Frequently Asked Questions about Solar P.V. Panel Installations and Systems.
Q. Do I need planning permission for a Solar P.V. Panel Installation?
A. No, Solar P.V. Panel installation is allowed under permitted development, but you may need permission in conservation areas. SCL will issue a notification to local building control to let them know we have installed solar panels. This comes under Part ‘P’ of the building regulations for electrical installations.
Q. What colour are the Solar P.V. Panels?
A. The panels that we install at SCL are generally Monochrystalline Black, although we appreciate that other finishes are available.
Q. How does the Feed-In Tariff Work?
A. You are paid for every Kilowatt hour of electricity your panels generate. The payment is Tax Free, Index Linked and lasts for 20 years.
Q. Do I get paid for the electricity I export?
A. Yes, you do. This, though, is not actually measured, it is assumed that in the UK you will only use 50% of the amount you generate. You are therefore paid for the 50% at a rate of 4.5p per Kilowatt.
Q. What other savings do I make by having Solar P.V. Panels generating electricity?
A. Your electricity bills should be reduced by at least 50%, but it does depend on how you change habits i.e. Make use of all your main electrical demand during daylight hours such as clothes and dish washing.
Q. How do the panels attach to the roof?
A. SCL use a bracket that attaches to the wooden roof rafters via strong screw fixing. The roof tile is slid up, the bracket fixed under the roof felt and then both felt and the tile are slid back into place. Rails are attached across a series of brackets and the panels clamped securely to the rails.
Q. Is SCL Electrical and Energy an MCS approved installer?
A. Yes, SCL Electrical and Energy has been installing panels for some time and our MCS Number is NIC2332, we were accredited by the NICEIC in July 2011. We are always more than happy to provide a copy of our MCS Certificate to anyone who has problems finding us on the database.
CLICK HERE FOR THE MCS INSTALLER DATABASE.
Q. Is SCL Electrical and Energy Just a Solar Installation Business?
A. No, SCL Electrical and Energy have been trading since 2009 and we are highly qualified electrical engineers working primarily in the Northamptonshire area but also across the whole of the UK and on projects in Saudi Arabia. SCL added the Solar P.V. arm to the business because we are great believers in moving with technology and in helping people to use technology as an investment in their own future. We have been trading as electrical engineers, carrying out all aspects of electrical work from electrical testing to large installations for the past 30 years, previously under the banner of Spartan Contracts. The name change was partly to allow for the growth with new technologies and partly because the next generation of the family have taken over the running of the business.
Q. Do the Solar P.V. panels work at night and in the winter or on cloudy days?
A. Solar P.V. electric panels don’t generate or store energy at night, they start working once the sun’s radiation hits them, but they do work in the winter and on cloudy days. Most of the energy produced is generated in the long days of summer and around 75% of annual energy is generated during that time.
Q. Where does the inverter go and what does it do?
A. The inverter goes either in your loft or garage depending on space and where your fuse board is. The inverter converts the direct current produced by the solar panels to an alternating current which is then useable by your home or business.