Everything you need to make an informed decision

Frequently Asked Questions

At Solarsense we try and make renewable energy as simple as possible. You can view a list of common questions and answers below. Hopefully this page will provide answers to most of the questions you have but if we have missed anything, or you would like us to go into more detail please contact us.

Yes, despite the removal of Government Feed-in Tariff, installs have been forecast to continue at the current rate and even increase in 2019 due to falling costs and increased awareness of the environmental and long-term economic benefits sought from installing solar panels.

The typical payback period for a commercial solar PV system is 6-8 years.

The typical payback period for a residential solar PV system is 8-9 years.

People often ask whether there is a new breakthrough on the horizon that they should hold-out for. In reality, over the 24 years that we have been in business we have found that breakthroughs in the lab rarely translate to practical solutions for people’s homes or businesses.

We only source tried and tested, ‘tier one’ products from the world’s leading manufacturers and will use the most up to date kit available at the point of installation. We will always notify you if there are any changes to the products listed in your design specification.

Yes, every job is supported by a dedicated project manager. They will guide you every step of the way, including; DNO/G98/G99/grant applications, MCS registrations and planning permissions.

Solar panels are typically mounted on a rail system that is fixed to the roof. A solar PV system is designed to maintain the strength and integrity of your roof, whilst remaining watertight.

Yes, ideally south facing roofs are the best for solar generation, however, east and west may generate similar or even better returns, especially if you use both aspects to create more even power generation throughout the day. Shallow pitched north facing roofs are also an option. If there are no suitable roofs available, a system can be ground-mounted.

Yes, shading should be avoided at all costs. Solarsense will perform a shade analysis as part of any survey conducted and will highlight any shading issues as part of your quotation. There are technologies available that can reduce the effect of shading, however it is worth checking this over with one of our solar design engineers.

 

There are a number of funding options for installing commercial solar PV. We have partnered with some of the UK’s leading financial institutions and can offer up to 100% loans. Please contact us for more information.

 

 

 

Yes, despite the removal of Government Feed-in Tariff, installs have been forecast to continue at the current rate and even increase in 2019 due to falling costs and increased awareness of the environmental and long-term economic benefits sought from installing solar panels.

No, not at this current time. The Feed-in Tariff (FIT) scheme was closed in March 2019 for new registrations and there are no subsidies on the horizon. Solar PV technology has matured past the need for subsidisation and the energy savings alone are strong enough to provide very healthy financial returns.

There are often grants available for installing renewable technologies. Please contact us for more information as to what is available.

The simple answer is yes. However, as a professional company with a high regard for health and safety, there are procedures that we must follow.

If there is a perceived risk we will arrange for a specialist company to take samples and test them. The turn-around from the laboratory on this is 3-4 days.

If asbestos is found we will still be able to complete the installation, however, we will have to add a small premium to the cost of the job to cover respiration equipment, full-body suits, gloves and shoe covers for all workers.

High quality solar panels are likely to last up to 40 years and degrade by approximately 0.5% per annum. The average warranty for a solar panel is between 10-12 years however in many cases it is possible to extend this period on purchase. SunPower currently offer the longest warranty as standard of up to 25 years.

Your solar expert will explain all of the benefits and drawbacks of each panel when specifying your products.

Yes, in most cases installing solar panels will not affect your business operating as normal. For obvious reason we advise that schools, academies and other educational institutes install their solar PV system outside of term times if possible.

The typical payback period for a commercial solar PV system is 6-8 years.

Our installation team all hold the relevant CSCS and site safety cards.

The typical payback period for a residential solar PV system is 8-9 years.

Solarsense has demonstrated compliance with the CHAS standards in line with SSIP Core Criteria and UK H&S Legislation and has been awarded accreditation to the requirements of the CDM Regulations 2015. In addition to health and safety accreditation, Solarsense has also demonstrated full compliance with the following 6 modules of PAS 91: Financial & Business Standing, Environmental Impact & Sustainability, Quality Management, Equal Opportunities & Diversity, Anti-Bribery & Corruption & Modern Slavery.

There is no simple answer to this question as there is a lot to consider when choosing your solar panels including; efficiency, price, appearance, and warranty.

Generally speaking, SunPower are known for offering the most efficient solar panels on the market, however, are higher in cost compared to other manufacturers. Solarsense will offer industry leading advice and guidance as to what manufacturers you should consider when choosing your panels and inverters.

Solarsense are independent contractors; we have no ties to specific products and only source tried and tested, ‘tier one’ products from the world’s leading manufacturers. This offers proven quality and ensures that your warranties will remain intact for the lifetime of your system.

PV modules (panels) can be fitted almost anywhere and can take the form of glass, roof tiles, slates, membranes and more. The key is to identify the correct products to deliver your specific goal.

If you have a preferred product or specific manufacturer that you would like to use, we can build this into your quotation and offer advice to similar panels or a like for like system.

The lead time prior to installation is generally two to four weeks.

