Solar Panel Installation Cardiff Wales (CF1): If you are looking into reducing your hot water bills or generating electricity with a solar energy installation on your Cardiff home or property, what should you do to get the best results from it? It is definitely a good time to be looking into solar power installations with Government funded schemes, like the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) providing ways of making some cash from such systems.
SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS
The expression Solar Photovoltaic (PV) pertains to the generation of electricity using solar energy. You can achieve fantastic results from an installation on your property, as there's enough sunlight in Cardiff for solar PV panels to work effectively. This means it is certainly possible to lower your overall energy bills, and perhaps even gain a small return on your investment through the Smart Export Guarantee scheme, selling unneeded electricity back to the provider.

You can even get help with paying for your solar energy panels with the Green Homes Grant. You're able to submit an application for this grant, which was introduced in July 2020, of between £5,000 - £10,000 if you're applying green energy measures to your house. Pair the Green Homes Grant scheme with the Smart Export Guarantee scheme and you will understand why this is the perfect time to seriously consider installing solar panels on your Cardiff home.
SOLAR THERMAL SYSTEMS
Regardless of what size your house is, the demand for instant hot water is always demanded. The quantity of electricity or gas that is needed to get your water up to the temperature that is required can be lowered even with the hours of sunlight experienced during the winter season in Cardiff. During the warmer months, a professionally fitted solar thermal system should fulfill all your hot water needs.

You are entitled to join the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme, if you install a solar powered heating or hot water system on your home in Cardiff. Once available only to business, the RHI was introduced for domestic use on the 9th April 2014. For anybody switching to renewable methods of heating, including photovoltaic thermal installations, it provides a seven year support package. Qualifying subscribers to the RHI receive a quarterly cash payment, based on the type and size of equipment in place, which will last the full 7 years included in the scheme.
CONSIDERATIONS FOR SOLAR
If you think you are ready to fit solar panels on your Cardiff home, you must think about these factors:
- Is your roof affected by buildings, tall trees or other obstructions which throw shade over it? - You need as much sunlight as possible for maximum efficiency, and any shading will lower the energy gains from the solar panels.
- Have you got a roof facing south or south-west? - This is the optimum direction from which to capture the maximum possible amount of sunlight with your solar PV panels.
- Will installing solar panels affect the market value of my home? - Solar panel installations have been found to both positively and negatively influence property prices. It can be a tough decision to make, yet in most circumstances the installation of solar panels boosts the market value of your home, because people in general are becoming more environmentally aware about the impact they have on our planet.
- Is planning permission required for your area or property? - Generally speaking you should not require planning permission for the installation of solar panels on your house in Cardiff. However if you own a listed building, reside in a conservation area or have a flat roof, you will have to seek advice from the local council of any restrictions in place.
SOLAR - THE BENEFITS
Maintenance Free - What makes solar panel installations in Cardiff even more appealing is the small amount of maintenance that is needed over their lifetime. Today's solar panels can be expected to provide electricity and hot water for a minimum of twenty five years, provided that they are kept shade-free and clean. If battery storage is being used in your solar installation in Cardiff, these may have to be swapped with time, but as this technology is advancing rapidly, they'll gradually last increasingly longer.
Reducing Bills - The sun is the main free energy source that we know. So, there's no reason not to take advantage of it - is there? Apart from the original expenditure to install your solar PV installation, there are hardly any maintenance charges to concern yourself with, and you will begin to see a lowering of your power bills pretty quickly. The size and extent of your solar panel installation will affect the savings you can achieve, but the typical solar energy system could save you £90 - £370 (depending on your situation) a year on your electricity bills.
Generate Income - There is a likelihood that your solar energy panels will generate more electricity than is actually needed. Therefore, this unwanted electricity can be sold to your provider through the Government endorsed SEG scheme. You can receive this payment as a 3 monthly cash transfer, or use it as payment towards your electrical power bill. The Smart Export Guarantee is a Government backed, short term contract between the homeowner and the electricity provider. This means you aren't locked into one electricity company and can swap providers to gain a cheaper tariff when the contract is up for renewal.
Reducing Your Carbon Footprint - Any solar power installation that you are looking at, PV or thermal, will generate renewable, green energy for your family. The power produced by solar panel installations does not create pollutants or emissions and could save roughly two tonnes of damaging carbon emissions from your property each year.
Noise Pollution - You will not experience noise pollution from a solar PV system. Even in small household based situations, homeowners are irritated by the noises given off by wind turbines. Solar panels don't have any moving components - thus they don't make any noise.
FINDING A CERTIFIED INSTALLER

