FAQs - For Home

Typically £4,000 to £8,000 for most 10-16 panel home solar systems. The exact cost of solar power for your home depends on your roof covering, height from the ground to your roof, how many roof pitches you install solar panels on, quantity of solar panels, whether you add power optimisers, length of cable runs and any other accessories included.

You can save £200-1000 per year with most house solar panel and battery systems. This incudes savings on your electricity bill and payments from your electricity supplier for your exported solar electricity. You can maximise your savings by setting appliances to run when the sun is most likely to be shining. The final amount you can expect to save on your monthly energy bill will depend on your electricity consumption, electricity price and how much sunlight your home gets.

Yes! Provided you plan to stay in the house long enough and your solar pv is sized, designed, installed and maintained correctly it can reduce your bills, help you do your bit for the envionment and make your home more saleable.

Most homes that have their own roof will be suitable for solar panels - even if your roof pitch is not facing due south or at the ideal angle. How good your home is for solar panels depend on the size of your roof; the angle and orientation of your roof pitch; presence of dormers, velux windows, soil vent pipes and chimneys and any shading. Our solar home survey takes into account your unique situation, so you will know before even thinking about financing if solar panels are a good fit for your home.

The payback period on a home solar panel installation is typically 6-10 years. Your payback period will depend on the cost of your installation and how much electricity you use from your solar panels. The more low cost solar electricity you consume from your house solar panels the faster your payback period will be.

You typically need at least 6-8 solar panels to generate enough solar electricity to give a good payback. The final total depends on how much electricity you are consuming from the grid, how many solar panels can be installed on your roof and, for larger solar pv installations, whether your local network operator grants permission to connect your home solar panel system to the grid.

You save by consuming your own low cost solar electricity vs buying higher cost electricity from the grid. Over 25 years each kWh of electricity from your home solar panels costs approximately 6-10p. The more low cost solar electricity you consume the more you save. In addition, most electricity suppliers pay you for any surplus solar electricity you export to the grid. This can save you an additional £30-180 per year. How much you get paid for your solar export depends on how many kWh you export and the export tariff from your electricity supplier.

Most house solar panel systems generate between 2,000-6,000kWh per year. Every 1kW of solar pv you install typically generates 800-1,000kWh of solar electricity per year. How much your home solar system generates depends on how many kW's of solar panels you install, the pitch and orientation of your roof, the impact of any shading and the irradiance levels in your area.

You get paid for solar export by applying to your electricity supplier for Smart Export Guarantee payments once your installation is complete. Most electricity suppliers offer an export tariff and are legally required to pay you for the surplus solar electricity you export to the grid. To apply for the Smart Export Guarantee you need an MCS certificate for your home solar panels from an MCS-accredited installer, a smart meter installed and an acceptance confirmation in writing from your District Network Operator for your home solar system. As a solar panel installer Inyo Energy will support you on all three as required.  Electricity suppliers determine their export tariff rate per kWh, type and length of their agreement. You can find a list of export tariffs on the Solar Energy UK website by clicking here.

‍

Yes - using solar electricity from home solar panels has a much lower carbon intensity than electricity from the grid. The current carbon emissions prouced per kWh of electricity from the grid hovers around 150–500 gCO2/kWh as lots of fossil fuels are still required to generate the electricity. In contrast, solar energy produces only 20–50 gCO2/kWh over its entire lifecycle - making the electicity produced by a home solar installation up to ten times cleaner.

Solar panels typically come with a 25-30-year performance warranty and 10-20-year mechanical warranty. Solar mounting framework typically comes with a 10-12-year warranty. Inverters typically come with a 5-12 year warranty.

Advantages:

• home solar panel systems save you money.
• Solar PV produces low cost electricity - lower cost than the grid. This electricity can be put to any use in your home.
• You can earn money by selling exported solar energy to the grid.
• Home solar panels have low maintenance costs as they have very little moving parts to go wrong.
• Home solar panel systems have a service life of 20-40 years.
• You produce local electricity that hasn’t had to travel far to get to your door saving the cost of electricity transmission and distribution.
• Generating your own solar electricity produces much lower carbon emissions than using electricity from the grid.

