Phone: 07979 403114

Email: ijones@eb-services.co.uk

SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAICS (PV)








About Solar PV.

Solar Photovoltaics, or Solar PV has somewhat evolved over the last few years. With the industry now stabilising after an unsettled year or so due to some major changes in Government renewable incentives.

The ways in which Solar PV presents a good investment are numerous. First of all any PV system can be regarded as a powerstation in its own right- with the ability to create large amounds of electricity (for free). But there are also numerous government incentives in place to encourage the installation of such systems.

These incentives are the Feed in Tarriffs(FITs) and the Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs).

In summary these schemes have been put in place to reward the owners of Solar PV systems for every unit of electricity they produce. FITs are predominantly used for domestic installations and ROCs are used for commercial installations.

There are also payments produced from exporting electricity.

However, it must be remembered that with energy prices increasing all the time a Solar PV system does not actually have to take advantage of the Government FITS/ROCS for it to be highly profitable.

You can visit the Energy Saving Trust's website for more information on Solar PV if you require.

Small PV Installation
Large PV Installation

A Solar PV system consists of different components that should be selected according to your system type, site location and application. The major components are:

PV panels

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Converts sunlight into DC electricity: when sunlight strikes the silicon in the panels a portion of this sunlight is absorbed which in turn knocks electrons free from the semiconductor material. These now freely moving electrons are forced to flow in a certain direction to create the electricity.

Mounting hardware

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Roof or ground mounted depending on the system: these systems are made of lightweight aluminium and can be constructed in nearly any environment to hold the PV panels in place. They can be either drilled into the ground and attached to roof beams under tiles.

Inverter

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Converts the DC output of PV panels into a clean AC current to connect to the Grid. A wall mounted display unit will allow you to check on performance and usage of your system. Check out our section on the NEDAP PowerRouter inverter, which is the market leading Solar PV iverter.

Battery (optional)

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Stores energy for supplying to electrical appliances when there is a demand. These can be a great way of creating an 'off-grid' system where you are completely self relieant when it comes to your energy needs.


Benefits of Solar PV.

1.)Solar panels give off no pollution.

2.) They can be installed in many different ways, allowing electricity generation in remote locations, making users less dependent on the world's fossil fuel supplies.

3.) They will last at least over 25 years, providing almost all initial power even after 20 years and they require very little maintenance.

4.) Only daylight is needed to generate power, and as they're connectable to the grid through highly efficient inverters, you may even be able to sell your excess electricity back.

5.) Not only will you cut your electricity bills, any local incentives can also be a source of additional income. Feed-in Tariffs (or an equivalent such as ROCs) are availble in many countries around the world.

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Checklist for Solar PV.

It is very important to make sure the below factors are considered carefully when planning your Solar PV installation:


Location
In the UK your array should be facing due South, although South East to South West is acceptable. It should ideally have a 25� to 45� incline. There should not be any trees or buildings around to avoid shading if possible.

Where to install?
Solar PV can be easily incorporated into most buildings. The most common option is to use standard solar PV modules in a frame fixed to an existing pitched roof. In this arrangement, the panels will slightly protrude from the roof tiles but are still keeping in with the shape of the house. If you are replacing your roof you can now buy solar PV integrated roof tiles and slates that can form part of the weatherproof membrane or structure.

If you have the area in an outdoor space, then the solar array can be mounted on our pole driven, or small foundation based ground mounting systems. A tilted frame, or console can be used on a flat roof using ballast so not to penetrate the roof membrane.

Size
Solar PV arrays/systems are made up of modules/panels of about 1.5 m2, which allows most available roof shapes to be accommodated. Typical UK installations are around 15 to 25 square metres. For example, a 3 kWp system could comprise 15 panels taking up an area of 20 square metres.

Planning
In England, Wales and Scotland, you don't need planning permission for most home solar electricity systems, as long as they're below a certain size - but you should check with your local planning officer, especially if your home is a listed building, or in a conservation area or World Heritage Site. We can only give general guidance here.
SITES

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Our Four Step Service.

1.)

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On site survey:


One of our highly qualified surveyors will visit your site and talk you through your project in the process of gathering all the relevent information for a detailed quotation.

2.)

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Design and Quotation:


With our industry leading design provided to you (free of charge) you will be able to see what your system will actually look like before it is even installed. We will also be able to provide an approximation on your return of investment- specifically how long it will take to repay the cost of the system.

3.)

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Construction:


During the construction process you can be assured that you will be in safe hands. EBS will aim to minimise any disruption and inform you of all the relevent details.

4.)

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Support:


Following the succesful install we will be in contact with you whenever you need us.


The PowerRouter.

EBS is nation leading in its expertise in a new revolutionary technology, the NEDAP PowerRouter. We have serviced nearly every PowerRouter in the country and so are tru professionals when it comes to this renewable technology.

If you have an internet connection, the PowerRouter's unique web portal can help you monitor & log your system's earnings for the feed-in tariff remotely via your PC and even your iPhone.

The Nedap PowerRouter is unique in the UK for its versatility and is very competitively priced. It's also SMART Grid ready so when the UK electricity companies are ready you can choose who you sell your electricity too!

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Warranty.

Durability and lifetime reliability are key components of home solar panels. The typical lifetime expectancy of PV panels is 20-25 years or even more, and most PV manufacturers nowadays come with warranties against manufacturing flaws and output defects for at least twenty years.

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Our Accreditations.

Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS):


"Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) is an internationally recognised quality assurance scheme, supported by the Department of Energy and Climate Change. MCS certifies microgeneration technologies used to produce electricity and heat from renewable sources.

MCS is also an eligibility requirement for the Government's financial incentives, which include the Feed-in Tariff and the Renewable Heat Incentive."

Approved Code Trading Standards:


"The Trading Standards Institute is working with the Local Authority Assured Trader Scheme Network (LAATSN) for local trading standards schemes and with TrustMark, the government-backed initiative that helps householders find reliable and trustworthy tradespeople to carry out repairs and improvements to their homes."

Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC):


"The Renewable Energy Consumer Code was set up by the Renewable Energy Association. Our aim is to guarantee a high quality experience for consumers wishing to buy or lease small-scale energy generation systems for their homes. The Renewable Energy Consumer Code logo is a sign that the company has agreed to abide by the high standards set out in our Consumer Code."

National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers (NAPIT):


"NAPIT is an organisation committed to householder safety in the domestic sector and ensures that through the competence of our registered installers, householders can be confident the work carried out on their home complies with the relevant regulations."

Recent Projects and Testimonials.


4.6 MegaWatt Solar (PV) Park Installation at Lovedean, near Portsmouth:
Solar (PV) Installation Southmoor, Oxfordshire:
Solar (PV) Installation at Brick Kiln Racing, Grove, Oxfordshire:
Solar (PV) Installation in Barton:
Solar (PV) Installation in Basingstoke:
1kWh Solar (PV) Installation in Goring, Oxfordshire: