Is my Property Suitable for Solar Electricity?

There are a number of factors to consider when deciding if solar PV is suitable for you and your home.

Position and Pitch

To get maximum benefit you will need a roof or other suitable space that faces south, or between southeast and southwest. An optimum roof pitch will be between 30 and 40 degrees.

Shading Issues

Even the smallest amount of shading can affect the system performance so it is important to take into consideration other buildings, chimneys, dormer windows and trees when installing a solar PV system.

During a survey we will note down any shading issues and provide a full shading analysis at the time of quoting.

Roof condition

The solar panels are not that heavy and a typical installation will add around 250kg distributed over the roof, in most cases this is within building requirements.

The roof will also need to last 25 years to get full benefit from the Feed-in-Tariff.

Planning Permission

In England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland solar PV installations below a certain size generally come under permitted development which means you do not need planning permission.

However, listed properties those in an area of outstanding natural beauty, in a conservation area or in a World Heritage site will need to apply for planning permission. If you are unsure we would recommend you check with your local planning officer.

Costs

Costs of solar panel installations have come down over the last few year and especially as demand has increased. As a guide, our prices range from £8,295 to £10,500 for an installation for a 2.5kWp system, cost will vary depending on the type of installation, cabling requirements and the panel type selected.

As a very rough guide most 2 to 3 bedroom houses require a solar PV system of around 2.5 to 3kWp in size to supply their electricity needs.

If this is out of your budget a free solar panel installation may be a consideration.