FAQs

PV stands for photovoltaic and is used to convert solar radiation directly into electricity.

Solar thermal also uses solar energy, which is then transferred to heat to water, as opposed to electricity.

Simply put, yes.

Panels work best when facing due South, yet they also work at a suitable yet reduced capacity facing due East or West as facing up to 90º from south will typically result in only a 20% drop in performance! Panels don’t need to be roof mounted either, we build frames to allow them to be ground, wall or roof mounted.

It is a common misconception that solar panels require bright sunny days to operate. In fact, they simply need daylight to capture the radiation from the sun (an added bonus for the North of Scotland that receives an hour more sunlight in the height of Summer). Solar panels are also designed to withstand severe weather conditions such as storms and hail.

A standard installation usually takes a day.

Generally, a 4kWp PV system is between £5,000 and £8,000.

Solar panels are not free, however there have been previous and current financial incentives in place that should allow you to recoup costs over time. Interest free loans are also made available by the Scottish Government.

When generating your own energy, savings can be made by ending a reliance on expensive energy bills. These savings can be combined with the previous government incentive the Feed-in Tariff (FIT – now closed to new applications from 31st of March 2019) and the Smart Export Guarantee (where suppliers will offer you the best price for your surplus solar power).

For solar thermal the Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (Domestic RHI) was a government financial incentive to promote the use of renewable heat. The DRHI closed to new applicants on 31 March 2022. For existing applicants they will continue to receive RHI cash payments quarterly over seven years.

The best thing to do is contact us for a quote, we will put together a specific estimation based on the system you are considering including the best estimates for payback periods and profitability simulations.

Generally, the answer is no. However, there may be a few instances where you may be required to get planning permission first. If you are unsure we will be more than happy to talk you through any issues.

Output from solar PV can vary according to different factors including, orientation, pitch, shading and location. When carrying out a survey and quotation we will provide you with guideline outputs that take into consideration all these factors and base it on an average throughout the year.

Most roofs are strong enough to support the weight of solar panels, but we will always check thoroughly before starting an install.

There is no one size fits all answer, as this depends entirely on what you are looking to achieve with your solar power. The usual domestic system is 4kWp which typically requires 12-16 panels and approximately 20-26m².

Despite adding to the overall time, we choose to lift the original tiles/slate first as we believe this will avoid potential problems further down the line! After we have access we then attach hooks which attach to the rafters of the roof and support the panels, holding them securely in place.

Both PV Panels and Solar Thermal collectors are very low maintenance. You may want to visually inspect them from time to time simply to ensure they remain clean as anything covering the surface of the panel may reduce its efficiency, such as leaves or dirt.

We only buy our components from leading manufacturers which are sustainable and of the highest quality.