Solar Panel Installation Totnes Devon (TQ9): If you're thinking of investing in solar panels, either for thermal (hot water) or electric generation, for your Totnes home or property, it is useful to get a low-down on the pluses and minuses of what's involved. It would definitely seem like a good time to jump on the solar panel bandwagon, with Government deals and grants allowing you to significantly reduce the outlay, and in addition to that the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) scheme which offers you the possibility to earn some money from any excess energy that you produce through your system.
SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) is the proper term for electricity production from the sun's rays. There is ample sunlight experienced in the Totnes area to produce photovoltaic energy with good results. This means it is entirely possible to lower your power bills, and maybe even gain a modest return on your original investment through the SEG, selling surplus electricity back to the provider.

The government endorsed Green Homes Grant is a scheme to help homeowners save energy and lower their carbon footprint, and it can be used to cover a large part of the cost of a solar energy panels. This was announced in July 2020 by the Government, and offers vouchers of between £5,000 - £10,000 for energy saving improvements on your home. When you link the Green Homes Grant with the SEG scheme it's easy to see why you've got the perfect opportunity to consider a solar energy installation for your property in Totnes.
SOLAR THERMAL SYSTEMS
Every home and business premises needs hot water, so why wouldn't you use the sunshine to generate it? In wintertime, even with the reduced hours of sunlight and weaker sun strength, it will successfully heat up your water and lower the quantity of energy needed to bring it up to temperature. During the summer season, a properly installed solar thermal system will quite possibly meet all your demands for hot water.

If you choose to install a solar powered hot water or heating system on your house in Totnes, you're eligible to sign up for the RHI (Renewable Heat Incentive) scheme. The Renewable Heat Incentive was unveiled for household use in 2014, after being formerly only open to businesses. It gives a seven year support package for homeowners switching to renewable methods of heating, including solar powered thermal installations. If your house in Totnes is eligible to be a part of the scheme, you will receive a cash payout every three months over the seven year period.
CONSIDERATIONS FOR SOLAR
Prior to commencing any solar panel installation on your Totnes property, there are several matters to think about:
- Is planning permission needed for your property or area? - For a lot of homes and properties in Totnes, solar panels will be on the approved list of alterations that can be done. But if you have a flat roof, live in a conservation area or own a listed building, you will want to double-check with the local council of any specific restrictions that may exist.
- Does your home's roof get full sun during the day, or is it sometimes shaded by buildings or vegetation? - You need to have as much sunlight as possible for maximum efficiency, and any shading will reduce the energy gains from the solar panels.
- Do you have a roof facing south or south-west? - This helps maximise the performance of the solar PV panels by absorbing the greatest amount of sunlight possible.
- Does the installation of solar panels on my property have an impact on its market value? - Solar energy installations have been known to both negatively and positively impact on property prices. It is really a tough call to make, nevertheless in the majority of cases a solar panel installation increases the market value of your home, as more people are becoming environmentally aware about the impact they have on the world.
SOLAR - THE BENEFITS
Additional Income - The Government supported SEG pays customers for surplus renewable energy they have generated but not used. This may be applied as a credit towards your quarterly electricity bill, or as a cash amount paid directly to you. This Government backed scheme is a contract between the house owner and their electricity provider. Therefore you are not tied in to one utility company and can change providers to get a cheaper tariff when the contract comes up for renewal.
Reduced Bills - Our sun is the greatest free energy source that we know. Therefore, why not take what you can, when you can? You will start to notice a reduction in your quarterly electricity bills, as soon as the initial outlay has been paid for your solar PV installation. The extent of your installation will have an impact on the type of savings you can obtain, but a typical solar energy system could save you ninety and three hundred and seventy pounds (dependant upon your situation) per year on your bill.
Maintenance - There's very little maintenance necessary for solar installations in Totnes. Today's solar panels should continue to provide heat and electricity for something like 25 years, provided that they are kept shade-free and clean. A solar panel installation with battery storage capacity will require more maintenance than a basic grid tie setup, but the storage, life and efficiency of batteries is getting better as this technology advances.
No Noise Pollution - There is no sound associated with solar installations. That's not the case with some green energy solutions. Wind generators for example can annoy and aggravate householders with the low frequency noises that they produce. Because solar PV and thermal systems in Totnes don't have any moving parts during operation, there's no noise produced by the equipment or panels.
Lowering Your Carbon Footprint - The production of renewable, green energy can be achieved by using either a solar thermal system or solar PV on your house in Totnes. Roughly two tonnes can be knocked off your damaging carbon emissions every year, through the use of such eco-friendly systems.
