Elementary Solar frequently asked solar battery and ev questions
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Which areas do Elementary Solar offer installations to?
Currently we only offer installations in Hampshire, Sussex, Surrey and Berkshire
What is the Elementary Solar 60 day Installation Guarantee?
We know that it's not just your system you want reliability from, it's also your chosen installer. Our 60 day Installation Guarantee ensures you have the peace of mind in knowing that our electrical engineers will have y0ur system installed and commissioned within just a few weeks of signing the contract. In the event your installation becomes delayed another premium solution for fast installation will be offered to you or we can instead compensate you with a £250 discount off your balance!
Can Solar PhotoVoltaic Modules (Panels) be added onto any roof type?
Yes, except we don't work with thatch ;-). At Elementary Solar we have specialist fixings and expert techniques for tidy and secure installation with nearly every roof type and even on period properties. We can even mount panels on outbuildings, flat roofs or on the ground. When we survey your property we will confirm that the mounting space is sufficient and structurally sound enough to mount the modules safely
Do I need a South facing roof to achieve good solar generation?
A South facing roof will generate the best results for properties in the UK, but according to the Energy Saving Trust the reduction for East/West orientation is around 15%-20% when compared to due South. Furthermore an East/West facing roof can benefit from mounting modules on both sides and generating energy from early morning right through until the early evening. Even a North facing installation will generate some solar power, but much less, so Elementary Solar generally don't recommended it
Is a Home Battery really worth the extra money?
Quite simply, yes, absolutely! In fact with the modern energy tariffs being offered by suppliers such as Octopus, batteries arguably make even more sense than solar, though combined is best. Subject to sufficient charge, they offer access to power 24hrs a day. Including night hours when your solar panels are offline and during peak demand when commercial energy costs the most. Octopus offer smart tariffs with cheap grid energy for a few hours at night which can be used to charge a home battery in addition to your electric car etc. The energy is cheap because it's largely surplus green generation from renewables like wind farms which cost more to turn off than leave spinning during off-peak night hours. The Elementary Solar team can recommend the right size battery for your system
Okay, so why not just a Home Battery system?
Battery Only systems are growing in popularity, but we believe they are best suited to offices and flats which don't have a private roof space for mounting panels. Only micro-generation systems such as solar roof modules qualify for vat-free purchase and so a battery purchase combined with some solar can often be cheaper than just the battery only. What's more you are covering more of your daily usage when adding panels and minimising your reliance on peak grid energy prices. Since the scaffolding and labour is a similar cost for a limited and full roof installation, we believe a full solar system and battery is the most cost effective solution
There are a lot of systems out there, how do I know what's best for my needs?
At Elementary Solar we recognised that there is a lot of technical information out there and not everyone is a professional electrician able to make some sense of it all. Even then, with many suppliers making claims about their products it seems like a daunting task to make a fair analysis of the top performers. Our solution is to spend our time carefully analysing the options, so we can propose only the true bright sparks. Our Elementary System designer gathers all the info we need from you. We take all the key information about your property and energy demands and then calculate your system from a leading supplier and at a fair price.
I already have panels and want more, what are my options?
If your original solar system is registered with the Feed-In tariff, then as a general rule, it is cheaper and easier to have a second standalone system. Especially with some of the energy suppliers modern tariffs which are paying more and more for surplus energy sold back to the grid at peak times. Sometimes it's possible to get permission to replace your original equipment and still receive the Feed-In tariff, but only a percentage of your generation will be considered and the remainder will have to be exported at current export tariff prices. Little if any of the original system will be useable again, so there is not a great economy to changing it except perhaps to increase the total output of the original mounting area. Upgrading systems which were fitted after the Feed-In tariff are generally easy and inexpensive since most solar equipment is modular and scalable. Send us an enquiry with details of your existing installation to learn what Elementary Solar can do to supercharge your system
Okay, I'm ready to go, what are the next steps?
To proceed with an installation couldn't be simpler. You will need to calculate your system via our Elementary Solar Designer, accept the quote and book in a convenient home survey. Our team will attend the survey and conduct a visual inspection of your property from the ground and a roof survey by drone (where possible). We will refine any necessary details and present you with a final contract including bespoke design and refined projections for generation. Once you have signed electronically we will start preparing your installation with a target completion date within 30 days (unless requested otherwise) and with our 60 day Installation Guarantee you can feel confident your professional installation will be completed promptly