A quick introduction and guidance into having a Photovoltaic (PV) system installed based around a 1kwp (the peak output) system:-
1. A 3kwp system will cost around £8,500 without installation cost
3. 1kwp will cover about 7 square meters of roof area.
4. 1kwp system in South West England will deliver about 1050kwhrs of electricity in a year.
5. A typical system will take 2 to 3 days to install
6. The system should ideally face South but SE to SW will be OK – see tilt and orientation guide.
7. The ideal roof pitch is 30-35deg, traditional pitches of 45º and 55º make only a few % difference – see tilt and orientation guide.
8. Space is needed in the house for the inverter and the total generation meter – see picture.
9. The total generation meter is the reading that gives you your payment for the energy generated – see picture.
10. The system is fully automatic and will generate electricity when the sun shines.
11. When electricity supply fails generation stops, so your system does not electrocute the man on the wire repairing the supply! Then it automatically starts working again after the grid supply returns and becomes stable.
12. Installing a solar PV system on a roof is a “Permitted Development” (excluding Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) provided it is less than 200mm above the roof and complies with the General Permitted Development Order . AONB's are not “Conservation Areas” in “planning terms”. In “Conservation Areas” solar systems do not need planning permission if they can not be seen from the highway.
13. The price guidance does not take into account scaffolding, any building specific problems or any electrical wiring changes that may be required to your particular building.
14. When the new Feed in Tariff (FiT) starts in April a typical 3.00kwp system facing south will earn about £1300.00 per year under the scheme, PLUS some of the electricity generated will be used by the building which avoids paying for mains supply - saving further money. Considering only the FiT (not the electricity used) as a return on capital this represents approximately 7%. This guide income considers a system of 2.5kwp which attracts a total generation payment rate of 41.3p/kwhr and this rate is guaranteed by the government for 25 years.
As the operation of the FiT becomes clearer this will be updated. For the full Government statement
07565 620790
