Solar Panels: your easy upgrade to a low-carbon home

Your energy supplier will draw your surplus power automatically, and pay you for the privilege, under the UK Government’s Smart Export Guarantee. Just keep in mind that different providers pay different rates, so it pays to shop around for the best deal.

Yes – but if your system is installed in the autumn or winter, savings will be modest at first, as you won’t have much power in your storage battery. You’ll see the real difference when the sun comes back – then the following autumn/winter, your bills will stay low thanks to the power you’ve stored.

Solar panels are a long-term investment. If you’re meeting the full cost yourself, payback for a typical house can take around 8 years. However:

• If your bills are higher than average, your payback is faster.
• From day one, your monthly bills will fall – and you’re less exposed to price hikes.
• Once you recoup your investment, your savings mount up quickly.
• You might get help with the installation cost – talk to us about grants and funding.
• Economy is only one reason to go solar. Don’t forget the practical reasons like guaranteeing supply, or the chance to run your home on green, sustainable energy.

Yes. A home with stylish solar panels is highly desirable, so you can easily expect an increase of 2- 4%. What’s more, you’ll find a buyer much faster – as any estate agent will tell you.

In theory, we can fit solar panels to any domestic roof that’s structurally sound. But first, we should consider the available space, the angle of the sun, and any obstructions to direct sunlight like nearby trees or buildings. We may find that ground-mounted panels are more suitable – especially if your roof is old or you have open space to spare.

No. Firstly, because you’ll have your regular electricity supply for immediate back-up. And secondly, because we’ll attend to any problems quickly. We can monitor your solar energy system remotely, so if anything goes wrong – like a problem with your battery or inverter – we’ll know about it straight away and fix it under the terms of your warranty.

Bifacial solar panels capture light from above and below – unlike traditional monofacial panels that only capture light from above. Bifacial panels can increase your energy yield by up to 20% by mopping up the overspill: the sunlight that misses the up-facing panel and reflects back into the downward face.

They can work in any area that’s bathed in direct sunlight, especially if they overhang a reflective surface like a glass balcony or swimming pool. But they’re not for everyone – they’re more expensive, and better suited to some properties than others.

Most solar panels come with a 25-year warranty, made up of a 12-year manufacturer’s warranty and 13-year output warranty. However, bifacial solar panels come with a 30-year warranty. We’ll discuss this when we talk, and find the package that’s right for you.

The UK and Welsh governments offer solar grants to low income families, and many local authorities have their own domestic grant schemes. There’s also help for properties outside the National Grid, and some mortgage providers offer solar loans with cashback. We can advise you on all this when we talk, and give you all the details you need for your grant application.

Yes. Your solar panels come with a battery storage system that will power your home throughout the year, for as long as you have energy to spare. As soon as your energy is used up, your home will switch back to the grid. So most homes need a regular electrical supply as back-up.

Honestly, there’s no way of telling until we meet you. We’ll need to figure out:

• The size of your roof – what type of panels can we fit, and how many?
• The aspect of your roof – how much sunlight is coming in?
• Your monthly bills – how much electricity do you use, and at what times of day?

With all this and more to consider, no two domestic installations will ever be the same. So right now, we can only give you this broad indication from the Energy Savings Trust, who say:

With the current Energy Price Cap, a typical household with a 3.5 kilowatt-peak solar system can save between £175 - £420 a year.

However, many homes save more - some covering 100% of their bills, and even selling power back to the grid.