Disadvantages:

• Initial cost (this is reducing all the time and we offer finance)
• Solar is weather-dependent and generates less in winter than in summer (this can be offset with batteries)
• It can need work to ensure it looks aesthetically pleasing
• Not every roof is suitable for solar (we can advise very swiftly whether your roof is suitable or not)
• There is some disruption during the solar panel installation with erecting of scaffold, installing the panels and installing the wiring.

Solar panels mounted on the roof of a residential property or block of flats are generally classed as a permitted development - they do not require planning permission. You need planning permission if you plan to install solar PV:

• On a listed building or building in the curtilage of a listed building
• On a site designated as a scheduled monument
• On a flat roof in a conservation area, area of outstanding natural beauty, National Park or World Heritage Site
• In a conservation area or a World Heritage Site and you plan to install solar PV on a wall which fronts a highway
• On the ground and the surface area of the solar panels will exceed 9m2
• On the ground within 5m of the boundary of your property

If you live in an area with an Article 4 Direction in force they can restrict or remove permitted development rights meaning you may need planning permission to install solar panels.

If in any doubt always contact your local planning authority to find out if you need planning permission or not.

Solar for your home is generally low maintenance. Faults can develop overtime however due to wear and tear over the service lifetime of the components. All home solar panel systems will benefit from regular inspections. Preventative maintenance can offset faults and damage and protect your financial investment in your solar. Basic regular inspections can be performed by the system owner to ensure the system is operating normally. Sites that typically opt for regular inspections and maintenance from a solar specialist tend to be large commercial solar panel systems and solar PV systems on public buildings.

It depends on how much the yield of your solar panels has dropped due to soiling vs the cost of a clean. Most solar panels come with a small amount of self-cleaning - they have a hydrophobic surface that water can't stick to. If your roof has over a 10 degree roof pitch this means rainwater will keep the solar panels reasonably clean. Heavier soiling can accumulate on the solar panels from bird droppings, farms, dust, lichen, soot or pollution that can block sunlight reaching the cells causing a loss in performance and savings. In this instance a solar panel clean can improve the performance of your solar. A solar panel clean is typically £250-500.

Most residential solar panels systems provide 2-6kW or 2000-6000W of DC power from your solar panels. Residential inverters typically convert this into 2-6kW of AC power that is fed into your house via your consumer unit. The amount of power your solar will produce depends on how many solar panels you have installed and the power in watts of each solar panel. Installing 10 x 450W solar panels will give you 4,500W or 4.5kW of power from your solar panels.

It's technically possible however most properties don't have a big enough roof or garden to power your whole home all year round from roof or ground-mounted home solar panels. Home solar pv can still reduce your bills by 20-80%, provide a good return on investment, make your home more saleable and enable you to do your bit for the environment.

Yes, although home solar panels generate less electricity in winter than in Spring and Summer. Similarly solar panels produce more in the middle of the day than the start and end when irradiance levels are weaker. There is a seasonal mismatch between when the sun is shining most in summer and when we need electricity most in the winter. Despite this, a home solar pv system is still a great investment.

Solar panels only need daylight to work so are capable of producing electricity in all types of weather all year round. That said the more direct beam irradiance solar panels receive the higher their yield. You will notice that performance of your home solar panels will vary from day to day. On a cloudy day a home solar system typically performs at 10% to 25% of its capacity.When a solar installer like Inyo Energy designs a home solar pv system and estimates its production, we take into account the amount of sunlight that your specific region receives each year. This means that your system will be sized appropriately for the amount of sunny (or cloudy) days you receive each year.

A home solar battery system typically costs between £3,500 and £10,500 to install in the UK. The exact cost of your home battery installation depends on the manufacturer you choose, its storage capacity in kWh, depth of discharge, power and type of your inverter charger, whether you add accessories like home battery back up, where your battery is installed and length of cable runs to connect it into your existing home electrical system.

You can typically save £150-1,150 with most home energy storage systems. How much you save will depend on your pattern of electricity consumption, your electricity tariff and electricity price per kWh, your solar generation if you have solar panels, the storage capacity of your home battery and how much its capacity degrades each year.