Always get at least 3 price quotes from different sources in Cardiff and don't hesitate to ask family members, friends or neighbours for advice if they've had a solar panel installation on their home. When obtaining a quotation, ask about grants available in the local area for sustainable energy schemes, to help in reducing the initial cost of purchasing and installing your solar system.
The surveyor should also provide a means by which to see previous solar panel installations on similar homes for you to evaluate; either via a web page or through a catalogue. An honest company in Cardiff should have a detailed portfolio of installations and clients, so that you can see their working standards and experience in the industry.
Affiliation with, or membership of at least one alternative energy association is something that any established solar installation company in Cardiff should have. These trade bodies are important for any company or individual in the green energy sector, offering safety regulations, technology advances and training to their registered members. Membership to one or more of the following green energy trade bodies ought to be a pre-requisite before hiring any solar panel installer in Cardiff.
The Microgeneration Certification Scheme - Any installation of photovoltaic systems in Cardiff must be undertaken by a Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) approved company. A company that's recognised by the MCS scheme, has a team of technicians who are fully qualified and trained, and supplies only the best quality sustainable energy equipment.
REA (Renewable Energy Association) - Within the clean technology and renewable energy industry, the primary trade body is the REA (Renewable Energy Association). It offers education and training to approximately five hundred and fifty company members and uses their combined influence to commit Great Britain to the idea of net-zero carbon emissions as soon as possible. The REA (Renewable Energy Association) is a not-for-profit enterprise and its members include: project developers, equipment manufacturers, installers, fuel producers, service providers and generators. These cover anything from massive multi-nationals down to sole traders.
STA (Solar Trade Association) - The Solar Trade Association (STA) works at the spearhead of technology along with Government agencies, local authorities and industry, to provide the best solutions in solar technologies. It's a widely respected organisation within the solar energy industry and its members range from vast multi-nationals to small residential installers.
Solar panel companies can be accessed in the Cardiff area, together with: Machen, Splott, Danescourt, St Mellons, Culverhouse Cross, Roath, Llanishen, Cowbridge, Dinas Pawys, Wenvoe, Llandaff, Gabalfa, Sully, Rumney, in addition to these postcode areas: CF10 1ET, CF10 1XZ, CF10 1BW, CF10 2AE, CF10 1SZ, CF10 2EW, CF10 2GF, CF10 1DE, CF10 1JA, CF10 2HD. Cardiff solar panel installers will generally have the postcode CF1 and the dialling code 029. This is handy to know if you need to verify that you are considering a local solar panel installer. Cardiff home and business owners are spoilt for choice when searching for solar services.
Solar Panel Maintenance Cardiff
If you want a reliable source of green energy for your Cardiff home, by all mean consider investing in solar panels. But, don't think you can just leave them up there and forget about them, because routine maintenance is essential. Solar panel companies suggest cleaning your panels between two to four times a year. A monitoring system can assist you in discovering if your panels are producing a decreased amount of energy. The reason for this might be the accumulation of dirt and debris on your panels. Proper maintenance of your panels will optimise their performance and increase their lifespan. Ground mounted solar panels are less challenging to maintain than roof mounted alternatives. Ground-mounted panels are susceptible to problems during heavy rain, such as mud splashes and bounce-back, based on the type of ground they have been installed on. The panels must be inspected after hail, snow or thunderstorms to ensure they are in good condition.
Solar Inverters
The solar inverter is what enables you to use the DC electricity that's generated by your solar panels by converting it into AC. A solar inverter changes DC electricity into AC, which is the standard flow of electricity used in homes and for connecting to the National Grid. In essence, a solar inverter is the key to converting your solar energy into a safe source of power for your home.
A solar panel system's efficiency is only as good as its weakest component, thus, a top-notch inverter is crucial to a well-functioning panel setup. It enhances the energy yield from your solar panels. The four main classes of solar inverters available for solar panel usage are: string inverters, micro-inverters, power optimisers and hybrid inverters. You need to talk to a professional solar panel installer to find out which is the best solar inverter for your specific system.
Coming Next:
Renewable energy solutions - article 132.
Cardiff Solar Panel Tasks

Your local Cardiff solar panel installer can provide a whole host of services, and along with what's already been covered they can do solar panel systems Cardiff, smart home technology, solar panel bird proofing Cardiff, thermal solar panels, solar panel installation quotations, 200w solar panels Cardiff, the supply and installation of solar panel systems, solar PV inverters, renewable heat installations, solar hot water system installation, solar panels for greenhouses, 400 watt solar panels Cardiff, energy need assessments, alternative energy solutions, renewable heating solutions, home solar panels Cardiff, solar panel accessories, solar PV upgrades, solar panel fitting, cheap solar panels, renewable energy solutions in Cardiff, solar thermal heating Cardiff, solar panel maintenance Cardiff, solar energy grants, solar PV panel installation, solar thermal installations, shower heat recovery, solar water heating systems, residential solar panel installations Cardiff, solar panel repairs in Cardiff, energy storage systems in Cardiff, solar panels Cardiff, industrial solar panel installations Cardiff, sustainable energy solutions in Cardiff, solar energy installations, and others. Cardiff companies will provide a full list of their green energy services on request.
Solar Panels Near Cardiff
Also find: Danescourt solar panel installers, Machen solar panel installers, Roath solar panel installers, Culverhouse Cross solar panel installers, Rumney solar panel installers, St Mellons solar panel installers, Dinas Pawys solar panel installers, Splott solar panel installers, Gabalfa solar panel installers, Llanishen solar panel installers, Llandaff solar panel installers, Sully solar panel installers, Wenvoe solar panel installers, Cowbridge solar panel installer services and more. The majority of these towns and villages are served by companies who fit solar panels. Cardiff business and home owners can get price quotes by going here.
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