If you live in Cambridge and are interested in generating your own solar energy, then here is a short guide to provide you with some basic advice and information on where to start.
Solar PV cells, more commonly known as Solar Panels, can reduce your domestic or commercial electricity bills as well as reduceing your carbon emissions. They will also generate you an income through the governments feed in tariff, or FIT scheme.
To generate your own solar energy with pv cells you will need to have the solar panels and an inverter installed on your property. The solar cells need to be mounted somewhere that receives as much daylight as possible in order to generate electricity from the suns rays, and the inverter then converts the electricity generated from DC to AC so that it can be used within your home our business.
The feed in tariff is a scheme introduced by the UK government to anybody who owns a low carbon renewable energy generation system in the UK. Depending on the system you own and the amount of energy you generate, energy suppliers are obligated to pay for all energy you produce and will buy excess energy from you.
Is it worth the cost?
Solar energy producers are paid 41.3 pence for every kilowatt-hour (KWhr) of electricity their solar PV system produces, whether they use it or not. Additionally, energy suppliers will buy any electricity that you produce and do not use at a rate of 3p/KWhr. These payments are guaranteed by the government for the next 25 years and will change with the Retail Price Index (RPI).
This combination of reduced bills, solar generating payments and excess energy income makes installing solar PV an excellent long term investment that will benefit you and add to the value of your property. Although estimates vary, figures from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) suggest that a typical well-sited solar PV installation could offer a homeowner a reward of up to £900 per year, whilst saving them a further £140 a year on their electricity bill.
As Solar Instalation companies who operate around Cambridge, like Home Energy Partnership, charge around £10,000 for a typical system, the DECC’s figures mean that the system would pay for itself in 10 years and would then generate an additional £15,000 profit over the next 15 years.
Feed in Tariff requirements
To qualify for the current Feed-In-Tariffs scheme you will need to have an MCS certified system installed before 31 March 2012 - after this date the Feed-in-tariff payments will be reduced to 36.1p/KWhr. It is also possible that the government may bring forward the date for this reduction, so to ensure that you qualify for the best rate it is important that you act fast.
Some Frequently Asked Questions about Solar Panels:
Do solar panels need direct sunlight to work?
No. Solar panels work using daylight, not direct sunlight, so even in the UK a well sited solar panel can still be an efficient method of energy generation.
Do solar panels have to be fitted to roofs facing a certain direction?
No. Although the direction of your roof will make a difference to the amount of electricity produced and south facing roofs will produce the best results, solar panels can be installed and effectively used on most roofs regardless of the direction.
Do I have to have the solar panels on my roof?
No. They can be mounted on groundwork in your garden or even on the roofs of outbuildings.
Can I can buy and fit the panels myself and save myself the installation costs?
Yes, but not if you wish to benefit from the feed-in-tariff scheme.
There are plenty of guides to demonstrate how to install your own solar panels, but the government requires all solar systems wishing to participate in the FIT scheme to be installed by an approved Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) installer, so always look for the MCS logo if you are having solar panels installed.
Who can benefit from the Feed in Tariffs?
Currently FITs are available to anyone who qualifies for them, from domestic houses to businesses and landlords. The likelihood is that in the near future the government will change this and try and focus this more towards the domestic market, but the scheme is only limited by the size and type of your installation as it is targeted at small scale generation.
Do you need planning permission to install solar panels?
No. You do not need planning permission for most home solar electricity systems in England and Scotland as long as they are below a certain size. If you have any concerns however it is advisable to consult your local planning officer, particularly if your building is listed or is in a conservation area.
Can I take the panels with me if I move house?
No. Once a system is installed it is part of the house and cannot be moved. However, a house capable of generating its own solar energy will have considerable value and marketability added to it.
Do I need to have my solar panels serviced?
No. Solar panels have no moving parts so do not require maintenance and are designed to last for between 20 and 30 years. The glass on the panels is also self-cleaning, so don’t even have to worry about cleaning them.
How do I find a reputable company?
As was mentioned previously, check that your installer is MCS registered! Otherwise you will not be able to benefit from the feed in tariff scheme. Registered companies can be found on the MCS register.
Also speak to any friends who have had a solar system fitted and read reviews on sites like http://www.yougen.co.uk. Get several quotes from different companies and if you live near Cambridge then I would recommend that Home Energy Partnership be one of your three quotes.