The UK – contrary to the popular misconception – is ideally situated to gain maximum yields from photovoltaic solar energy. This is due to a combination of high annual levels of sunshine and UV, low pollution levels and cooling winds (PV yields are reduced significantly in temperatures over 30c).

As part of your free quotation, Solarsense will provide a full analysis of your building and energy usage to provide a realistic projection of what can be generated and used on-site.

Solar panels are made up of photovoltaic cells which capture and convert the sun’s energy into direct current (DC) electricity. This DC electricity is then passed through an inverter which converts it into alternating current (AC) electricity and can be fed through a meter into your consumer unit.

Your system will automatically use the free, clean electricity you’ve generated before switching back to the grid as needed. If you have a battery storage system integrated any surplus electricity generated will be stored for use later on.

People often ask whether there is a new breakthrough on the horizon that they should hold-out for. In reality, over the 24 years that we have been in business we have found that breakthroughs in the lab rarely translate to practical solutions for people’s homes or businesses.

We only source tried and tested, ‘tier one’ products from the world’s leading manufacturers and will use the most up to date kit available at the point of installation. We will always notify you if there are any changes to the products listed in your design specification.

Yes, every job is supported by a dedicated project manager. They will guide you every step of the way, including; DNO/G98/G99/grant applications, MCS registrations and planning permissions.

In most cases no, however Tesla have released their long-awaited island mode that will allow the battery to work without being connected to the National Grid. This is an additional cost and worth checking with your engineer.

No, in most cases solar PV batteries are AC coupled meaning that the energy is stored after your inverter has converted the energy from DC and your meter has measured it.

Yes, we are a certified Tesla Powerwall installer. We install battery storage solutions for homeowners and businesses.

Our challenge is to identify the best products for your specific site and the way you use your energy. If you have a preferred product or specific manufacturer that you would like to use, we can build this into your quotation and offer advice to similar panels or a like for like system.

Like the life of your mobile phone, the lifespan of your battery will depend on how often it is charged and discharged. Each manufacturer offers a minimum number of charging cycles and a warranty period as standard.

There are a number of different technologies on the market, but generally speaking most solar batteries use lithium-ion technology due to its higher efficiency and depth of discharge.

Battery units are typically modular and stackable but vary in size depending on the manufacturer. For a smaller to medium sized business a single battery can be mounted on the ground or to a wall using a bracket.

For larger-scale solutions containing a number of units, you may need to consider a plant room or similar. A 2MW battery is likely to occupy the footprint of a shipping container or similar.

A solar carport will generally require planning permission from the local authority. Similar to connecting a solar PV system, a solar carport will also need permission from the local distribution network operator (DNO).

Yes, absolutely. Solarsense are independent contractors and have no ties to specific products. If you have a preferred product or specific manufacturer that you would like to use, we can build this into your quotation and offer advice to similar panels or a like for like system.

A solar carport is much slower to recover its capital cost when compared to a simple roof mounted solar PV system. The payback period is reduced in line with the size of the installation, as the fixed costs are spread across more solar PV panels.

This will depend on the EV charger’s power output and the charging mode you select, as well as the size of your car battery. Some electric cars can charge in as little as 30 minutes, while others may take 4 hours or more.

A ‘smart’ EV charge point is a charge point which is connected to the internet. There are a number of advantages of installing a smart charge point including; energy usage reports, remote diagnostics and over the air updates.

Yes, The Electric Vehicle Home Charge Scheme (EHVS) provides grant funding of up to 75% towards the cost of installing electric vehicle charge points at domestic properties across the UK.

Yes, the Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) is a government grant for electric vehicles offered by the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV).

The WCS reduces the purchase and installation cost of a new workplace EV charge point by 75% (capped at £500 per socket).

The Apollo GEM is an innovative solar energy management product that will use all the surplus power generated by your PV system to produce hot water. Every unit of power used to heat the hot water in this way reduces imported energy by the same amount resulting in a significant saving in imported energy costs.

Yes. Currently FITs export payments are paid for 50% of all units generated regardless of how many units are actually exported. This means you can use all your generated energy and still receive all the export payments!

Yes, you need both. The Apollo Gem will control your existing immersion heater to divert and store the excess energy generated as hot water in your storage tank.

Solar thermal systems use free heat from the sun to create hot water. A solar thermal system typically consists of solar collectors, a pump and a twin coil hot water cylinder which acts as a thermal store.

A solar thermal system needs to feed into a twin coil hot water cylinder, so that it can be used in conjunction with another heat source. If your home or building uses a combi boiler, there will be no existing hot water cylinder, so a new high-pressure cylinder would need to be fitted. These can fit easily into an airing cupboard, loft or utility space, and provide the dual benefit of fuel savings from solar thermal and a better flow rate from the high-pressure cylinder.

An old or single coil hot water cylinder will need to be replaced with a twin coil cylinder. Solarsense can identify and provide all kinds of heating upgrades necessary for the installation of a solar thermal system and can supply these as part of an installation package.

