Solar Power...

Feed In Tariff
There has been a lot of publicity since the government announcement that the Feed-in Tariff was to be halved on December 12th 2011.

Installing solar to your home still makes great financial sense. The Feed In Tariff  has dropped 21p KWp, but solar panels are falling in price and therefore we can pass this saving on to our customers. This saving on installation prices means that it is still possible to get a 12% return on investment. Electricity prices are also forecast to triple in the next few years providing you with even greater savings.

The financial return for our customers is still compelling AND STILL UP TO 12% RETURN ON INVESTMENT.
Renewable energy is the future. It is a free and unlimited resource. The primary alternative energy we recommend for homeowners comes from solar photovoltaic panels (PV). You receive money for all the power generated, both what you use and the surplus that is exported to the national grid. An average household would generate more than enough electricity for daytime usage with any surplus exported to the grid and earning extra income.

An average solar installation on a typical roof may be 1.8 kWp, which could make you up to £1000 tax-free each year between energy bill savings and sales to your energy company. The energy companies must pay a high rate for the electricity you generate, called the feed-in tariff, because the government has guaranteed it for 20 years. It is income tax free and index-linked for inflation, so that you are immune to the raising of traditional energy prices in the future.

The sun is an amazing source of energy; some question whether there is enough sun in the UK to generate sufficient energy. This is very far from the truth solar power systems are more than capable of producing a wealth of free renewable energy from the sun. Photovoltaic panels produce electricity from daylight not direct sunlight, so they still produce energy on cloudy or overcast days.

When the sun’s light hits the solar cells, instead of the energy converting to heat, it converts to electricity due to the material used in the solar panels. This electricity can either be used to provide power in your home or can be sold into the national grid.

1. The PV array is installed in the best location to maximise the power output, for example in a residential installation on the roof. The PV modules are connected in series to generate a direct current (DC).
2. This direct current is converted to alternating current (AC) at grid rating by the inverter. Each kWp installed in the UK will generate, on average, 800kWh. This will vary depending on orientation and location.
3. This AC generated by your PV system is connected into the main distribution box for the building. Here it is used the same as the electricity that would have been drawn from the grid.
4. In times when you are producing more than you are using, any excess is fed back to the grid while in times of excess demand, this is topped up by drawing from the grid.

Calculate the Savings

*Based on government SAP calculations – south facing, 30 degree pitch, no shading