[Solar]
Enjoy cheaper bills with solar photovoltaics
You’ve probably noticed more and more solar panels popping up on the roofs of homes, businesses, warehouses and schools near you. And even though we don’t always get the warmest weather here in the UK, we still receive a large amount of solar radiation each year – more than enough sunshine to convert into a source of free electricity. It’s great for the environment and it’s a great investment too.
What is solar PV?
PV is short for photovoltaics, which is the process of turning light into electricity. Roof-mounted solar panels (or ‘modules’) made up of cells are connected together to form an array. When the sunlight shines on the modules the cells warm up, causing electrons to be knocked out of place and start flowing. This creates DC electricity. This is then converted into AC electricity (The type we use) using a solar inverter.
Why solar?
Thanks to the government-backed feed-in tariff (FIT) scheme solar PV has become one of the easiest and best financial investments you can make. It means your electricity supplier pays you, tax free, for every unit of electricity your system produces. So over the 20-year lifespan of the system, you should have paid back the original cost of the installation in seven to ten years and have 10 to 13 years of guaranteed income. Plus you’ll have free electricity during the daytime, while the system is producing electricity. If you sell your house the new owner gets the benefit, so you’ll also be helping to increase the value of your home.
The installation process
Most roofs that face the south, south east, east, south west or west are suitable for solar PV. Before we begin any installation we’ll carry out a free assessment of your property to check suitability and plan the design of your system. A typical array will have between 6 and 16 panels, which are mounted on the roof using special fixings or in-roof. Depending on the size and ease of the installation it should take between one and two days.
Our accreditations
Our expert installers are fully trained to the highest standards and we hold all the relevant industry accreditations.
Solar Immersion switches
We install solar immersion switches, a great addition to any solar installation. If you have an immersion heater in your home the solar switch diverts any exported electricity directly to your immersion heater, helping you get the most from your solar panels and heating your water for free.
[Case studies]
Thinking about investing in solar PV? Take a look at some of our recent installations.
Case study one: Glenfield
Mr and Mrs Darey of Glenfield, Leicestershire, like to do everything they can to reduce their environmental impact and reduce their carbon footprint. That was their main reason they asked us to install solar PV. The rear elevation of their property had a south-facing roof that allowed us to install a 3.3KWp system using 14 x 240Wp Sanyo panels.
Case study two: Linford
In the village of Newton Linford, Leicestershire, Mr and Mrs Sugden were looking for a way to reduce the running costs of their indoor swimming pool. We installed a 4KWp PV array to the south-facing pool roof, using 16 x Sanyo 250Wp panels and a Fronius inverter.
Case study three: Thurcaston
Mr and Mrs Revell are longstanding customers of Dave Mitton Electrical, having first used us six years ago when they converted a building into a retirement home. So when they decided to install solar PV at their home in Thurcaston, Leicester, they knew they could trust us to do a great job. We used 12 x Sharp 185Wp panels to create a 2.22KWp array on their south-facing garage roof.
Case study four: Burton on the Wolds
We installed 3 x 22Wp Sharp panels on the Swithland slate roof of this home in Burton on the Wolds, Leicestershire, creating a 0.66KW array.
Case study five: Rothley
For this 9.8KWp system at St Mary’s Church, Rothley, we installed 40 x 245 Suntech panels and 3 x Sunny Boy Inverters. The system also included a remote display showing the amount of energy being created by the system – a popular addition for community projects.
Get in touch
For an informal chat about your project, don’t hesitate to give us a call on 01509 768 283.
We’re always happy to give quotes and make suggestions, with no obligation.