Yes! If you have enough low cost excess electricity from solar panels, can charge your home energy storage from the grid with a low cost night tariff and have a suitable place to install it a home battery can give you a good payback and lower your carbon footprint. If you don't have much or any excess low cost electricity from solar panels or a low cost night rate from your electricity supplier, or are installing a battery without solar panels, your payback and returns may be slower. You can install a home battery when you install solar panels or add a battery to your existing solar panels to increase your self-consumption.

For most UK homes a 5-15kWh battery will typically cover most of your needs. Guide home battery storage sizes for different size properties would be:1-2 bed - 3-5kWh battery3-4 bed - 5-10kWh battery5-6 bed - 10-15kWh batteryThe exact size home energy storage that is best for you will depend on your goals and requirements, your pattern of electricity consumption, electricity tariff, budget, space constraints, network permissions and planning permission should it be required.

Almost every type of property is suitable for home solar battery storage. They work especially well if you have solar panels and a low cost off peak night rate from your electricity supplier. With low cost night rate electricity you can charge your solar battery from the grid off peak and discharge it during the day when rates are higher. Most houses have a suitable place to install home energy storage to minimise install costs and maximise its lifespan. Home solar batteries come in a range of shapes, sizes, charge and discharge rates and storage capacities enabling a suitable solution to be found for the vast majority of homes.

Most home solar batteries need a space measuring roughly W1m x H1.5m x D0.3m to allow for the size of the home battery and clearances around it for airflow. Home energy storage systems typically measure:

• Width 380-760mm
• Height - 270-1170mm
• Depth 180-360mm

Most home solar battery systems need 250-300mm clearance around them for airlfow. The exact space you need for your home battery energy storage will depend on the manufacturer, model, storage capacity and where your home battery is installed.

Advantages: increase savings on your electricity bill, utilise smart energy tariffs, maximise self-consumption by storing and using excess electricity from your solar panels rather than exporting it to the grid, increase your independence from the grid, protect yourself from rising electricity prices, reduce your reliance on fossil fuels, provide power to critical appliances in a power cut.

Disadvantages: upfront cost, finding a suitable place to install it, shorter lifespan versus solar panels, battery fires have been low frequency however if they happen they have a high impact due to their behaviour in fire.

Most home solar batteries come with a 10-year warranty guaranteeing 60-80% capacity in the battery at the end of the warranty. Some battery storage manufacturers limit the warranty to a certain number of charge and discharge cycles, for example 6,000-10,000 cycles, or limit the warranty to a certain throughput in kWh through the battery over the warranty period. Other warranties allow unlimited cycles and throughput. Some warranties offer a full new replacement at existing market costs and some offer a pro rata replacement based on how old your battery is at point of failure. Depending on your specific circumstances you may be responsible for the labour costs to fit a new battery provided under your warranty.

There are generally no grants available however there is currently 0% VAT on installing a home solar battery. You can also sign up to the Smart Export Guarantee when you install solar panels so you can get paid for any excess electricity from your solar panels that your home solar battery can't store and you export to the grid.

Most home solar battery storage lasts for 10-20 years. The capacity of a home solar battery module will gradually decrease each year - called capacity fade. How long a solar battery will last depends on its usage, cell chemistry, installation location and maintenance cycles.

Home solar batteries work by storing low cost electricity from solar panels or the grid and discharging it into your home to use at another time. If you have solar panels and a home battery and your solar is generating your house will consume electricity directly from your solar panels first. If the load in your house isn't satisfied from your solar and there is charge in your home battery your battery will discharge to meet the load in your house. If the generation from your solar panels exceeds the load in your house your home battery will store the excess solar electricity to use at another time. If your battery state of charge is full and you still have excess solar electricity not needed to power your house this excess will be exported to the grid. Your inverter charger controls your charging cycles to charge and discharge your battery. If you have a hybrid DC-coupled battery your inverter charger will charge your battery with DC electricity straight from your solar panels. If you have an AC-coupled battery and a separate home solar system your home solar system will convert DC electricity from your solar panels into AC electricity to be used by loads in your home. Your AC coupled battery inverter charger will take any excess AC electricity from your solar panels once it has been converted by your solar inverter and convert it into DC electricity to store in your home battery. If you have a power cut and have a back up module installed your home battery can provide power to your house in the power cut.

