitors the electricity imported from the national grid, modifies the DC electricity produced by the solar panels and converts it into AC to match the usable electricity.

Once converted into AC electricity by the inverter the electricity generated by the Solar PV system is automatically used to power the lights and electrical appliances.

Chiltern Solar consultant will take you through a series of checklist questions which will determine whether your property is initially suitable for PV such as orientation of roof, amount of roof space available, access for scaffolding, planning issues etc. This will include a basic desk-top survey using mapping software to estimate how much roof space you have, giving an indication of the price of the system. At your request, a Chiltern Solar surveyor will visit your home to confirm the size of the system, take details and dimensions of your property and identify any issues that could impact on the installation. The installer who will complete the job will then conduct one more brief visit to confirm the survey findingsand provide the official quotation for the installation.

Because solar PV panels react on light from the sun they work in the winter and also on overcast days however, output will depend on the hours of daylight and the angle of the sun in the sky.
The size of solar system you will need depends on several factors, including the size of your property,  how much energy / heat you use, the orientation of your roof, the size of your roof, and how much you’re willing to invest. At Chiltern Solar we offer a bespoke service that gives you the best performing system depending on all these factors.
Ideally, they should be on a pitch of between 30 and 60 degrees (which is why roofs are ideal) facing due south so as to maximise the sunlight falling on them. South East to South West orientations are still excellent. As the orientation is rotated round to East or West the system might be expect to generate about 15% less electricity than a south facing array, but there is still a good return to be made.
The survey will involve a comprehensive check of the roof for suitability of Solar Panels. The surveyor will also check the electrical distribution board and all other aspects of the installation such as location of PV panels, orientation, and access for scaffolding, loft access etc.
On average a 1 kW of Solar PV panels covers approximately 7.5m². So for a small system, 2kWp, a minimum of 15 m² will be required. Because the panels are a set size, a good rectangular area of around 5m by 3m is ideal as a minimum surface area requirement.
In order to ensure you are getting a recognized quality and workmanship, there is a mark of accreditation called the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) which covers all renewable energy installersand equipment. Both the system and the installer should be MCS accredited as it is a requirement to claim the Feed in Tariff, plus it gives you added peace of mind for your investment. The pv panels supplied by Chiltern Solar all hold the MCS accreditation as are the installers who carry out all the installations.
Chiltern Solar are also members of the REAL Assurance Scheme was set up by the Renewable Energy Association. It aims to guarantee a high quality experience for consumers wishing to buy or lease small generation units for their home, for a community building or for a small business. RECC membership is a sign that the supplier has agreed to abide by the high standards set out in their consumer code.

In most cases, no. Solar PV is classed as permitted development provided it falls within certain criteria. However, it is always a good idea to check with your local authority and get written confirmation. Chiltern Solar will work with your local planning authority on your behalf to obtain written confirmation of a permitted development as part of our customer service.

There are situations where permitted development rules don’t apply, namely if the building is listed or in a Conservation Area, National Park or Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.In this case it is likely that you will have to seek planning permission but it will depend on the type of installation i.e. where the panels will be located on the property e.g. for conservation areas planning will sometimes allow PV panels if they are not facing the road. Chiltern solar will be able to offer advice and help you through all aspects of your planning enquiry.

Because solar PV panels react on light from the sun they work in the winter and also on overcast days however, output will depend on the hours of daylight and the angle of the sun in the sky.

No, the system is automatically switched off. This safety measure protects engineers who may be working to restore power and stops any leakage on to the national grid.

Any additional power created is automatically sent back to the grid for other homeowners to use, unless you have a battery storage system installed where you can store the energy to use later in the day or evening when your solar panels are no longer generating.

If the optimum angle is not achievable, over 90% of the maximum annual energy can still be achieved at 10 degree and 50 degree tilts. South-facing vertical facades generate around 70% of the maximum.

Orientation, shading and the temperature of the PV elements all impact on their output and must be considered at the design stage. Of course, the more energy efficient the building, the greater the overall benefit of the PV cells.

You could expect to use about half of the electricity you generate. In this case you would use about 850 units for a south-facing 2.0kWp system. This generated electricity replaces what you would buy at about 12.5 pence per unit from your supplier, so you would save around £106 per year. For larger systems this saving would be proportionally higher.

The generated units from a 2.0kWp system will replace around 1700 grid units, saving about 0.75 tonnes of CO2 per year. The figure for the 2.7kWp system is 1.0 tonne and for the 3.5kWp system is 1.3 tonnes.

All of our PV installers are MCS accredited as are the panels that will be fitted. You will therefore be eligible to register for the Feed in Tariff.

While this depends on the size of the system and the complexity of the project a typical installation should take no more than 1 to 2 days. From the point of signing the agreement and paying a 25% deposit installations are planned to take place between 2- 4 weeks time. This will be subject to product and material availability.

Solar PV system needs little maintenance – you’ll just need to keep the panels relatively clean and make sure trees don’t begin to overshadow them. In the UK panels that are tilted at 15° or more have the additional benefit of being cleaned by rainfall to ensure optimal performance. Debris is more likely to accumulate if you have ground mounted panels. If dust, debris, snow or bird droppings are a problem they should be removed with warm water.

Warranty
Solar PV panels are built to last for at least 25 years and most manufacturers offer a 25 year output warranty on a sliding scale. e.g
10 year guarantee on performance output to 95% and 25 year guarantee on a performance output of 85% inverter manufacturers generally offer a 10 year warranty which can be extended to 20 years for a small fee if requested. Alongside the manufacturers guarantee’s, Chiltern Solar offer a 10 year workmanship guarantee for extra peace of mind.
A well-designed and maintained PV system will operate for more than 20 years. The PV module, with no moving parts, has an expected lifetime exceeding 30 years. The most common cause of problems is the failure ofelectronic parts included in the Balance of Systems (BOS) – the controller, inverter, and protection components. These are all covered in a 5 -10 year warranty.

A well-designed and maintained PV system will operate for more than 20 years. The PV module, with no moving parts, has an expected lifetime exceeding 30 years. The most common cause of problems is the failure of electronic parts included in the Balance of Systems (BOS) – the controller, inverter, and protection components. These are all covered in a 5 -10 year warranty.

Yes, a deposit of 25% of the overall project price will be taken at the point of agreement as confirmation of the customer’s intention to go ahead with the proposed works.
A further advanced payment of 35% of the overall project price will also be required after the seven day cooling off period has expired. This will be no more than three weeks before the agreed installation date and used for work under the agreement for the specific project for  example purchasing goods, in this case PV solar panels.