About Us

Solar photovoltaics (PV) are materials that convert light directly into electricity. Typically it is made out of silicon - a semiconducting material; it isn't mechanical and therefore has no moving parts.  

The solar panels are typically connected in series and produce Direct Current (DC). This type of electricity is not useful in the home; this is why an inverter is used to turn the DC into useable Alternating Current (AC).

Each panel has its own Wh rating. This is the amount of energy that a single panel can produce in ideal conditions in a single hour. The system is rated by adding up the Wh rating of each panel. For example, 10 panels, each with a 400 Wh rating, give a system rating of 4 kWh.

In the U.K., production will vary between 700 kWh per year to over 1000 kWh per year for every kWh installed (depending on orientation and pitch). Properties further north will produce closer to 700 kWh, whilst those further south can produce more than 1000 kWh per year for every kWh installed.

We use established research for our data. Please see a handy link to which.co.uk here; you can see a table showing how different panel orientations affect production. Ideal conditions are directly due South with an inclination of 30-40 degrees.

Shading will reduce the performance of your Solar PV. If one-panel experiences shading, it can reduce the efficiency of the whole string. Luckily there are other accessories, such as optimisers and micro-inverters which can negate isolated shading affecting the other panels on the string.

The answer to this is it is difficult to say. It is possible if everything perfectly coincides; however, unless you have storage options, it is unlikely. We will discuss all this with you to ensure you know exactly what your investment will generate long-term.

Absolutely, assuming the work is completed by competent tradespeople. When installing renewables in your home, look for companies with MCS accreditation - it's a sign that you will get great workmanship.

Bird nesting (especially in coastal areas) can become an issue if not addressed. We prefer to prevent rather than fix this issue, and because of this, install bird guard at installation as standard.

The short answer is no; panels are produced with a coating which allows them to self-clean with rainwater. Meaning for the full 25-year manufacturer guarantee you won't need to do anything to maintain your investment.

Without batteries, the energy produced by Solar is either used in the home or sent back to the grid. Given the difference between the price you sell energy for and the price you pay, you want to store the energy produced for later in the day. As energy is only produced during daylight hours, and your home has a residual demand for 24 hours, it makes the most sense to store the energy rather than let the excess produced be exported back to the grid.

It is difficult to say - it all depends on your current usage. We pride ourselves on delivering the best value system and will work with you to design a proposal which combines Solar PV, Battery Storage and your tariff to produce the best returns for you.

Battery storage typically costs between £500-£600 per kWh, depending on the brand and mounting style. 

Newer batteries are UPS rated (uninterrupted power supply), so should you now longer have access to power from the grid - the battery can power your home assuming it has charge.

Batteries can be combined with an off-peak tariff to give you savings on your energy. They do work best when combined with Solar PV as well but they can be installed by themselves if Solar PV isn't a viable option.

Some newer products are IP65-rated, meaning they can be stored outside. However, we would always advise storing inside where possible.

Solar iBoost+ is designed for use with up to 2 immersion heaters; each rated up to 3kW for water heating in the home; each immersion is used in turn by the Solar iBoost+ when your Solar panels generate excess energy. 

As your PV array starts to generate in excess of your household power requirement, the Solar iBoost+ will begin to “dump” energy into your hot water tank. For example, if you have 2.2kW of export energy, then the Solar iBoost+ will divert this to the hot water tank.

Immersion elements must contain a thermostat; your electrician will check this. When the set temperature is reached, the thermostat operates to switch the element off. 

Yes, there are a couple of ways to do this. One is to use a Zappi charger which diverts excess generation into an electric vehicle. In this way, what would have been exported back to the grid is now charging your car. However, you would need to have your EV parked at home during the day.

The alternative is to use a battery system to store this energy and then discharge this into your EV in the evening/nighttime. The battery would also cover your household loads once the sun has gone down.

Many customers utilise an off-peak tariff to save even more money. Some energy providers have generous rates for energy consumed during nighttime hours. Using an intelligent charger, you can set when you want your car to charge so that the battery is only filled when the energy is the cheapest.

Yes a home charger can be used to charge more than once vehicle. However, it is worth noting that only one car can be charged at any one time.

If combined with the right off-peak tariff at home, charging can cost as little as 15% vs charging using public chargers.

We are insured by Covea Insurance PLC with public liability up to £5,000,000 and professional indemnity up to £50,000.

Our ADR proider is HIES and can be contact via info@hiesscheme.org.uk or on 0344 324 5242.