Solar PV installation, battery storage & EV charging

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Do solar panels work in the UK climate?  Very much so!   Solar panels generate electricity from daylight, not direct sunshine (blue skies not required! ), so they still perform well on cloudy days.   Of course, you'll generate more in summer than in winter due to the difference in day length, but the annual output is sufficient enough to deliver meaningful savings, anywhere in the UK.

Does my roof need to be south-facing?  South to South East facing roofs give the highest annual yield, but systems orientated due East or West work well too.   Although peak output may be 15% to 20% lower, their energy generation is spread across more of the day.

Can PV panels be mounted on a garage or outbuilding?  Yes, panels can be installed on an outbuilding, but it's important to make sure that the roof is strong enough, and the structure needs its own electricity supply (which Solŵr engineers can also install! ).

Do solar panels need cleaning?  In the UK, rain will effectively clean your roof mounted panels, so long as they have an incline of 15 degrees or more.   Debris, such as dead leaves, is more likely to build up on ground-mounted panels (which are easy to reach! ).   If you live in a very dusty location, such as alongside a major road, your panels may need to be cleaned occasionally.

How much maintenance does a solar PV system require?  You don’t need to do much at all to keep your solar panel system running well.   You'll find details of any maintenance checks that you should make to ensure everything is working properly in your welcome pack.

How long do solar panels last?  Your solar panels should last 25 years or more, but your solar inverter will need to be replaced after around 12 years.

Is the system covered by warrantee?  Most inverters have warranties of at least five years, which can often be extended up to 15 years.   You may find that a 15-year warranty costs almost as much as a brand new replacement inverter, so consider the option carefully.

Do I need a smart meter?  Although a smart meter is not required to install solar panels, you’ll need one if you want to take advantage of your energy supplier's SEG rate.

Will solar panels add value to my home?  Installing green tech, like solar PV, that increases your home's Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating.   For example; simply improving your EPC rating from F to C can increase the value of your home by up to 15%!

How much solar generation can I install?  In most cases, the size of an installation is limited by the number of panels that can fit on a roof which, for many houses, is less than 4kWp (4 kiloWatt Peak ).

How much power can I export?  This limit is based on the inverter output, so you can typically export up to 4kW per phase (8 kW from a two phase domestic supply, or 12 kW for a three-phase connection ) to the grid without needing permission to connect.

How do I know if my panels are working properly?  Every Solŵr installation includes an output meter that shows how much electrical power your solar panels are generating in real time. . .  a reduction in which may indicate a fault.

Does a solar PV system require maintenance?  Very little.   PV panels have no moving parts, so the inverter is the only wearable component, typically lasting 10 to 15 years before replacement.   Solŵr Wales recommend a visual check every couple of years, or a system health review if generation drops noticeably.

Can I install solar panels myself?  Strictly, the answer is yes, so long as it is on your own property. . .  but it's a false economy.   Even assuming that you have the requisite skills, a DIY install would invalidate the equipment warrantees plus, the system could not be MCS certified, and without this certification, you would not qualify for SEG export income.

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Is battery storage essential?  Although a battery is not required for your solar array to function, adding one is highly recommended.   Solar panels generate most electricity during the day, when you might not be home, so it makes sense to store this excess energy for use in the evening, maximising your return on investment.

What type of batteries are best?  Solŵr Wales ONLY install Lithium ion (Li-ion) batteries for solar energy storage.   Unlike 'lead acid' batteries, Li-ion are effectively maintenance free and have a higher 'cycle rate', which means that they can be charged and discharged many more times without losing their storage capacity.

How long should I expect batteries to last?  Most Li-on home batteries come with a manufacturer's 10-year warranty or around 6,000 cycles. . .  but you can still expect to retain 70% to 80% of the original rating, well beyond their warranty term.

What capacity of battery will I need?  It depends upon how much electricity your household uses, but a battery with a capacity of between 5 and 15 kWhs will adequately serve most domestic users.   (As a guide, a 10 kWh battery will typically cover the average UK household's evening use of around 8 hours, although the use of high drain appliances such as electric ovens, immersion heaters, or EV charging will shorten the output time. )

Is solar worth installing without batteries?  Yes. . .  solar-only has the lowest upfront cost and, therefore, represents the fastest return on investment.   The trade-off for this saving is, of course, poorer evening cover.

Can batteries be added to my system later?  Yes, so long as your current inverter is compatible.   Most Solŵr retrofits involve installing a new battery alongside the existing inverter. . .  fitted in one day, with minimal disruption and requiring no roof access.   We regularly fit batteries to existing solar systems, including those that Solŵr didn't originally supply or install!

