FAQs

All local authorities are required to produce a local plan in which they set up their proposals to reducing local energy and carbon emissions, however, the FIT replaces the Clear-Skies grant which paid a maximum one-off payment of £2,500 if several energy-saving and efficiency measures (costing several hundred pounds) were implemented. Techfor Energy will establish any applicable grants or incentives in the given area and situation of individual customers.

Yes. Roof mounted solar panels can be effective up to 90% of their rating, within 90 degrees of South when installed between 30-40 degrees from horizontal as shown below. We would not recommend installation on roof surfaces much greater than 90 degrees of due south.

No. Solar PV installations only require daylight (solar irradiance) to produce electricity, not direct sunlight, so they are suitable for use in the UK as the world leading market in Germany shows. (Germany has a similar climate to the UK). Performance of solar PV panels does increase in bright, direct sunlight, but even on a cloudy day, up to 10 % of the panels maximum production will be generated

Yes. The chart below shows that the UK receives reliable yearly amounts of solar irradiance, based on decades of independent measurements from EU organizations and NASA. Manufacturer quoted production figures for the performance of solar products are based on Standard Test Conditions (STC) of solar irradiance of 1000 watts on a 1 meter squared horizontal surface at 25 degrees C with an air index (clarity) of 1.5.

The chart below shows that 2/3 of the UK exceeds this amount, with much more being measured as the latitude progresses further south, assuming the PV panels are optimally angled to the sun.

Yes. With the introduction of the Feed In Tariff in April 2010, optimally designed and installed systems can pay back the initial outlay as quickly as 5 years for larger commercial systems and 7-8 years for residential 4 kWp systems, leaving 13 years of guaranteed, tax-free, index-linked payments of £ 900 or more per year. If energy prices rise then the payback time will happen even sooner and greater savings will be made.

Ground based Tracker installations which track the movement of the sun throughout each day and throughout the year can increase power production by up to 45% and therefore increase FIT payments to approx £ 1,350 per year and reduce payback time to between 6 to 8 years depending on the specific installation.

Yes. By slighlt lifestyle changes, most of our larger residential customers have reduced their electricity bill by 50% and some of our commercial customers have been able to use up to 90% of the electricity generated.

Yes, but only with an additional component to the standard installation. Otherwise with a standard grid-connection, when a grid supplied power outage occurs, the inverter will shut off the electricity supply from the DC panels, to enable engineers to fix the problem on the grid without the risk of an electric shock.

This safety feature means that although your solar panels are still producing electricity during the day, you are unable to access the power without an additional option fitted to your PV system. With optional technology fitted, you will still be able to access the power from your panels during a grid power outage and stored energy into the night.

Energy output is reduced if part of the installation is shaded. Effective system design and shading analysis can minimize the extent to which production is reduced. It is better to avoid shading if possible. Recent inverter technology advances allow for installations to manage shade in new ways which previously would have made an installation not viable.

Where the majority of the proposed installation is shaded, during a significant portion of the day, an alternate solution such as ground-based installation or an alternate roof is advisable. We always offer extensive shading analysis and we build 3d models of the property on our computer systems to simulate accurate shading losses which we take off the annual energy prediction figures. This way our energy predictions and financial returns are as accurate as current technology allows.

Yes. The solar PV system once installed will automatically generate income for the current owner and so is considered an asset. Additionally, a solar PV panel installation will increase your homes/building’s energy efficiency rating. Another selling point is that the owners will benefit from free electricity. As the Feed In Tariff in the UK market is still relatively young, it is hard to put facts and figures on this question. However, the US solar PV market is the third largest and established market in the world so it would be reasonable to assume a similar position will be reached in the UK. To more fully answer this question please open the following report from the US:

View Report

“…Regardless for what reasons and how fast the oil price and energy prices increase in the future, photovoltaics and other renewable energies are the only ones to offer a reduction of prices, rather than an increase in the future…” The European Commission Joint Research Centre Institute for Energy issues a yearly scientific and technical report which provides scientific and technical support for the conception, development, implementation and monitoring of community policies related to energy. Special emphasis is given to the security of energy supply and to sustainable and safe energy production. While a lot of information is useful to government for planning activities, it provides everyone with a picture of what is happening globally with Solar PV & technological advancements and allows an indication of future solar PV system values to be inferred. The 2010 report is available for viewing here:

View Report

Techfor Energy is certified under the Government’s Microgeneration Certification Scheme via NAPIT which allows our customers to be eligible for the Feed In Tariff. We are also members of the NAPIT Competent Person’s Scheme which allows us to self-certify Part P applicable building regulation work to Building Control.

We are members of the REAL Assurance Scheme and therefore adhere to the REAL Consumer Code and follow the Consumer Guidelines to ensure our customers receive a high quality service and customer experience to accompany the best design & installation which meets their requirements.