Solar batteries can provide power to your home in a power cut provided you have a back up module installed with your home solar battery. The amount of power your back up module provides can range from 20-100A and depends on the manufacturer and model of your back up module. How long you can power your house for in the event of a power cut will depend on what appliances you run in the power cut and how many kWh of electricity is stored in your home energy storage. If you don't have a back up module installed with your home solar battery your battery inverter charger will shutdown for safety reasons as soon as it detects a power cut.

Where possible a home solar battery should be installed outdoors, with some form of weather protection if required. If you can't install a solar battery outside then installing it in a garage, utility room and certain storage cupboards can be feasible. Some installation locations may require installation of a smoke detector and additional fire resisting partitioning. It is not recommended for home energy storage to be installed in lofts, room in which people sleep, spaces that open into rooms in which people sleep, fire escape routes and in cellars or basements with no access to outside.

Installation of a home battery energy storage system is typically a permitted development and does not require planning permission. If your property is in a conservation area and you plan to install a home solar battery on the wall of a house that fronts a highway you will usually need planning permission. If your property is in an area where an Article 4 Direction is in force these can restrict normal permitted development rights meaning you may need planning permission to make minor alterations to the exterior of the house - for example when installing home battery storage. If your house is a listed building you will usually need to apply for planning permission and Listed Building Consent to install home energy storage. If in doubt always contact your local planning department.

You may need permission from your local District Network Operator (DNO) prior to installation under certain circumstances. If you have a single phase electricity supply, are installing an inverter >3.68kW, or the aggregate capacity of inverters connected to your electricity supply will be >3.68kW, you will need permission from your DNO prior to installation. For inverters up to and including 3.68kW, or if the aggregate capacity of inverters connected to your electricity supply is up to and including 3.68kW, you can connect your new battery inverter charger and notify your DNO once the installation is complete. If you have a three phase electricity supply you will need DNO permission prior to installation for hybrid inverters or an aggregate capacity of inverters >11.2kW. An export limitation scheme that limits export of an inverter onto the grid can be added to any connection application under G100 if required by your DNO. Inyo Energy can make the DNO applications for you at no cost and with no commitment to buy anything.

Home battery storage systems often require little maintenance however manufacturers usually recommend they are checked annually. Annual checks include connection of power supplies, earthing point, power cables and screws to make sure there is nothing loose or broken and no corrosion at connection points. It is recommended that fans/ventilation are checked and the installation environment is checked for accumulation of dust, contaminants, water and insects. You can often conduct some checks and system diagnostics yourself as well on your home battery storage monitoring app.

The physical installation of a home solar battery usually takes 1-3 days. The exact time the installation takes depends on the size and type of your solar battery, the length of cable runs and any accessories like home battery backup installed with your battery. The total time it takes from enquiry to installation can be 3-12 weeks to allow for site survey, design, connection application to your DNO if required, installation, testing, commissioning and handover. You may need to allow additional time for planning permission, for example, if you live in a conservation area or listed building.

You may need 20-60kWh of home energy storage depending on the size of your house and electrical appliances you have installed. Peak daily electricity consumption over the course of a year in a small house could be 10-30kWh whereas it might be 30-60kWh in a bigger house or house with higher electricity consumption. Going fully off grid is generally higher cost, more difficult to achieve and typically not required unless the cost from your DNO to connect you to the electricity distribution network exceeds £35,000. For most residential properties being 80% independent from the grid is realistically achievable goal to aim for.

£3,500-13,500 after the Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant. The exact cost of a home heat pump installation depends on the manufacturer and model of heat pump, where your heat pump and hot water cylinder are installed, pipe and power supply runs to connect it to your plumbing and electrical system and whether you include any accessories, radiators or underfloor heating.

The cost of air source heat pump installation is usually £3,500-13,500 after the Ofgem Boiler Upgrade Scheme grant. The exact cost of a home air source heat pump installation depends on the manufacturer and model of your heat pump and hot water cylinder, where your heat pump and hot water cylinder are installed, length of pipe and power supply runs to connect it to your plumbing and electrical system and any accessories, radiators or underfloor heating included.

