Our Solar generation system consists of solar PV panels (arrays of photovoltaic cells) that generate clean, renewable electricity from the sun by converting sunlight using the photoelectric effect. As energy is produced from daylight, not direct sunlight, panels generate electricity even on overcast or sunny days.

. Don't forget to contact us for a FREE assessment survey, and see how much money you could make with a SolarPV system.

Solar panels can supply a substantial proportion of the electricity needs of a typical household. Apart from reducing your electricity bill, any surplus electricity is sold directly back to the grid, which you are paid for!

Solar panels provide clean, affordable electricity. They have no moving parts, require little maintenance and are designed to last for many years.

The feed-in tariff scheme rewards you for the amount of energy your PV system generates, regardless of whether you consume the electricity or not. You are also paid for any electricity exported. All income generated will be completely tax free.

This is a government-backed policy, introduced to encourage householders to install solar PV systems to generate their own electricity. It has cross-party support and was reaffirmed in the recent Comprehensive Spending Review.

Read on below for more information on the tariffs and see an example calculation. Don't forget to contact us for your survey from one of our Surveyors based in your area.

Householders will earn or save:

• 43.3p for each kWh of electricity generated by your system, whether you use it or not. This is the generation tariff.
•  12p each kWh used to power your lights and appliances, since you will not have to buy that electricity from your energy supplier. So in effect, the total benefit to you is 55.3p per kWp.
• 3.3p per kWh for any electricity not used in the home and exported to the grid; the export tariff.

Any income generated will be completely tax-free, and the entire feed-in tariff scheme is guaranteed for 25 years.

Each year the feed-in tariff, and the money you will earn, will increase by the Retail Price Index (RPI). These tariffs are only guaranteed if you install your solar PV system before April 2012, so there is a real incentive to install your system now.The feed-in tariff (both generation and export tariff) is guaranteed for 25 years.

YES! In fact, they will greatly assist in keeping landlords energy costs low, thus possibly enabling them to lower cottage rental fees, making them more competitive! They will also make the cottage more appealing to 'green tourism' visitors. (Installations subject to the planning and any conservation area/national park consents)

Systems all use the same technology but have different outputs and layouts of panels that are matched to your particular needs. All of them save money and carbon dioxide and range in price from £6,900.

Read on for more information about the different systems. Don't forget to contact us for a survey of your home, where we will carry out a full PV assessment to see which system is right for you.

Once the system is installed you will receive an income for every unit of electricity the system generates and a little bit more for the electricity that you export. You will also save money on your electricity bill since you will not need to buy as much electricity from your energy supplier.

It's a simple as that! And both the solar PV panels and the income from the electricity your system generates are guaranteed for 25 years. All income is also index-linked for 25 years and tax free.

For example, you could install an £8,000 system:

• The savings you make on your electricity plus the feed-in tariff payment you will receive = £899 per year. This is about 8% return per year; or as it is tax free, around 13% for higher earners
• The solar PV panels will have paid for themselves in 13 years.
• The tax-free profit that you will make over 25 years is £23,877.

Solar power depends on intensity of light, not necessarily direct sunlight. This means that even when it’s overcast, your solar PV panels will be producing electricity. To get maximum output, our PV panels should be installed on a roof that faces east, west, south, or anywhere in between.
Note that FREE systems can only be mounted on South, South East or South West facing roofs.

The majority of houses in the UK have zero or very little overshading, and are suitable to have a solar PV system installed on their roofs. However, shading such as large trees or buildings can result in significant loss of energy. During the site survey, our system designer will check and discuss with you if your house is shaded and what impact it might have on installing your solar PV system.

Is my roof strong enough? Most roof structures are designed to take the increase in weight from solar PV panels due to over-engineering and original snow loading factors. Our system designer will check the existing structure and construction of the roof and discuss with you if any additional survey is required. Remember, as property surveyors we are best placed to provide the right advice on roof structures.

Will I need to upgrade my electrical system? Our solar PV systems are installed by qualified electricians. During the initial site survey the system designer will complete a visual inspection of the existing electrical system to enable the installation of your solar PV panels. We will identify any issues at this time and indicate any remedial work that is required. In the vast majority of homes, only very minor upgrades are required (if any at all) and these can be undertaken at the same time that the solar PV system is installed.

Is planning permission required? In England and Scotland, planning permission for solar PV systems is normaly only required if your home is a listed building, or is in a conservation area or World Heritage Site. (possibly also in rare cases in other locations) In these instances you should check with your local authority. Panels mounted on A-Frames in a agrden or possibly on a flat roof will also require planning permission.Your system designer will be able to help you.