Solar PV Lymington and New Forest / Solar Panel Installers

Solar PV panels installed by reputable Lymington installers

Aqua Solar Energy are the New Forest Solar PV Panel Installers

The TechnologyView
How does it work?

Solar Energy is created by converting solar radiation from the sun into useable electricity via Solar Photovoltaic (PV) panels installed on the roof of a house. Solar power is clean, green energy which Solar PV panels will generate for a minimum of 25 years (many early Solar PVinstallations are still in service after 50+ years).

How energy from the sun’s rays converts into electricity:
- Solar cells, or Photovoltaic (PV) cells are silicon-based pieces of material that absorb light
- Solar cells are combined to create solar panels
- Groups of solar panels can be combined and interlinked to create Solar Arrays for greater power generation
- Solar energy excites the electrons in the solar cells and converts solar energy into electricity
- This electricity is in the form of direct current (DC)
- DC however is not useable for most common purposes
- Therefore it’s necessary for DC power to be transformed through an inverter to Alternating Current (AC) at 230 Volts
- A small amount of Solar Energy is lost in this DC to AC conversion but is now ready for distribution to household appliances during daylight hours.
- Any Solar Energy you generate can be recorded via a generation meter installed in your home, so you can see how much electricity your Solar PV installation is generating. Via the Feed in Tariff you will be paid by your electricity company 21p for every kW you generate.
- Your Solar PV Installation will be connected to the national grid and any energy you don’t consume in your home will be fed back into the grid for which you will be paid an extra 3p for every kW generated (over and above the Feed in Tariff rate).
- By installing Solar Power not only do you generate an income from the panels on your roof but you are generating and utilising clean, green energy from a completely natural energy source.
The ProductsView
Generating Solar Energy

Aqua Solar Energy only work with high specification products which have been proven in Solar installations over decades. All the key components of the Solar PV systems installed by Aqua Solar Energy are sourced from leading Global Manufacturers of Solar Energy Systems. All Solar PV products we supply are manufactured and proven to be robust, long lasting products, providing high energy yields and maximum return on investment over the life of the installation.

Long term consistent yields are key to maximising investment returns, a PV system can generate high yields for 30 years and more if quality components are sourced at the outset and the products are installed in line with manufacturer best practice, which Aqua Solar Energy will strictly adhere to.

RAILS AND ROOF FIXINGS

Aqua Solar Energy use only high grade fixing rails and roof fittings. As the installation will remain in place for decades it is vital that all fixtures and fittings are robust and substantial enough to last, also the installation needs to be implemented in line with manufacturer’s guidance to avoid weather damage and/or corrosion.

THE SOLAR PV PANELS

Aqua Solar Energy use Solar PV panels from manufacturers who have been producing Solar PV panels for over 50 years with proven high yields well beyond the industry average. All Solar PV panels slowly reduce in performance over the lifetime of the product, most products guarantee 90% initial yield after 10 years and 80% after 25 years. The products we specify will typically degrade by less than that, increasing the expected investment return over the lifecycle of the installation.

INVERTER

The Inverter is a complex and critical component of a PV installation which is often overlooked. A good quality inverter can improve the energy output by several per cent, right round the year, therefore improving your return on investment.

The inverter performs a number of critical functions including:
- Tracking the variable energy output (Maximum Power Point or MPP) of the Solar PV Array/s to maintain maximum efficiency
- Converting all energy produced from the Solar Panels from DC current to AC Current at the right frequency, so it can either be fed back to the National Grid or used within the home.
- Isolating the power output during power cuts on the national grid
- Automatically starting up and shutting down as the PV Panels start and stop producing power
The inverters we recommend have a long life expectancy which will improve projected investment returns compared to many other products.

MONITORING TOOLS

Aqua Solar Energy propose external wireless monitoring devices as an optional item so that customers can clearly see the energy output of the Solar PV system at any given time and the accumulation of kW units generated over time, the monetary value of Feed in Tariffs can also be recorded and monitored.
The BenefitsView

Why should I install PV?

Reduce your energy bills and get paid for generating your own electricity.

By harnessing the sun’s rays via Solar PV panels on the roof of your home, you can generate your own electricity, so you won’t have to pay your electricity company as much to supply you theirs. We are currently seeing some of our customers saving substantially on their electricity bills. Your electricity company are also committed, via the government’s Feed In Tariff scheme to pay you 21p for every kW of energy your Solar PV installation generates (this rate is valid from December 12th 2011). So not only are you using less and paying for less electricity from your energy provider, you are also earning an income from the sun simply shining on your roof.

Reduce your carbon footprint by using the sun’s clean energy

Solar Energy is clean, renewable (unlike gas, oil and coal) and sustainable, helping to protect our environment. Using the sun’s clean energy does not pollute our air by releasing carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulphur dioxide or mercury into the atmosphere like many traditional forms of electrical generation does. Therefore Solar Energy does not contribute to global warming, acid rain or smog. On the contrary, it actively contributes to the decrease of harmful green house gas emissions.

Generate your own power, protecting yourself from rising energy costs

By generating your own electricity using Solar PV panels, you are less dependent on the electricity supplied by your energy company, so their inevitable rises in energy costs won’t affect you in much the same way as if you were entirely dependent on them. By installing your own Solar Energy system you can generate your own power and get paid to do it. As the Government’s Feed In Tariffs are funded by the UK energy companies, as mandated by the regulator Ofgem, the cost of the Feed In Tariffs will ultimately be recovered via higher energy bills for all, so to an extent we are all contributing to the cost of Solar Energy whether we install it or not, at least by installing Solar Energy in your home you are on the right side of the equation.