Air to water heating from a heat pump costs between £500-2,500 to run per year. Your exact running cost depends on things like how much heat and hot water your house needs, the efficiency or Seasonal Coefficient of Performance (SCOP) of your heat pump, your electricity price per kWh, the weather and how you use your heating system. You can save further on your bills with a heat pump electricity tariff.

You can save 0-20% on heating costs versus a gas boiler, 20-40% on heating costs versus an oil or LPG boiler and 60-70% on heating costs versus direct electric heating. The savings are estimated as they depend on conditions in use, such as type and price of your existing fuel, age of your existing boiler, weather, hours of operation, hot water demand, and other factors. You can save further on your bills with a heat pump electricity tariff from your electricity supplier.

Yes, Ofgem's Boiler Upgrade Scheme currently provides:

• £7,500 off the cost of an air source heat pump installation
• £7,500 off the cost of a ground source or water source heat pump installation
• £9,000 off the cost of an air source or ground source heat pump installation in off-gas grid properties
• £5,000 off the cost of a biomass boiler installation
• £2,500 off the cost of an air-to-air heat pump installation

The VAT on heat pump installations is also currently only 0%.

Yes, ASHP heating is capable of producing all the domestic hot water you need for your home. The amount of hot water you need is calculated using the number of bedrooms, occupants, showers and baths in your property to size a hot water cylinder.   Heat pump cylinders typically store water between 45-50C depending on your requirements. The scald temperature of water in the UK is 44C meaning the temperature is stored at with a heat pump is ample for sinks, taps and hot showers.

Yes heat pumps can typically heat water to 55-65C all year round down to -20C outside air temperature. They can get water hot enough for all of your space heating and domestic hot water needs.

Almost every type of property is suitable for a heat pump. Your needs, property type and insulation levels determine your install cost, running costs and installation requirements which will help you decide whether the switch makes sense for you. To assess if your property is compatible with a heat pump check:

1. Fabric first - target quick wins first to reduce the amount of heat your house needs - things like improving loft insulation, filling a cavity wall or draught-proofing.
2. Space outside for an air source heat pump - you typically need a space outside measuring W1.5m x D1.1-2.5m to maintain clearances for good airflow.
3. Space inside for a hot water cylinder - you typically need a space inside measuring W0.8m x D0.8m x H1.6-2.4m.
4. Your heat emitters - your radiators and underfloor heating. You may need to upgrade radiators or install new radiators or underfloor heating depending on your set up.

To confirm whether your property is suitable you can book a free home assessment here.

By the time you are stood 5m or more away from an air source heat pump you can barely hear it. The sound power of most air source heat pumps ranges from 50-68dB, the sound pressure of most air source heat pumps ranges from 40-55dB. Sound power is the noise level the air source heat pump produces, sound pressure is the noise level the ear hears. A whisper measures 30dB, a quiet conversation or fridge is 50dB and a normal conversation or a dishwasher is 60dB Air source heat pumps are much quieter than you think.

Yes! Air source heat pumps will keep you warm and toasty inside down to -20C outside air temperature. A large proportion of homes in cold countries like Norway, Sweden, Germany, Japan and North America are heated by heat pumps.

Advantages: Heat pumps can: reduce your heating bill, significantly lower your carbon emissions, improve indoor comfort, earn you money from government grants, mean no more smell of gas or oil for heating, be more efficient than fossil fuel boilers, work down to -20C outside and future proof your home.

Disadvantages: higher upfront install cost, space required inside for a cylinder and outside for the heat pump, planning permission can be required in certain scenarios, aesthetically it means there is a box outside the house somewhere and there can be some disruption in having them installed.

No, a heat pump will provide all the space heating and domestic hot water you need. Hybrid systems that use a heat pump and fossil fuel boiler together are typically only found where your house needs a very large amount of heat and you are limited on the output of heat pump you can connect to your electricity supply by your local network operator. In the vast majority of cases a heat pump on its own will provide all the space heating and domestic hot water you need.

