Solar PV Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Solar Electricity?
Solar electricity is created using photovoltaic (PV) cells. A typical solar panel contains an array of PV cells, which capture the energy contained in sunlight and turn it directly into electricity that can be used to power your domestic or commercial appliances.
2. Don't I need lots of direct sunlight to use solar panels?
Solar panels do not require direct sunlight to provide sufficient electricity for your needs. Even if it's usually cloudy where you live, solar panels offer a highly effective means of providing energy.
3. How will I benefit from Solar PV?
There are very compelling economic and ethical benefits to installing a solar energy system. Solar power creates no pollution or waste products; it's completely clean as a source of energy. This offers huge ecological benefits, and plays an important part in caring for the environment.
There's also a strong financial benefit to installing solar panels on your home. For each unit of electricity you produce, you will be paid according to the national feed in tariff (FIT). You'll also be paid for any surplus electricity you feed back into the grid. Over time this could amount to quite a substantial income.
4. What's the Feed-in-Tariff (FIT)?
The feed in tariff exists to encourage householders and business owners to take responsibility for their own clean electricity supply. As part of the Clean Energy Cashback Scheme, will be paid around three times the usual price per unit for the energy you produce, plus a further rate for surplus energy which is fed back into the grid. Your renewable energy income is tax-free, and will be linked to the Retail Price Index, to protect you from inflation. FiTs are underwritten by law, and your income will be protected for a minimum of 25 years.
5. How much money will I save by having a solar PV installation?
That you will save money is not in question. How much money you will save really depends on many factors. For example, the size of your solar installation, the quality of components used, the situation and orientation of your home and the amount of direct sunlight you receive will all contribute to your total savings. For a more accurate idea, one of our experienced energy advisors will be happy to visit your home and make a proper calculation.
6. Is my property suitable for solar PV?
For the best results, you will need a roof that faces South, South-East or South-West. If your property is overshadowed by trees or other buildings, it may be unsuitable for solar panels. Our technical surveyor is on hand to visit your home and offer a professional opinion.
7. Do I need planning permission?
A solar PV installation does not usually require planning permission, because along with solar thermal installations, PV has been granted Permitted Development status by the government. However, we always advise that you check with your local authority before paying for a solar installation, as permission will sometimes be required for areas of outstanding natural beauty and listed buildings.
8. How long will my solar PV system last?
Our solar PV systems are made from the highest-quality components. We expect them to last for about 40 years.
9. Will I have to pay maintenance fees?
No. We offer no maintenance contract when we sell a solar PV system because they're so easy to maintain. An annual wash with soapy water will keep your solar panels working very well, and is a task that you can easily carry out yourself.
10. What could potentially go wrong with my solar PV installation?
Because of their simple design that requires no moving parts, it's very unlikely that your solar panels will experience any problems at all. Low-quality panels sometimes suffer from moisture intake, which can cause algae to grow, which in turn reduces the life of your system. At ARC we only supply the highest quality equipment, and provide a 12 year guarantee with all of our solar PV installations.
11. How do I make sure I am getting the best out of my PV system?
There are two easy ways for you to improve the efficiency of your PV system: 1. Installing a smart meter allows you to monitor your energy usage, and note which appliances use the most energy, and at what times during the day or week. 2. Using your energy-intensive appliances like washing machines, tumble dryers, dishwashers etc during daylight hours will decrease the amount of energy you need to buy from the national grid, and will help to keep your energy bills to a minimum.