FAQs

Is it beneficial to fit solar pv on a roof that doesn’t face south?

Yes it is! South facing roofs provide the optimum conditions for solar pv. However if your roof faces East or West you could still generate up to 86% of the yield from a south facing roof. Take a look at our case studies to see how some of our west facing installation are performing.

How will shading affect my solar pv system?

When shade falls on a single solar pv panel it will affect the output of all those in the system and therefore reduce your income from the Feed in Tariff and the amount of electricity you have to use within your home. There are ways to reduce this affect by either installing multiple inverters or by using an inverter which has multiple MPP tracking. We can advise further if these technologies would be beneficial to you on your site visit. GD Electrical & Solar are experienced in the use of Micro Inverters and Power Optimisers to minimise the affects of shade on pv systems. When comparing quotations ensure that all installers have provided you with a shade diagram which accurately shows the affect of shade for your roof. Some installers do not show this as it may reduce the estimated output of the system.

What guarantees/warranty’s will I have for my system?

GD Electrical & Solar will provide you with a two year workmanship guarantee. Your panels and inverter will come with varying lengths of warranty from 5 – 10 years typically. Your panels will also come with a performance guarantee which is typically 25 years which is in addition to the product warranty. You will be advised of the specific times for products when making your selection.

What is the Estimated Performance Calculation?

Up until May 2013 all MCS registered installer have been using the SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure) as a method of estimating the performance of a solar pv system. This was a standard government approved calculation which had to be provided by all MCS registered installers. For the South West of England, this often produced an underestimated result. This was due to the solar radiation level used in the calculation being obtained from the central location of Sheffield. It also does not take into account the differing levels of efficiency in solar panel technology. Feedback from our clients showed yields substantially higher than predicted. In May 2013 a new guide was released which changed this calculation. It now takes into account postcode and takes a much more in depth consideration for shading issues. The results will now be shown as Estimated Performance and not SAP. The results so far are producing much more accurate results. Beware of installers still using SAP and making guarantees of excess production from their systems. There systems are not better, they are just providing an outdated estimate of production which was always underestimated. It is just a sales gimmick!

How do I claim the Feed in Tariff?

Before your installation is complete, you should contact your electricity provider or Good Energy and request that they send you a feed in tariff form or download it from their website. Once your installation is complete we will assist you in completing your form and provide you with an MCS certificate, EPC certificate and receipt for your final payment which you will need to send with your form.

What is a hand over pack?

Once your installation is complete, we will provide you with a hand over pack. This contains all the documentation you will need to be able to operate your system, guarantees/warranty’s and testing certificates. You should keep hold of this document and pass it to the new owners if you ever sell your house.

Do I need planning permission?

In the majority of homes in the uk you will not need planning permission as the installation of solar pv comes under the permitable development rights. Permission may be required if you are in a listed building, conservation area, national park or area of outstanding natural beauty. GD Electrical & Solar have all the required accreditations to self certify electrical installation, part p, the solar installation and cover the relevant parts of building regulations.

How long will the scaffolding be up?

In 95% of cases GD Electrical & Solar use our own scaffolding which means that it is put up on the day we start and is taken down the day we finish.