What size home heat pump you need typically depends on the floor area of your property, what your property is made from, where it is located and your domestic hot water requirements. Typical heat pump outputs required for different property sizes with typical levels of insulation are:

• 1 to 2 Bedrooms (Small house): 4-6 kW
• 3 to 4 Bedrooms (Medium house): 5-10 kW
• 4+ Bedrooms (Large house): 11-14 kW

You do not always need to replace radiators if you get a heat pump. Whether you decide to replace radiators will depend on the heat demand of the room, the size and type of your existing radiator, your requirements, space constraints, disruption, aesthetics and running costs. If you decide to upgrade radiators you can choose to upgrade all radiators or just the rooms that most need upgrading. You might decide to upgrade radiators when you install a heat pump to take advantage of only draining your heating system once. Or you can wait and see how the heat pump performs in your house and upgrade radiators at a future date. You can improve performance of your existing radiators with a chemical powerflush. If some or all of your existing radiators are fed by 8mm, 10mm or 12mm microbore pipework there are solutions to ensure your system is compatible with a heat pump.

Yes a heat pump will provide all your space heating and domestic hot water needs and keep you warm and toasty inside even if it is -20C outside. Whatever your property and however much heat and hot water it needs there is a heat pump and hot water cylinder to suit. An initial assessment is made of your property's heat demand and domestic hot water requirements and detailed heat loss calculations are completed prior to installation to ensure your heat pump is sized correctly.

Heat pumps typically come with 5-7-year warranty for the heat pump; 5-25-year warranty for the hot water cylinder; 10-years for radiators and 10-50-year warranty for underfloor heating .

You typically need a space outside with with W1.5m x D1.1-2.5m to maintain clearances for good airflow. And a space inside of W0.8m x D0.8m x H1.6-2.4m for most hot water cylinders. Air source heat pumps can be installed on the ground adjacent to your house; on a concrete base down the garden; to the rear, side or front of a property; on a wall or even on a roof. There is usually always somewhere to install an air source heat pump.

You existing wet heating system is drained if you have one, and existing heat source and cylinder are decommissioned and removed if present. Any redundant pipework is capped. your heat pump, hot water cylinder and associated equipment are installed to an agreed location. Radiators or underfloor heating are installed if included. Pipework is run to connect your heat pump to your heating and hot water systems. Power supplies are fitted from consumer unit to your heat pump system. Your new heat pump system is filled, tested, pipework lagged, commissioned, waste removed and a handover completed.

Most home air source and ground source heat pumps need to be serviced every 6-18 months in line with the manufacturer's guidelines in order to protect your warranty. Regular servicing of your heat pump helps ensure that you:

• Protect your manufacturer warranty
• comply with G3 unvented cylinder regulations
• Maximise life span of your system
• Ensure best efficiency of your system
• Minimise your lifetime running and servicing costs

Yes a heat pump will work well in an old house provided it is designed, installed and maintained correctly. The more heat your house needs the higher the output of the heat pump required which is the same for any type of home heating. Recommended design procedures for heat pump systems take account of heat loss in older buildings. You may decide to upgrade some radiators to ensure warmth and comfort if required. If your old house is listed, in a conservation area or area of outstanding natural beauty you will need planning permission to install a heat pump.

Heat pumps can reduce carbon emissions by 60-80% versus mains gas, oil or LPG boilers. As more and more renewable electricity generation is connected to the grid carbon savings from heat pumps get even higher. If you power your heat pump with your own solar panels your carbon footprint from a heat pump (and heating bill) will be reduced even further.

From £950 to £2,450 typically depending on your choice of home ev chargepoint, the power of your ev charger, whether you have a single phase or three phase electricity supply, the mounting of your ev charger and length of cable run to connect it to your home electrical system.

Check your home air source heat pump installation manual and follow any instructions it gives on maintenance and cleaning, keep your air source heat pump and condensate drain clear of branches, leaves and debris, remove any snow that has gathered around the heat pump, monitor your system pressure, bleed radiators when needed, inspect insulation and pipework, check thermostat and settings and check for water leaks. By performing these simple, regular checks, you can help maintain your heat pump's efficiency, prolong its lifespan, and quickly spot potential issues that may require our help.