A solar panel installation is a way of creating your own renewable energy so that you are not reliant on sourcing your electricity from the national grid. This should result in considerable savings on your energy usage and also means you can apply for the Smart Export Guarantee, a Government incentive to encourage UK homeowners to use renewable energies.
When you have decided on committing to a solar panel installation you should ensure you partner with an accredited solar panel installer, so that you receive the best possible package and an installation from qualified professionals. After that, the installation should follow an established process.
Before your solar panel installation
- Appointment – You will be contacted to arrange for an advisor to visit you at home so that the options of how many panels you will need can be discussed with you. This will be based on the size of your property and your electricity usage. You will then discuss the costs involved and the payment options.
- Survey – A technical surveyor will survey your property for health and safety checks and the most suitable location, ie. where the sun’s energy will optimise the converted electricity you receive. They will need to access your roof and loft space to check the integrity of your roof.
- Date – An installation date will be agreed in advance.
- Scaffold – Up to a few days before your installation date scaffold will be erected to ensure the installers have safe access to your roof. This scaffold will be removed a few days after your installation.
- Planning permission – There is often no need to apply for planning permission for a solar panel installation as these generally are allowed under permitted development, however conservation areas and listed buildings may require a more rigorous process.
The solar panel installation process
Your solar panel installation should be done in a day, but some large premises may take longer than this. Because of the technical nature of this installation, you should not attempt to do it yourself. The installation process should be as follows:
- Mounts and anchors – The solar panels sit on a system of mounts and anchors.
- Secure panels – The panels are secured to the mounts.
- Wiring-in – The panels are connected to the grid input and the invertor is installed. The invertor transforms the energy from the sun that is received by the panels as DC current into AC current electricity that can be used as your normal electricity supply.
- Connection – The solar panel system is connected to your consumer unit, which is in the fuse box of your electricity supply.
- Battery – You have the option of also installing a battery, which will store up electricity that the panels generate so that it can be used at times when there is less sun, or overnight when it is dark. The battery will be installed at this point.
- How to use – The solar panel system and the installation will be explained to you and you will also be talked through how to monitor your usage and the associated savings.
After the installation
Once the installation is complete you should be left with a clean and tidy property and the scaffold will be taken down.
