Where does Solarsense Install?
We generally install within a 2 hour radius of Bristol - for a more detailed map of the areas we cover, please see this link
Do I need planning Permission?
Generally planning permission is not required, it is only required if the building is listed or if it is in located in National Park. In the case of AONBs (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) solar panels are allowed to be fitted to the main property but not to out buildings. In conservation areas solar panels are permitted under Class C of Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995. The GPDO is the part of the law that allows solar panels to be let into the roofs of dwelling houses (i.e. houses not divided into flats), provided the panels or arrays do not project significantly above the roof plane. This is the same Class which gives permission for skylights and roof lights and replacement roofs. Fro the purposes of Class C, it is not relevant whether the roof is at the front or back of the property. More information on recent planning changes can be found in the News section.
Is my home suitable for a solar installation?
Nearly all homes have a roof that faces a suitable direction. Ideally south facing roofs are the best but systems can be fitted on an east or west facing roof. If there are no suitable roofs a system can be fitted on a floor standing “A” frame for example in a garden or hard standing area.
Are there grants available?
Yes, grants are available from the Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP) the maximum grant per household can obtain is £2500. The maximum grant available for solar thermal is £400. For more details on the grants please contact a member of our staff.
The grants available for charities and non profit organizations fall under Phase 2 of the LCBP. The grants available for these organizations can be up to 50% of the total costs. In addition, top up grants may be available from utility companies.
Will having solar energy improve my home?
Yes, a recent guardian article (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2006/sep/23/energy.business) has found that the average house value rose by 9% by having solar P.V. installed on the property. We have also had a few customers recently sell their houses and have said that the solar installation was a big selling point which lead to a faster sell than other properties in the area.
How much will my solar installation contribute to reducing the amount of CO2?
The average house uses approximately 3000 to 4000 kWh per annum. A typical 2 kW system of P.V. panels will approximately generate 1500 to 1800 kWh per annum. This equates to saving roughly 645 to 817 kg CO2 annually.
A solar thermal system comprising of 20 evacuated tubes (which would provide 60-70% of annual domestic hot water needs for a 4 person family) would save approximately 285 kg CO2 annually.
Is there much disruption during installation?
No, the installation is usually done in a couple of days with little disturbance as most of the work is on the roof, in the loft and airing cupboard.
Is there much maintenance?
No, the solar hot water system requires a top up of antifreeze between every 3-5 years. P.V. systems have no moving parts and do not require any maintenance.
Are the grants easy to obtain?
Yes, the grant application for householders can be completed easily online within 5 minutes. Charities and schools applying to Phase 2 for funding will have their grant applications completed by dedicated staff at Solarsense.
Should I wait until the new generation of solar cells becomes available?
No, because domestic applications of the newly emerging technologies are some years away from being available to us or our clients.
The '3rd-generation' of solar cells is often talked-about by the media as being on the verge of a breakthrough, but the reality on the ground is somewhat different. We understand that CIGS (Copper-Indium-Gallium_Selenide modules are currently being produced with a mass-market efficiency of up to 13.5%, which compares with polycrystalline modulescurrently available. The maximum test efficiency under laboratory conditions is just under 20%, which is about what we can get from a good hybrid panel.
When volume manufacturing really takes off, this will be a very useful technology, but right now, only governments and major research institutions are being allowed to purchase the new technology, or even find out the technical data on it. It is likely to be several years before this filters to the level of UK installation companies.
Other thin film technologies are also being developed, as close to home as South Wales (such as Dye Sensitized Thin Film), but this is far less efficient and is better suited to mobile applications (phones, computers etc) for the present time.
As soon as the situation changes in this regard, rest assured we will be amongst the first to exploit the possibilites and pass the opportunities to our clients.
