Solar Photovoltaics

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Solar Photovoltaic panels turn light into electricity, by capturing the sun's energy using photovoltaic cells. The stonger the sunshine, the more electricity is produced.

They can be mounted on almost any roof. To obtain the maximum benefits the roof pitch should be 30˚ and facing due south, however panels mounted from due east through south to due west still achieve high results and perform well. If a roof is not suitable for PV panels due to it being listed, facing the wrong direction, structural problems or some other reason, it is possible to mount the panels on a frame fitted to the ground.

How do they work?

PV cells are made from a layer of semi-conducting material, when light shines on the cell it creates an electric field generating direct current (DC) electricity
The direct current electricity is sent to the inverter, usually mounted in the property
The inverter converts the direct current into alternating current (AC) so that it can be used in the household
Any electricity generated but not used will be sent back to the National Grid or collected by battery storage units to use later

Solar Photovoltaic panels are eligable for the Feed-In Tarrfiss, this allows you to earn money from the government for using renewable technology.

FAQ

Do I have to clean the panels once they are installed?
The panel efficiency will be affected if they become very dirty, therefore you should aim to keep them relatively clean, however they should only need cleaning once every few years.

Are solar panels affected by shading?
Yes, when we advise you on whether solar panels are suitable for your property we will take into account the issue of shading on your roof from surrounding trees or chimneys etc. If there is a risk of shading we may advise you install a system with micro-inverters. If some of the area of solar panels is affected by shading it will result in the whole string of panels being cut out until the sun moves round. If you install a micro-inverter system then each panel has its own inverter and therefore only the panels affected by the shading will be cut out.

Will the panels supply all my electricity?
The panels will produce the most electricity in the middle of the day during the summer months. Therefore you are likely to produce more than you will use in the day time and not enough during the evening. We can however provide a full battery storage system to use with your solar panels to make use of the excess electricity.

How much will I need to spend?
Exact costs vary from property to property depending on the ease of installation, products chosen and any additional work required. As a guide, a 4kW system is around £5,400.

What paperwork is needed?
Once the panels are installed on the roof ESP Energy will provide you with an MCS Certificate and invoice. These two items will be required to complete your Feed-in Tariff application. You will also require an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) that we can also provide for you. We can also provide you with the application form you require, otherwise these can be obtained online from your energy providers website.