More and more British homeowners are choosing to generate their own solar power at home, thanks to a combination of reducing prices and government incentives in the form of Feed-in Tariffs. Adding solar photovoltaics to your home is a great way to become more energy efficient while actually making a profit on your investment. If you are thinking about making the plunge, here are some of the most important things you will need to consider.

Planning regulations

Before doing anything else, you need to make sure you will actually be allowed to install solar panels. Planning regulations vary from area to area and can be affected by issues such as being in a conservation area or other local planning restrictions.

Get in touch with your local planning authority (LPA) and they will be able to advise you. If there are planning rules which prevent you from having traditional solar panels, you may be able to go with an option such as solar roof tiles. These incorporate photovoltaic technology directly into your roof tiles, allowing you to generate power without radically changing the appearance of your building.

Energy Use

Knowing how much electricity you currently use and what it is costing you is important for two reasons. Firstly, it will help you know how many solar panels you need and, secondly, how much of an impact you can expect on your bills. Your installer should go through this process with you and help you to understand your options. Make sure you are clear about your own goals, whether you want to reduce your bills, maximise your investment or even work towards becoming completely energy independent, this will have a massive impact on the type and capacity of system you choose.

Insurance

Installing solar panels and roof tiles is now so commonplace that it is highly unlikely to cause any serious issues with your buildings insurance, however it is still worth discussing with your provider. As you are changing the fabric of your building and likely increasing the value of your home, your insurers will probably advise you to increase the amount you are insured for. You should also check whether your policy will cover your new solar panels or roof tiles.

Positioning

One of the key decisions you need to make is where exactly your photovoltaics will be positioned. Generally speaking, solar panels and tiles are most effective when facing south, although anywhere from south east to south west should produce a decent amount of electricity. Your installer should make an assessment on which part of your roof will be the most efficient place for your photovoltaics and they should talk this through with you.

Practicalities

With any photovoltaic installation, there will be a certain amount of cabling and other equipment that needs to be placed inside your home. Although the amount of space these takes up is usually relatively small, they will need to be accessible while ideally not so visible as to become an eyesore.

Installer

As with any home improvements, choosing the right contractor to install your photovoltaics is vital. Make sure to ask for references and check that the products they offer are covered by the Microgeneration Certificate Scheme (MCS). Your installer should also complete an MCS compliance certificate for your installation and they should provide you with a copy of this. This certificate is required to apply for Feed-in Tariff payments, so without it you could end up significantly out of pocket!

Metrotile’s photovoltaic roof tiles offer an effective and attractive way to generate your own electricity at home or for your business. They offer all the protection you would expect from a normal roof tile and are covered by our standard 40 year weatherproof guarantee.

To find out more call Metrotile today on 01249 658 514 or use our contact form for a swift response.