Our solar thermal evacuated tube heat collectors are manufactured in the UK and specifically designed for Northern European climates. The vacuum inside each tube provides perfect insulation from external conditions, meaning that the system produces hot water throughout the year regardless of temperature or wind chill.

A correctly sized solar thermal system will provide around 70% of annual domestic hot water demand and can assist underfloor heating and swimming pools if specified for this demand.

Solarsense have been working with world leading vacuum tube manufacturers Thermomax (now part of Kingspan Renewables) since the mid-1990’s.

Sunlight falling on each tube is collected as heat by the copper plate. The tubes can be rotated to put the plate at the best angle to catch the sun. Inside each tube, mounted on the plate is a copper tube which screws into the manifold. The copper tube contains alcohol which conducts heat from the copper to the water in the manifold above.

The solar thermal system heats the water in the cylinder via one heating coil. This means it can easily be used in conjunction with a traditional boiler or immersion heater, for occasions when the solar thermal is not producing hot water, e.g. during the night.

The savings you can make using air of ground source heat pumps will be affected by a number of factors including building construction, the heating fuel being replaced and the type of heat distribution system in use (radiators, warm air or underfloor for example).

Solarsense installers will always carry out a full survey of your property before making recommendations on which technology to install. This ensures our assessment of the savings you can expect to see are based on your actual property and how you use it.

Heat pumps are generally allowed as permitted developments in England, but you should check with your local planning office to see if you will require planning permission or not. If you do require permission, Solarsense are experienced in putting forward the required paperwork and will be able to help you with your application.

The heat pumps installed by Solarsense come with a 10-year manufacturer warranty, however typically last for 20 years or more. We would recommend that owners carry out a visual inspection each year and that our installers check them over once every five years.

A solar park or solar farm is a large-scale solar photovoltaic array that is installed to generate renewable electricity. The solar panels convert direct sunlight into electricity and feed it into the local electricity grid via inverters, which convert the current from DC to AC.

A 5MW solar park will typically require around 25 acres of land (10 Hectares). As a rule of thumb, you will require approximately 5 acres per MW of installed solar panels.

A solar park can be appropriately designed and located so that it has a minimal visual impact on the surrounding area. A well-designed solar park will utilise natural screening such as contours in the land and existing hedgerows without sustaining the effects of solar shading. Screening and biodiversity can be improved by planting trees and hedgerows; Solarsense will take this into account during the planning process.

If you move or sell your property within the agreed term, the lease of the roof space and the Power Purchase Agreement are transferred to the new building owner and they will then continue to enjoy the benefits of the discounted clean, green electricity the system generates.

Our remote monitoring equipment will alert us to a fault immediately and it is our responsibility to resolve the problem through our long-term operations and maintenance contract. To minimise the risk of any such issues, we only specify and install high quality equipment supported by long term warranties and guarantees.

Typically, we are able to achieve savings of 10-20% against a client’s grid electricity tariff. The starting tariff (in pence per kWh) is adjusted annually by reference to Retail Price Index (RPI).

There are a number of funding options for installing commercial solar PV. We have partnered with some of the UK’s leading financial institutions and can offer up to 100% loans. Please contact us for more information.

 

 

 

Yes, despite the removal of Government Feed-in Tariff, installs have been forecast to continue at the current rate and even increase in 2019 due to falling costs and increased awareness of the environmental and long-term economic benefits sought from installing solar panels.

No, not at this current time. The Feed-in Tariff (FIT) scheme was closed in March 2019 for new registrations and there are no subsidies on the horizon. Solar PV technology has matured past the need for subsidisation and the energy savings alone are strong enough to provide very healthy financial returns.

The typical payback period for a commercial solar PV system is 6-8 years.

The typical payback period for a residential solar PV system is 8-9 years.

People often ask whether there is a new breakthrough on the horizon that they should hold-out for. In reality, over the 24 years that we have been in business we have found that breakthroughs in the lab rarely translate to practical solutions for people’s homes or businesses.

We only source tried and tested, ‘tier one’ products from the world’s leading manufacturers and will use the most up to date kit available at the point of installation. We will always notify you if there are any changes to the products listed in your design specification.

Many homeowners have benefited from upgrading their PV system inverter. There are a number of different reasons to take that step, but an upgrade may not be for everyone. Contact us to speak with one of our experts for more in depth advice.

Yes, Solarsense offer a call out service for fault investigation and repairs. This service is available for both Solarsense customers and third party installations.

Yes, we offer a range of monitoring solutions so that you can keep on track of your systems’ performance. Contact us for more information.

Solarsense offer operations, maintenance and monitoring on every commercial renewable energy system installed. Each technology will require a different level of maintenance, however, we will discuss this with you as part of the project schedule.

SolarEdge includes a 25-year warranty for power optimisers and a standard 12-year warranty for inverters. The SolarEdge inverter warranty is extendable to 20 or 25 years, depending on the inverter model. The warranty extension is available with a one-time payment fee and must be purchased within 24-months.

Yes, SolarEdge monitoring is free for 25-year. Simply download the app for free on iPhone or Android by visiting the AppStore or Google Play.