Getting solar installed on your home - advice to home owners
The following FAQ have been developed to help you work out how to get solar installed on your home. If you have any more questions or comments please add them below.

Which type of solar do I need?
To start with you need to decide if you want solar thermal (for heating water) or solar photovoltaics (PV) (which make electricity). They are both very practical and cost effective technologies (even in the UK!) but it is important that they are used for the right purpose (e.g. it’s more cost effective to heat water with a solar thermal system than it is to generate electricity using PV and then use the electricity to heat water).

Remember, if you are looking to benefit from the Feed-in Tariff or ‘Clean Energy Cashback’ scheme this ONLY APPLIES to solar photovoltaics.

What sort of roof do I need?
The solar installation must receive as much light as possible. Shadows cast by tall trees and neighbouring buildings will reduce the amount of energy generated. The best location for solar PV in the UK is a South-facing roof at 30° - 40° pitch, although East and West facing roofs will also work. See Solarcentury’s PV-performance page for specific details of how orientation and pitch affect performance.

How much should a solar system cost?
Costs for a typical solar water heating system range from £3,000 to £5,000. Costs for a typical solar photovoltaic system range from £4,500-£6,000 per kWp.
Most homeowners install a PV system of between 2 and 3kWp. The cost of installation will vary according to:

  • how easy or difficult it is to access the roof (will it require scaffolding)
  • the technology or product you choose (type of PV panels or tiles).

How do I find a reputable installer?
The best place to look is on the Gemserv MCS list for solar photovoltaics and solar thermal.

What should I look for from an installer?
In order to qualify for the Feed-in Tariff installations must use a Microgeneration Certification Scheme approved product and be commissioned (connected to the electricity grid) by an Microgeneration Certification Scheme accredited installer. The MCS scheme is managed by Gemserv and replaces the previous PV and Clear Skies accreditation schemes.  MCS accreditation provides consumers with a guarantee that the products and installers they select meet a high standard.

What questions should I ask an installer?

Apart from asking for a quote it is a good idea to ask a prospective installer:

  • To see examples of previous work (they may let you talk to a previous customer)
  • For proof of their MCS status
  • About any guarantees they offer (e.g. for system performance)
  • About any product / installation warranty they provide
  • Where their supply of solar products comes from
  • What sort of ‘monitoring equipment’ the system comes with (so you can see how much energy it is producing)

It is also a good idea to compare quotes from at least two companies before making a decision.

Can you recommend any specific solar products?
New products are continually becoming available and so it is difficult to offer any advice on specific products. However, if you are looking to receive the Feed-in Tariff, the products you install must be accredited products under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme.

Where can I find out more?
The Energy Saving Trust have recently revamped their website, see their independent advice on:
Solar photovoltaics
Solar thermal
You don’t generally need planning permission but it’s a good idea to check first.
For more information on the feed-in tariff see the MCS website
Solarcentury also have a detailed FAQ section answering most of the common questions about solar energy for homeowners.

Feedback?
We’re also interested in any feedback you may have on installers, so if you have had a quote, or had solar installed please let us know what you thought of your installers service via: info [at] wesupportsolar.net
Thanks

The We Support Solar team.