Norcroft Energy

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A Solar ground mount system.
Solar ground mount.

What is Solar PV?

Solar panels are a clean and reliable source of power and once installed they generate zero pollution with immense benefits.

Benefits of Solar PV – Is this for you?

  • Protect yourself against rising fuel costs
  • Generate your own electricity free of charge & get paid for doing it
  • 20-year performance guarantee
  • 5-10 Year Inverter Warranty
  • Works even on cloudy days
  • Easy to install
  • Virtually no maintenance
  • Low running costs
  • Lower electricity bills
  • Significant financial savings
  • Carbon footprint reduction

Solar PV – How it works

Put simply, Solar PV technology converts energy from the sun into electricity using a Photovoltaic process. Daylight (energy) hits the solar panel which then creates an electrical charge across a semi conductor (silicon). The charges created by all the solar panels are then run through an inverter.

This inverter converts the solar panels power into usable AC power to run appliances and equipment (as demonstrated in the diagram above). The stronger the sunshine, the more electricity is produced. However solar panels don’t need direct sunlight to work – you can still generate some electricity on a cloudy day in Yorkshire.

The cost of solar panels vary significantly depending on their efficiency and quality. Norcroft will visit the site you are interested in having the solar panels installed. This is a free no-obligation site survey where we will assess the best position for the solar panels to be installed, assessing the most suitable solar panels, inverter and mounting kit for the site specific job. Solar panels can be installed as a retrofit on a roof, integrated in a roof, ground mounted or installed on a flat roof. Ideally a solar PV system should face between southeast and southwest and be free of shade. Nearby trees, chimneys, and TV aerials are all common causes of shading and should be accounted for before any installation. For the best performance the solar panels should be angled at 30 to 45 degrees although with high performance solar panels you can still catch a reasonable level of sunlight within angles of 10 – 60 degrees.

Solar panels require little maintenance but it’s recommended we come and check the system regularly as part of our ongoing after sales support to ensure you are getting the most from your solar PV system. The other parts of the system such as the inverter may require more regular checks to ensure maximum efficiency. Click here to read more about our solar maintenance packages.

For more information or for a more detailed chat to understand if a Solar PV technology is a good fit for your needs, contact us.

What are the financial incentives for electricity generation?

Smart Export Guarantee

The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is a regulation for energy suppliers to pay residents for the excess energy they export to the grid from their solar PV system.

Other export tariffs can also be offered by electricity companies. These export tariffs are not part of the SEG regulations. The prices of export tariffs are likely to differ from the SEG tariffs. There may also be additional conditions to these export tariffs.

To qualify for the SEG tariffs your solar installation must be completed by a Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) accredited installer. Norcroft Energy are MCS accredited.

To apply for an SEG tariff the energy supplier will request the following documents about your installation:
• MCS Certificate
• DNO approval (G98)
• A paid invoice
These can all be provided by Norcroft Energy when we install your Solar PV system.

Do I need a smart meter?

You do not need a smart meter for a solar PV installation, but if you want to access the SEG tariff or alternative export tariffs you will need to have one installed.

Save more with battery storage

Battery storage stores the unused energy that is generated by your solar PV system, meaning that you can access and use this energy whenever you like.

Need some help? Get in touch

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Frequently Asked Questions

Which is most effective, a roof or ground mounted system?

This really depends on the individual property. For the best performance the solar panels should be south facing and angled at 30 to 45 degrees. If this is not possible on your roof, you may consider a ground mounted system but this needs to be out of the way from any areas of shading from surrounding buildings or trees.

What is the life expectancy of a solar PV system?

You will get a 20 year performance warranty with the panels but they should work beyond this. You should expect the inverter to need replacing at some stage during the life time of the system.

What maintenance does a solar pv system require?

Solar panels require little maintenance but it’s recommended we come and check the system regularly as part of our ongoing after sales support to ensure you are getting the most from your solar PV system. The other parts of the system such as the inverter may require more regular checks to ensure maximum efficiency. Click here to read more about our solar maintenance package.

What happens if I move property after my Solar PV system is installed?

The system remains on the roof of the property and the new owner benefits from any lucrative Feed in Tariff and savings on electricity depending on when the system was installed. Some may argue that properties sold with a PV system already fitted could increase in market value if installed correctly.