Solar PV Electricity
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) panels provide clean, affordable electricity that can be used to power your home or business property. Apart from reducing your own electricity bills, it is also a good way of generating income as you are paid for the units of electricity that you produce.
How does Solar PV work?
Using Solar PV panels, the sun’s energy is transformed into Direct Current (DC) electricity, which is converted by an inverter into Alternating Current (AC) – the type of electricity needed to power your home.
The electricity is then recorded by a generation meter – supplied as part of the installation – which gives the figure that you pass on to the utility company to claim your payments from the Feed-in Tariff scheme.
This electricity then flows into the regular consumer unit where it is used to power your home and any excess gets fed back into the national grid. Conversely, if you use more energy than your panels generate then it will be supplemented by electricity from the national grid.
What equipment is needed?
The flat PV panels are usually mounted to your roof using a discrete framing system that requires minimal disturbance to the roof area. The number of panels depends on the size of your roof, how much electricity you want to generate and the type of panel. Some panels can also be fitted on outbuildings or on the ground.
HBH Solar will only install quality equipment that conforms to industry standards and we spend a considerable amount of time sourcing our panels. We choose from reputable manufacturers that offer worthwhile guarantees, as well as product quality. Other companies may offer you cheaper versions but we believe that investing in a superior product undoubtedly pays off in the longer term.
Once fitted, the panels are then connected to an inverter, which is normally housed in your loft space. A generation meter is also needed to record how much electricity you are producing.
The average installation only takes around two days and it is clean work with minimal disruption to the property. Please be aware that we will also arrange for scaffolding to be erected to allow access to the roof.
Will my house be suitable?
The vast majority of houses in the UK are able to have a Solar PV system installed on their roofs. However, it is important to choose the right aspect and install the correct system for your needs. Some factors like heavy shading from trees or neighbouring buildings can reduce overall effectiveness but we will advise you of issues like this as part of our initial assessment.
How do I get paid?
There are three ways you get financial benefits from the Feed-in Tariffs.
Generation payments – for every kilowatt generated, you will be paid at a rate that is based on the size of your system by your energy supplier. This rate is still under negotiation with the Government and we will update this website as soon as the new figures are available.
Export payments – until there is a widespread method of recording this using smart meters, it is assumed that you will export 50% of what you generate back into the national grid, regardless of what this amount actually is. For this electricity, you will be paid an additional 3.1p per kilowatt exported.
Energy bill savings – by creating your own electricity, you will also be making savings on your electricity bills by not buying as much from your energy provider.