With all the hype and positive news about green tech at the moment, thousands of homeowners are going down the route of solar panel installation at home - and with good reason.
Solar panels are more efficient than ever, with modern tech coming on in leaps and bounds.
We’ve come a long way since we were putting tiny panels on posh calculators.
Solar is green, reliable and saves UK homeowners a ton of cash every year.
Not to mention the reduction in reliance on the fossil-fuel generated electricity from the grid and all its associated CO2 emissions.
So, if you’ve already got solar and battery storage, well done!
However, if you’re unsure about the process of switching to solar don’t worry, here’s our guide to solar panel installation.
How do you choose your solar panel installer?
Once you’re sold on solar and have decided to go green, you’re going to need to find someone to install the panels and associated infrastructure.
Whenever you’re looking for a tradesperson, no matter what for, try to stick to the ‘SKATE’ criteria: Skills, Knowledge, Attitude, Training, Experience.
Skills
Look for a company with plenty of industry affiliations.
We know that some people don’t trust an ‘industry’ body but truth of the matter is they are there to protect both customers and businesses.
For instance, to be accredited with MCS, businesses are constantly regulated and assessed by the experts at MCS. MCS also offer protection to customers.
There are other bodies associated with the renewables industry that can give you confidence in an installer, so just make sure you do a little research.
Knowledge
This ties in with skills. Lots of people could bolt a solar panel to a roof… but it needs to be at the correct orientation and angle in order be efficient.
Make sure you know things like this, so you can ask the installer all the right questions.
Any installer accredited by MCS will have had to demonstrate this kind of knowledge -so the work is already half done.
Check out on-line reviews too, this will give you a feel for a company’s competence.
Attitude
OK, this one is harder to determine without speaking directly to the installer.
Again, you can get a measure of attitude by looking at a company’s reviews.
You want to find an installer who is easy to get along with, takes pride in their work and takes quality and safety seriously.
Look at the less favourable reviews and see how they deal with problems, a company with a good attitude will handle any upset or delays with good grace and honesty.
Training
Anyone attempting a job as specialised as a solar panel installation, they need to know what they’re doing.
Solar teams will be made of up of roofers and electricians.
Roofers must be trained to work at height, be aware of all PPE and also know what the regulations are regarding the positioning and installation of solar panels.
Panels must be within a certain area if located on a roof and may be subject to planning permission if they are ground mounted.
Electricians are much more regulated, as their work involves some pretty dangerous stuff.
The installation company should have ensured anyone engaged in electrical work on their behalf is full qualified and up-to-date with any new regulations.
Experience
Basically, don’t get your mate Gary to do it because he once fixed your Xbox!
Look for someone, or a company, who has years of installation experience under their belt.
What Is Involved in A Solar Panel Installation
As you may have guessed, there is more to a solar panel installation than simply putting a load of panels on your roof.
The process of installation is usually:
Design. No point turning up at a property unless you know how many panels there are, where the wires are going and what peripherals are needed. You should see your design prior to installation, along with your yield and future savings.
Scaffolding/access. This needs to be set up in the majority of installations where the solar arrays are mounted on the roof of the property.
Set up the mounting system. This is where the hardware to connect the panels to your roof is fixed into place. It will need to be installed at an angle of 18 to 36 degrees in order to have maximum efficiency.
Solar Panel Installation. The arrays are fixed to the mounting system with nuts and bolts.
Wire the arrays. At this point the cables are connected to the panels using MC4 connectors.
Solar Inverter Installation. The Solar Inverter converts the DC power generated by the PV cells to AC power you can use in your home. These inverters are usually installed somewhere either outside, out of the direct sun, or in a garage or utility room.
Connect Solar Battery. If you are also installing a battery system (highly recommended if you wish to use your excess energy at night) this will need to be connected to the inverter at this point.
Connect to the consumer unit. The final part of the solar panel installation is connecting the whole system to the consumer unit in the property. At this point a generation meter is also installed in order to monitor the amount of electricity that is being produced. Many of these units are accessible from your laptop, tablet or mobile device, allowing you to analyse generation and usage data.
After the installation is complete, your installer will test it to ensure it’s all functioning properly and show you how to control everything.
After that, you’re good to go!
Do You Need Planning Permission?
In an average UK house, with panels installed on the roof, you will not need planning permission.
However, sometimes you may have to clear the install with your local planning department:
If you wish to install on a listed building, you will need to obtain permission from the related authorities. While it is quite hard to obtain planning on a listed building, it is not impossible.
If located in a conservation area or world heritage site, the panels must not be visible from a highway (road).
If installing your panels somewhere other than your roof, pay attention to the height and size of the array, and whether they will encroach on boundaries associated with conservation areas or heritage sites.
So, in most cases you should be ok to install your panels without permission – however, it’s always best to check with your local planning authority to confirm.
Helping Hands
If you’ve decided to take the plunge and install a solar array, we applaud you.
It’s a great way to look after the planet as well as your bank balance.
Making this choice is only the first of many on your solar journey, as you’ll now be aware! If you have any other questions or need help with your solar panel installation, please get in touch. We’d love to help.
