Alva Northern - Is My Home Suitable for Solar PV

Do I have enough sunlight for PV?

Solar power depends on intensity of light, not necessarily direct sunlight. This means that even when it’s overcast, your solar PV panels will be producing electricity.

To get maximum output, our Sun Switch PV panels should be installed on a roof that faces east, west, south, or anywhere in between. Our calculator will tell you an estimated output for your house, to calculate how much you could earn after having a Solar PV system installed please visit the section Solar PV Calculator on our website.

The majority of houses in the UK have zero or very little overshading, and are suitable to have a solar PV system installed on their roofs. However, shading such as large trees or buildings can result in significant loss of energy. During the site survey, our system designer will check and discuss with you if your house is shaded and what impact it might have on installing your solar PV system.

Is my roof strong enough?

Most roof structures are designed to take the increase in weight from solar PV panels due to over-engineering and original snow loading factors. Our system designer will check the existing structure and construction of the roof and discuss with you if any additional survey is required.

Will I need to upgrade my electrical system?

Our solar PV systems are installed by qualified electricians. During the initial site survey the system designer will complete a visual inspection of the existing electrical system to enable the installation of your solar PV panels. We will identify any issues at this time and indicate any remedial work that is required. In the vast majority of homes, only very minor upgrades are required (if any at all) and these can be undertaken at the same time that the solar PV system is installed.

Is planning permission required?

In England and Scotland, planning permission for solar PV systems is only required if your home is a listed building, or is in a conservation area or World Heritage Site. In these instances you should check with your local authority. Your system designer will be able to help you.