Answers to your questions about our free solar power for Sussex homes scheme.
Is this too good to be true?
A government initiative began in April 2010, called the Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) Scheme. We will be paid for all the electricity our panels generate regardless of whether the electricity is used by you or not. If you do not use the electricity generated, then this is automatically fed into the grid.The electricity “Generation Tariff” that we receive is paid to us by the power companies not by the government. This income is guaranteed for 25 years. This is a long-term investment and will generate a return for our investors who pay for the solar equipment installed. The house owner will need to sign a 25 year contract with us in order to enjoy the benefits of free solar power.
What do you mean by a suitable roof?
A suitable roof
- Is structurally sound
- Is south-facing (between SSE and SSW)
- Has a tilt of between 30 and 40 degrees from the horizontal
- Does not have obstructions (chimney stacks, trees, neighbouring roofs etc.) that would cast shadows over the installed panels
- Has sufficient room to accommodate a 3kW system (over 30 square metres).
- Enables an aesthetic integration of solar panels
- Is easily accessible for maintenance of the solar panels
- Is not on a building that is listed or in a conservation area.
- Is structurally sound
- Is south-facing (between SSE and SSW)
- Has a tilt of between 30 and 40 degrees from the horizontal
- Does not have obstructions (chimney stacks, trees, neighbouring roofs etc.) that would cast shadows over the installed panels
- Has sufficient room to accommodate a 3kW system (over 30 square metres).
- Enables an aesthetic integration of solar panels
- Is easily accessible for maintenance of the solar panels
- Is not on a building that is listed or in a conservation area.
Will this affect my ability to sell the house and what happens if I sell the property?
Research (by the Energy Savings Trust) shows that a house with its own free, clean electricity supply is an attractive prospect for a buyer, so this is likely to be a positive factor. With electricity prices forecast to double every 5-6 years, having free electricity available should add value to the property or, at least, make it more attractive to buyers.If you sell the property, then the contract and benefits will be transferred to the new house owners. If the new owners do not want the solar panels, then they will be able to act by taking up the buy-out clause in our contract.
Who pays for the equipment?
We pay for and therefore own the installed system. The house owner may elect to buy the equipment from us at the end of the 25 year contract.
Who installs the equipment?
All our equipment is installed by MCS approved installation companies. This is a requirement of the feed-in-tariff scheme and also ensures that all installations are carried out to highest standard.
What happens to the electricity generated?
You can use as much as is available and the rest is fed back onto the grid.
Is my roof strong enough to support the installation?
We undertake a feasibility survey to assess this, and will only install on to roofs that are capable of supporting the entire installation.
Who pays for and who is responsible for maintenance and repairs?
Sunhive manages all service, repairs and maintenance until the end of the 25 year contract.
Who will insure the equipment?
Sunhive will also insure the installation against all risks that are not covered by your property insurance.
Do I need to let my mortgage company know?
You should tell your mortgage provider about this before going ahead. We will request a letter of consent from them.
Do I need to let the buildings insurer know?
Yes, because the installation is now part of the property. We will cover the cost of insuring the panels for damage and theft, so the panels should not add to the cost of your buildings insurance.
Who is responsible for addressing any planning issues or electricity distribution company notification requirements?
Sunhive is responsible for this.
Who is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the panels?
Sunhive is responsible for all the maintenance and repair.
Would you require access for any maintenance?
Occasionally, but it would be entirely at your convenience and we will contact you to arrange a suitable date and time.
How long does an installation take?
Weather depending, we install the panels in a day once the scaffolding is in place, with the electrical work being completed the next day.
What happens if roof tiles are damaged in the installation?
In the unlikely event there is some damage to your roof while we are working on it we will repair it at our cost.
Will my electricity supply be disrupted?
There may be a few minutes disruption but we work very closely with you to co-ordinate this to minimise any affect on your business.
Will I have to change electricity supplier?
No. Our payments are from an energy company of our choice and you can choose yours.
Will I need to read your meter?
Yes please, once a quarter, just like your grid supply. You can either email us, log in to our secure web-based meter reading access point or we can call and ask for it. The choice is yours. We will check the installation and read the meter once a year too.
What if something goes wrong with the solar PV system?
We will repair it but your grid supply will not be interrupted by us.
Does the system make any noise when generating the electricity?
No, solar photovoltaic panels are passive without moving parts. They don’t make any noise.
What happens at the end of the 25 year contract?
The house owner is under no obligation to buy the equipment from us. The following options would be available- The house owner may choose to take over ownership and maintenance responsibilities.
- The house owner may choose to enter into a new contract with us.
- The house owner may request that we remove the system (at no cost).
- The house owner may choose to enter into a new contract with us.
- The house owner may request that we remove the system (at no cost).
I live outside Sussex and I have the ideal house, can I still participate?
No, unfortunately. Our scheme is solely focused on Sussex, where we are based. We believe that it is important to be physically close to all our installations. After all, we are making a 25 year commitment to operate and maintain these solar power installations.
I have more questions, how can I get hold of you?
Our contact details can be found on the contact us page.