FINDING A CERTIFIED SOLAR PANEL INSTALLER

Try to obtain a minimum of three price quotes from different providers in Totnes and never hesitate to ask family, neighbours and friends for advice if they've had a solar panel installation on their property. When getting a price quote, ask about grants on offer in the area for sustainable energy schemes, to help in reducing the initial cost of buying and installing your solar powered system.
Any potential solar power company you are considering should also be willing to supply specifics of projects that they've recently completed. For you to see their standard of work and experience in the industry, any dependable Totnes company should have a portfolio of installations and clients.
A professional solar panel installer in Totnes should have membership or affiliation with at least one sustainable energy association. These organisations provide training, qualifications and support on all equipment, working practices and health & safety for every aspect of solar, and alternative energy generating systems. Membership to one or more of the following green energy associations ought to be a pre-requisite before employing any solar panel installer in Totnes.
The Solar Trade Association - The Solar Trade Association (STA) works on the leading edge of technology together with industry, Government and local authorities, to make the best of solar technology available to all. The STA is a well-respected trade organisation within the solar energy industry and its membership ranges from huge multinationals to small scale household installers.
The Renewable Energy Association - The REA (Renewable Energy Association) is Britain's primary organisation for the clean technology and sustainable energy industry. Having over five hundred member businesses the REA is dedicated to working towards a zero carbon economy and provides alternative energy training for its member businesses.
The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) - Solar energy systems should be installed by a MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) certified engineer in Totnes. Recognition by the MCS for a company shows that it's technicians have been trained in the proper methods of installation, and that its renewable energy equipment is fully approved and of high quality. The Microgeneration Certification Scheme supports and encourages the following green technologies: air source heat pumps (ASHP's), battery storage, biomass heat generation and solar panels.
Solar panel companies are available in Totnes itself, in these postcodes: TQ9 5BX, TQ9 5GU, TQ9 5AL, TQ9 5DQ, TQ9 5ED, TQ9 5NE, TQ9 5GS, TQ9 5HU, TQ9 5NL, TQ9 5JL, and also in neighbouring places like Cott, Diptford, Stoke Gabriel, Berry Pomeroy, Riverford Bridge, Shinners Bridge, Dartington, Harberton, Staverton, Ashprington, Harbertonford, Marldon, Littlehempston. Totnes solar panel installers will generally have the postcode TQ9 and the dialling code 01803. You will need to verify this if you prefer to use a local solar panel installer. Totnes householders are spoilt for choice when hunting for photovoltaic services.
Solar Inverters
The solar inverter is responsible for changing the DC electricity from your solar panels into AC, the form of electricity required for powering your home in Totnes. AC is the type of electricity needed to power your home and connect to the National Grid, and a solar inverter is what converts DC electricity into AC. Essentially, the absence of a solar inverter means you can't securely harness your solar power to run your home.
The efficiency of a solar panel system is limited by its weakest part, making a high-quality inverter a critical component of your panel setup. The inverter allows you to maximise the energy generated by your solar panels. If you're using solar panels, you have access to 4 types of solar inverters; power optimisers, micro-inverters, string inverters and hybrid inverters. To determine the optimal solar inverter for your specific solar panel system, you must consult with a professional installer.
Solar Panel Maintenance Totnes
By installing solar panels at your Totnes property, you can reap the rewards of a steady source of renewable energy. But, don't forget a maintenance regime, to keep them in tip-top condition. Solar panel producers recommend a cleaning schedule of between 2 and 4 times a year. If your panels are generating less energy than normal, a monitoring system can detect this. This issue could be caused by dirty panels due to an accumulation of debris. Regular maintenance will make sure your panels are working at their optimal efficiency. Ground mounted solar panels are simpler to keep in good condition compared to roof mounted options. When heavy rain occurs, ground-mounted panels can be impacted by mud splashes and bounce-back, depending on the ground they have been set up on. After thunderstorms, hail or snow, the panels should be checked to ensure they haven't been damaged.
Solar Energy Pluses and Minuses
Saving cash and being more cost-effective is something people in Totnes always desire. Is solar energy anything that you may want to look into, or just a scam? Solar energy can be applied to a number of different uses including electricity, heating, cooking, and numerous others. Even though solar energy has been touted as the perfect, eco-friendly source of clean energy, it also has some disadvantages. By harnessing the strength of the sun, it is easy to convert that into energy that is clean and environmentally friendly. A product that you basically don't need at all is fossil fuels. The devices needed to generate the solar energy are solar collectors, or solar panels.
Yet another huge advantage is that solar energy can save you a lot of money on heaters, because it is cheaper than electric heating. If you lack utility lines in your neighborhood, that is another advantage that you can benefit from. Solar powered energy can provide electrical power for whatever you desire to do whether it is for water heating, cooking, or electricity. A specialized process termed desalination allows the solar power to create fresh water from salt water. This succeeds when the salt crystals stay in the bottom of a basin while the majority evaporates from the power of the solar energy. After it is done evaporating, it condenses right into a separate basin.