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The effects of climate change are now indisputable. . .  with extremes of weather more likely to cause electricity supply failures, especially in more rural areas.

Add to this the current geo-political issues, with bad actors (and, increasingly, AI ) targeting national infrastructure systems.

For engineer safety, most battery systems will automatically disconnect from the grid in the event of a power cut, and remain offline until power returns. . .  with obvious disruption to your wi-fi, freezer, EV charger, and even your central heating's electrical pump!

A solution does exist however, ask our engineers about emergency off-grid back-up (such as that incorporated into the Tesla Powerwall ), which is able to instantly switch the whole home, or chosen critical systems, to battery power during an outage.

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Are grants available for home charger installs?  Yes!   Through the UK Government's Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) you may receive up to 75% of the cost to purchase and install a home charging pod (capped at £350 ).

Is my domestic supply suitable?  Many Welsh homes with a 60 Amp or higher mains supply can install a 7 kW charger without upgrades.   If your existing consumer unit or supply is undersized, our engineers will advise on mains uprating or additional protection devices to accommodate your new EV charging point.

Can home charging pods be remotely controlled?  'Smart' EV chargers offer Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity, load-management features, scheduled charging and automatic tariff integration.   This means you can optimise charging during off-peak electricity rates, whilst monitoring consumption from your smartphone.

Where should my charger be located?  Ideal situations include your driveway, garage wall, or car port, with easy cable reach to your parking spot.   When positioning your charging pod we consider weather protection, Wi-Fi signal strength and cable length.

What if I have no off-steet parking?  For safety and security, cables connecting your vehicle to the charging pod must remain within the boundaries of your own property.

How quickly will my car charge?  Charging time depends on your EV's onboard charging rate as well as your charger's output.   As a handy thumbnail guide:  A typical 7 kW home charger delivers around 25 miles of range per hour, so a full charge on a 200-mile battery would take around 7 to 8 hours (ideal for overnight charging ).

What maintenance is required?  Routine maintenance is minimal, you just need to keep the charger clean, check the cable's integrity from time to time and, if you have a smart charger, update its firmware when prompted.   Annual safety inspections ensure that your EV charger remains fully compliant with BS 7671 regulations.

Can Solŵr install commercial chargers?  Yes!   Commercial installations can include multiple Type 2 or rapid chargers with integrated payment applications, and load management to prevent overload.   Our engineers will handle site surveys, DNO notifications, and quote for any civil works required for business EV charging solutions.

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Do I need planning permission?  Falling under 'Permitted Development Rights', domestic solar installations do not usually require planning permission, provided they fall within specific size limits and are not on a listed building, or in a conservation area.

What is the 33% rule?  This rule refers to the installation of an inverter that is up to one third larger than the system's AC capacity.   'Oversizing' in this way captures more energy on cloudy days, while keeping the inverter running efficiently during peak-sunlight hours.

Can panels be mounted on a real slate roof?  Yes!   To prevent damage, installations on a slate roof uses hooked brackets that lift individual slates, rather than drilling through them.

How long does installation take?  Most domestic installs finish within around two days on site; from scaffold erection, to system activation and final clean-up.   Larger systems or complex roof layouts can take longer, but this will be stipulated in your quotation.

Is scaffolding always needed?  Scaffolding is a safety requirement for all pitched roof installs. . .  usually erected 1 to 2 days before the panels go up, then removed shortly after the work is completed.   For single-storey or low-eaved properties, a mobile tower system may be utilised instead.

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Solŵr Wales have four operational centres (West Wales, South Wales, the Welsh Valleys and East Wales , and are happy to install solar panels, inverters & batteries in any of the following areas;

West Wales serves;  Haverfordwest, Milford Haven, Pembroke, Cardigan and Aberystwyth. . .  plus Neyland, Pembroke Dock, St. Davids, Solva, Tenby, Whitland, St. Clears, Carmarthen & Fishguard from our Head Office in Narberth.

The South Wales centre, based around Swansea, provides these same services to;  Neath, Llanelli, Ammanford, Morriston and Port Talbot. . .  plus the towns of Porthcawl, Bridgend, Pontardawe, Gorseinon, Mumbles and Maesteg.

Solŵr's Welsh Valleys operational area covers;  Bridgend, Aberdare, Merthyr Tydfil, Ebbw Vale and Abergavenny. . .  and Hirwaun, Treorchy, Rhymney, Brynmawr and all of Rhondda Cynon Taf.

East Wales serves Cardiff, Barry, Newport, Cwmbran, Pontypool & Caerphilly, plus Cardiff Bay, Risca, Penarth, Bettws and Magor.

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