Invest in the future, new technology offers high investment returns

Now is the time to install Solar PV panels, with an up-front investment of up to £11,000 you can claim via the Feed in Tariff scheme up to £1,000 a year from your energy provider for the next 25 years, index linked, tax free – no catch.

After years of campaigning by environmental groups the government has finally agreed to reward households and businesses installing electricity-generating measures with enough of a return to make it a serious financial, as well as an environmental, investment. If you’ve got the money and, a suitable property you can earn a 6-10% tax-free return, an income that will also rise in line with inflation. At the same time, you get to do more than your fair share in reducing the UK’s carbon emissions. Therefore, once you have recovered your initial investment the energy from the sun is practically free.

How much can I earn?

Financial Incentives for Solar Energy.

Solar Energy is clean energy and helps towards the UK Government’s carbon reduction targets. The UK Government have agreed financial incentives since April 2010 to encourage and stimulate the take up of household Solar Energy installations. The Green Energy Cashback Scheme (Feed In Tariff) has been stipulated by Ofgem (the UK energy industry regulator) to the UK’s energy providers.

The Feed In Tariff is calculated as a generous subsidy for every unit of electricity (kW) generated by the Solar PV panels which is recorded by a dedicated meter installed as part of the Solar System installation, this subsidy is currently at 21p per kW generated (since December 12th 2011) so once you install at this rate you are locked in for the next 25 years index linked, tax free. As an additional benefit, households can use the Solar Energy generated to reduce traditional electricity consumption and export the non-used electricity to the national grid for which an additional tariff is generated at a rate of 3.1p per kW generated.

Below is a table showing the approximate installation costs and annual investment returns for varying sized Solar PV installations. Whilst the Feed in Tariff rates have reduced since December 12th December 2011, the yields are still attractive as the wholesale costs of Solar Panels have reduced significantly over recent months.

System Size (in kW installed)	*Generation (in kW hours)	Approximate Cost (subject to Survey)	**Estimated Annual Return	Estimated Investment Return
1.85	1,587	£7,255	£473	6.5%
2.2	1,888	£7,820	£562	7.2%
2.6	2,231	£8,330	£665	8%
2.9	2,488	£9,100	£741	8.2%
3.3	2,831	£9,800	£843	8.5%
3.7	3,175	£10,600	£945	8.9%
4	3,432	£11,300	£1,022	9%

* Based on SAP figure for South Facing Roof pitched at 30 degrees

** Assumed value Includes Feed in Tariff, Export Tariff and savings on own electricity use

How do I claim my Feed in Tariff?

Once the installation is complete you will receive a handover pack from Aqua Solar Energy including a Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) Certificate with a unique ID number. Once you have this number you can contact your energy provider to claim the Feed in Tariff, all the main energy providers are mandated to comply with the Feed In Tariff scheme and will have a process in place for dealing with applications. We can provide advice on the process and instructions will also be included within the handover pack.

InstallationView
What’s the installation process?

Aqua Solar Energy will manage the entire installation process from design and installation through to system testing and MCS certification and will explain the entire process in full prior to commencement of the project. At Aqua Solar Energy we understand the importance of having someone available to answer any questions you may have, every step of the way.

Typical Installation Timeframe.
- Day 1 – Scaffolding erected
- Day 2 – Roof Rails installed and Electrical Installation started.
- Day 3 – Solar Panels Installed, all Electrics completed and Inverter Installed, System Tested and commissioned
- Day 4 – Scaffolding removed from site
A typical Solar PV installation will be attached to either a pitched or flat roof, in either case a rail system will be fitted to the roof to enable the Solar Panels to be secured. Once the rail system is installed the Solar Panels are then fitted in rows either in portrait or landscape format depending upon the design and available space.

Once secured the Solar PV panels are wired via a Solar cable to a DC isolator switch and then into the Inverter provided, the Inverter is typically installed in a roof void or loft space, the exact location will be determined during the survey. From the Inverter the AC output will run via a new AC isolator switch which will then feed into the existing household consumer unit (i.e. fuse box) via a further AC isolator. A post generation meter will be installed near to the existing consumer unit to record the energy output of the Solar PV system.

Qualified installation engineers and Solar PV qualified electricians will carry out the installation to the standards required for Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) accreditation and as governed by the Renewable Energy Assurance Scheme.

We estimate that each installation will take less than 5 days including all remedial works, depending on site survey and each individual job, if the installation is due to take longer we will let you know at the proposal stage.

Upon completion of the installation we will provide you with a handover pack which includes the MCS Certificate which will enable you to claim your Feed in Tariff from your energy provider.

Notifying the Distribution Network Operator – There is a requirement of all Microgeneration installations connected to the National Grid to be notified to the local Distribution Network Operator (DNO). As your system installer we will take care of the notification process with the DNO. For installations up to 3.7kW we only need to notify the DNO within 30 days of system commissioning.

For larger installations above 3.7kW permission from the DNO is required prior to installation, an application fee is usually payable (charges depend on who the DNO is in your area).

After Sales Customer Care.

Following completion of the project we will provide a handover pack to include testing data, product guarantees, and maintenance instructions and contact details for any after sales care required.

Should you have any installation issues with your system, subsequent remedial work will be carried out within 7 days whenever possible.