Are you considering installing solar panels on your property but not sure if it’s suitable? There are a variety of solar panel products available to suit different spaces, but the best case scenario is an unshaded, south facing roof at a 37° angle. Even if your roof is east or west facing, it can still work, but the yield will drop down to 15–20%. And if your property has shaded spots caused by neighbouring buildings, trees or chimneys, some PV systems can minimize the impact of shading by using optimizers.
But do I need permission to install solar panels?
The good news is that solar PV panels are considered ‘permitted development,’ so planning permission is not required in most cases. However, there are some exceptions when planning permission will be required, such as listed buildings or if you live in a conservation area or a national park. The good news is Historic Buildings have recently announced that even listed buildings can have solar panels. You will just need to apply for listed building consent, as well as planning permission.
Is there VAT on your solar panel products?
The answer is that homes will benefit from 0% VAT on solar panels and batteries for five years from 1st April 2022 until 31st March 2027. But if you’re installing solar panels for commercial properties, you’ll still have to pay 20% VAT.
How do I monitor the energy I’m generating and consuming?
Depending on the product that works best for your property, each has its own version of control panels to monitor how much electricity your solar panels are generating. Most products also have an app which is a convenient way of viewing the flow of energy being generated and consumed. By seeing how much energy you’re generating, you can adjust your habits, such as running your washing machines and dishwashers during the day when the sun is out and you’re generating free electricity.
But do you need battery storage on top of solar panels?
While solar panels are great for generating electricity during the day, when the sun goes down, most people will have already consumed most of the electricity they had generated in the day. However, if you’re not at home during the day and not consuming, storing the day’s worth of generated energy in batteries is the perfect way to consume it for free in the evening. And if you’re at home day and night, you can top up your batteries from the grid from midnight onwards, when the rate is far less than during the day. This alone could reduce your energy bill by up to 50%.
