FAQs

Click on a category below to see the list of questions.

Cost and prices

How quickly will a solar electric system pay back the cost of installation?
A typical system takes less than ten years to pay for itself, and will then continue to make money for its owner for the remainder of its life. This is a result of a combination of Feed-in Tariff and export income, and savings on grid electricity. In simple terms, you might spend £5,000 on a system today and receive roughly an 8% return on your investment each year. Please use the 'get an instant estimate' box on the left to see the specific payback period for your home and chosen system.
How much will I save?
Savings depend on how much you pay for electricity at the moment and how much electricity prices increase in the future. Please use the 'Get an instant estimate' box on the left to see the potential savings for your home.
What is the price difference between solar electric tiles and solar electric panels?
Please use the estimation tool on the left hand side of this page to compare the prices. You can switch between tiles and panels by clicking the "refine our assumptions" button.
What is the cost of a solar PV system?
Most homes suit a system size of 2-3kWp. The cost of installation varies according to how easy or difficult it is to access the roof and the technology or product you choose, but typically an installation of this size would cost £4,500-£6,000. Please use the 'Get an instant estimate' box on the left to get an estimate for your home.

General Solar FAQs

How does a solar electric system work?
Solar panels and solar tiles generate electricity using the energy from the sun. The panels produce energy from daylight, not direct sunlight, so they still produce energy on cloudy or overcast days. An inverter converts the electricity from direct to alternating current, for use in the home. The electrical energy produced is either used directly in the home, or when the system is producing more power than is needed it is exported to the grid. At night, power is imported from the grid in the normal way.
What happens if there is a power cut?
Solar electric systems for homes are entirely grid connected. If there is a power cut your system is automatically switched off. This is a safety measure designed to stop electricity leaking on to the national grid and to protect people who may be working to restore the power supply.

Installation Questions

Do I need an EPC certificate before getting a Solar PV system?
From April 1st 2012, all buildings installing solar photovoltaics will have to produce an EPC level D before they become eligible for the higher feed-in tariff (FiT) levels. If the building does not meet this requirement, the FiT payment will revert to 9p per kilowatt hour. A Solar PV installation can contribute to increasing your EPC rating. For more information please visit the Energy Savings Trust http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generate-your-own-energy/Financial-incentives/Feed-In-Tariffs-scheme-FITs/Energy-Performance-Certificates-and-the-Feed-in-Tariff or seek advice from your MCS accredited installer about attaining an EPC certificate for your home.
Do I need planning permission?
Solar roof systems fall under permitted development rights so you do not need planning permission, although if you live in an area of outstanding natural beauty, or in a listed building or conservation area, you should contact your local planning office.

Maintenance

Is the energy produced affected if the panels get dirty?
Usually any dust or dirt washes off the panels when it rains, if the panels are installed on a roof of at least 15 degrees. In extreme cases dust may cause a power reduction of about 10%.

Solar terms & definitions

What is a kilowatt peak (kWp)?
Kilowatt peak refers to the value of power generated by a solar tile or panel system under full solar radiation (under set Standard Test Conditions). Solar radiation of 1,000 watts per square metre is used to define standard conditions. In the UK a solar system of one kilowatt peak will generate roughly 850 kilowatt hours (kWh, or units of electricity) per year. 850kwh is approximately 20% of the annual electric consumption of a “typical” property.

Solarcentury

Why choose a Solarcentury Network Installer over just any MCS installer?
Solarcentury choose established and experienced MCS installers to carry out domestic installations of our carefully engineered systems. We provide on-going training and support for members of our Installer Network as well conduct consistent customer service investigations to ensure our installers are performing to the highest possible standards.
Where can I obtain the financial report of the company?
We are not a public company so hence do not have any public reports, other than those listed on Companies House.

System size

Which inverter would you suggest for a 3.25kwh system and the price please.
We do not sell the separate components of a system to home owners, only to MCS qualified installers.

The Feed-in Tariff scheme

What is the feed-in tariff and how does it work?
It's a financial incentive backed by the Government and paid by your energy company to generate your own clean electricity. A typical three-bedroom home will earn around £500 a year by generating its own solar electricity - and that's on top of the likely reduction of around £150 from the household electricity bill. You can earn a fixed income for every kilowatt hour of electricity you generate and use in your property. And you can also earn an additional fixed income for every kilowatt hour of electricity you generate and sell back to the grid. The income is guaranteed for 25 years (for Solar PV systems) and index-linked. When you need to use electricity at night (when it is dark you won't be able to generate enough electricity from solar technology), you can still buy your electricity from your utility company, but you will need to use much less than usual. If you want to make the most of solar technology - and to save even more on your electricity bills - try to become as energy efficient as you can; for example, run electrical appliances like your washing machine and dishwasher during the day. If you invest in solar energy now, you will be guaranteeing that income for the next 25 years. Ofgem will administer the feed-in tariff scheme and energy suppliers will be responsible for payments to their customers.

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