Is your property suitable?
As long as your roof has an unobstructed and unshaded area which faces between South East and South West via South, then you could be ready to join the Solar Energy revolution.
Failing that, you may have a garden or other land free from shade which could become home to your own money-making, environmentally-friendly Solar PV system.
If you are not sure if your roof is suitable, why not try our brand new Roof Checker. If you are still uncertain, continue to apply for your quotes and select Not Sure in the relevant sections.
Your roof
Solar Panels for your home can be attached to almost all types of roof, including slate and tile.
If Solar Energy systems are to be installed on your roof, then it must be strong enough to support the weight of the panels. Our approved installers can check this for you.
This is especially important if you are installing the PV panels on top of tiles that may have been unchecked for many years.
Do I need sunshine?
We may not enjoy days of endless sunshine in the UK, but daylight – even through moderate cloud cover – is all that is needed to transform the sun’s radiation into Solar Energy which can be used or exported to the grid.
In fact, despite its changeable climate, the UK receives around 60% of the Solar radiation that reaches certain points along the equator.
In a nutshell, any part of the UK is suitable for Solar Power generation and the advantages of Solar Energy are not restricted to any particular region.
Of course, the further North you go, the less you will generate but it is still worthwhile investing in Solar. Use our Solar PV Calculator to estimate how much electricity you could generate and therefore how much you could save and earn.
What is the criteria?
Unless you live in a conservation area or a listed building, planning permission is not usually required for Solar Panels for your home. If you are unsure it may be worth checking with your local council.
Solar Panels are most commonly positioned on a sloping roof where there is at least 8m2 of useable space available. To achieve maximum benefit, the roof should also face somewhere between South West and South East.
N.B. Fitting Solar PV to East/West facing roofs results in a performance drop of up to 15%. Some installers advise it is still worthwhile and some do not. We are unable to separate enquiries and send them to the correct installers so unfortunately, we cannot help in these circumstances.
| Understand typical costs (£6K to £8K) and no grants available. |  |
| Understand the potential savings and benefits of FITs. |  |
| Property / roof / land is owned by you and not rented. | |
| No restrictions e.g. listed building, conservation area, etc. | |
| At least 8m2 of useable space to locate panels (1kWp system). | |
| Panels must face between South East and South West (via South). | |
| Panels must not be shaded by buildings, trees, etc. | |
| To be fitted by approved installers, not DIY or supply/fit only. | |
Because of the trajectory of the sun during the day, Solar Energy systems are most efficient if they are inclined at an angle of 30 to 40 degrees. Fortunately for anyone considering Solar Power for their home, most UK properties have roofs which meet this requirement.
The proposed location should not be shaded, otherwise it will not function at full capacity. If you are unsure of the available space, the direction the roof faces or whether it is shaded then please try our Roof Checker. If you are still uncertain, continue to apply for your quotes and select Not Sure in the relevant sections.
What happens next?
By applying for Solar Panels through EnergyLink, we do our very best to ensure that you are not exposed to rogue traders or at risk from being mis-sold a Solar PV system that is unsuitable.
Our approved installers will carry out free, no-obligation surveys of your property and check the internal electrical set up for compatibility.
How EnergyLink can help you
EnergyLink can arrange for you to receive up to 3 quotes from MCS accredited installers of Solar PV systems in your local area.
We also have expert Energy Advisors to help guide you through the application process to ensure you can enjoy the benefits of Solar Energy as quickly as possible.
If the surveys show that your property is suitable and you are willing to go ahead and begin making solar power for your home, the installer you choose will arrange the work and assist you with setting up the Feed in Tariffs.
Within a matter of weeks of establishing that your home is suited to solar installation, you could be making money and supplying the grid with a clean energy supply.
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