So far, it seems like solar energy is the ideal system imaginable with nothing but positives, but to get the complete picture the negatives need to be revealed also. Needing a lot of solar collectors is a big disadvantage when considering solar power. Solar energy is cheap in theory, but these solar panels tend to be expensive in addition to the maintenance costs associated with them. Although solar power is affordable, it may not be worth it to you, because with the cost of the panels, you may not save enough to pay for your investment.
Yet another disadvantage doesn't seem like much if you reside where the sun is always shining, but many places the sun isn't always out. If the weather conditions are unpredictable where you live it may not funnel the solar energy as well compared to someone who lives in a place that is mostly sunny. However, you should decide if there is sufficient sunlight all through the year to be beneficial enough to invest in. There is certainly plenty of sunlight if you live in a desert, and you don't have to worry about this issue.
Contingent upon where you live, the days could be longer than other places and this is another disadvantage to check out. To be able to access electricity or hot water at night might be a complication because of this. Retaining the solar energy to be used in the future is an extremely functional thing to do whenever night comes along.
Solar PV Upgrades
Solar PV upgrades are a vital component in maintaining a solar power system's effectiveness and efficiency over time. Existing solar panels can have their durability improved, output increased, and lifespan extended through upgrades as technology advances. Replacing older solar panels with newer, more efficient models is a typical upgrade for solar power systems. The overall footprint of the solar array decreases while the amount of electricity generated increases. Upgrades could include the installation of energy storage solutions, such as batteries, which can store excess energy generated during the day for later use at night or during periods of low sunlight. Additionally, upgrading inverters or adding micro-inverters can improve the conversion efficiency of the system. It is worth noting that solar PV upgrades are not only beneficial for domestic and business users but also for utility-scale solar power plants as well. By upgrading, energy output can be increased, downtime and maintenance costs reduced, and the energy grid's reliability ultimately improved. Solar PV upgrades are also instrumental in mitigating climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. When solar power systems' efficiency and output are increased, fewer fossil fuels are needed for electricity generation, resulting in a reduction in carbon dioxide and other harmful emissions. Solar PV upgrades are both financially advantageous and environmentally responsible.
Coming Next:
Renewable energy solutions - article 132.
More Totnes Services
While trying to find a solar panel installer in Totnes, Devon, you may well also need quotes for SKIP HIRE in Totnes, scaffolding hire in Totnes, solar thermal heating in Totnes, gas boiler installation in Totnes, renewable energy in Totnes, hot water tank installation in Totnes, solar hot water in Totnes, roof cleaning in Totnes, heat pumps in Totnes, roofers in Totnes, green energy in Totnes, solar panel cleaning in Totnes, solar panel maintenance in Totnes, solar panel repairs in Totnes, solar panel upgrades in Totnes, carpenters in Totnes, underfloor heating in Totnes.
Totnes Solar Panel Tasks

Your chosen Totnes solar panel technicians will be glad to help you with a number of sustainable energy services including stuff like photovoltaic solar panels, solar photovoltaic energy systems, sustainable energy solutions, new build solar panel installation, solar panel mounting, smart grids & batteries, solar panel cleaning, green energy solutions, solar panel bird proofing, electric heating in Totnes, 100 watt solar panels Totnes, solar panel repairs Totnes, solar PV inverters, energy requirement assessments, industrial solar panel installations, EV charging, solar panel maintenance in Totnes, the supply and installation of solar photovoltaic panels in Totnes, solar energy advice, house solar panels, solar energy grants in Totnes, renewable heat installations, solar system safety checks, energy storage, rooftop solar panels, the repair of solar panels, battery storage solutions, the installation of solar panels Totnes, air source heat pumps Totnes, 400w solar panels Totnes, solar panel systems, the replacement of solar panels, ground mounted solar PV, the mounting of solar panels, residential solar panel installations, and other similar services in Totnes, Devon (TQ9). Listed are just a selection of the duties that are carried out by those specialising in solar panels. Totnes providers will be happy to tell you about their full range of solar services.
Solar Panels Near Totnes
Also find: Staverton solar panel installers, Harberton solar panel installers, Stoke Gabriel solar panel installers, Shinners Bridge solar panel installers, Littlehempston solar panel installers, Berry Pomeroy solar panel installers, Riverford Bridge solar panel installers, Diptford solar panel installers, Marldon solar panel installers, Harbertonford solar panel installers, Ashprington solar panel installers, Cott solar panel installers, Dartington solar panel installer services and more. To get price quotes for solar panel installation, Totnes householders can click here.
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