Solar PV Panels | Renewable Energy News

Solar PhotoVoltaic (PV) and Wind Turbine Feed In Tariffs (FIT)

Monday, February 15th, 2010

The government has confirmed new feed in tariffs for electricity generating microgeneration systems.

From 1st April 2010 41.3p can be claimed for every kwh that is generated from solar PV panels, as well as this, the rate is guaranteed for 25 years and linked to inflation. Add to this the saving made for not purchasing the electricity and again the money received for exporting, means there has never been a better time to install a solar microgeneration system in the UK.

The table below shows the new tariffs available, if you would like more information then please visit: http://www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk/

- Solar PV new build (< 4 kW) 36.1p
- Solar PV retrofit (< 4 kW) 41.3p
- Solar PV retrofit (4-10kW) 36.1p
- Wind turbine (1.5-15 kW) 26.7p
- Wind turbine (15-100 kW) 24.1p

This is only available to customers who have systems installed by an MCS approved installer such as Intelligent Energy Solutions.

Posted in News, Solar PV Panels, Wind Turbines | No Comments »

Government Announces Details of April 2010 Feed in Tariff

Monday, August 10th, 2009

The Government has announced the details of the proposed feed-in tariff for microgeneration systems. Small wind turbines and solar photovoltaic systems will now carry the following benefits:

– 36.5p/kWh for small solar photovoltaic systems up to 4kW and 28p/kWh for systems up to 10kW.
- 23.0p/kWh for small wind turbines between 1.5kW and 15kW.
- Replaces the current ROC system which pays 10p/kWh.
- Effective as of the 1st April 2010, but all systems commissioned from now on will qualify.
- Systems installed from now until April 2010 will be eligible for both LCBP grants AND the new tariff.

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Double your ROC's

Monday, April 27th, 2009

All electricity companies in the UK have an obligation to generate a proportion of their supplied electricity from renewable sources. They achieve their targets partly by buying Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) from the private microgenerators. A member of the public can become a microgenerator by having a wind turbine or PV system installed.

Recent changes have seem the amount of ROC’s awarded to microgenerators double so now a householder will be awarded 2 ROC’s rather than 1 for every 1000kWh they produce.

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We Support Solar Campaign

Thursday, April 16th, 2009

Intelligent Energy Solutions has joined the ‘We support Solar’ campaign. This campaign is designed to unite support for an attractive feed in tariff for solar PV installations. As things currently stand feed in tariffs are improving and energy companies such as Good Energy offer 16p for every kWh generated by the PV system. However, some energy companies still offer extremely low feed in tariffs. There is lots of room for improvement!

The government has put the feed in tariff on the agenda in 2010. The campaign wants to ensure that this opportunity is not missed and that the government responds to public demand. This will involve setting the feed in tariff at a level which will encourage large numbers of the general public to invest in this Co2 busting technology.

For more information visit www.wesupportsolar.net.

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Leicester Solar Grant Scheme

Wednesday, March 25th, 2009

Leicester City Council in conjunction with Groundwork has launched a new grant scheme targeted at solar installations.

The grant allows a household to claim £2250 against a solar thermal (water heating) or a solar PV installation. The householder would also be eligible for an additional grant from the Low Carbon Buildings Program. This means that a house holder could claim £4750 against a solar PV installation or £2650 against a solar thermal installation. Depending on the size of the system would be more than half the installation cost.

Intelligent Energy Solutions is an approved installer on the scheme, please contact us for further details.
Click here for the Leicester Solar Grant Scheme details.

Posted in News, Solar PV Panels, Solar Water Heating | 1 Comment »

New Renewables Brochure

Friday, September 5th, 2008

We have just released our latest product brochure.

Please feel free download a version here
Intelligent Energy Solutions Renewable Energy Brochure

If you would like a paper copy then please email us using the web enquiry form. Alternatively call us on 01509 768565.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Posted in Heat Pumps, News, Rainwater Harvesting, Renewable Energy, Solar PV Panels, Solar Water Heating, Wind Turbines | No Comments »

Microgeneration has never sounded so good

Sunday, August 24th, 2008

Electricity prices are still on the increase. The time has never been better to start generating your own electricity.

Better Feed in Tariffs

A Tariff tells you how much money an electricity company will pay for electricity. If you have your own renewable energy system then you are often producing your own electicity. This kind of ‘good electicity’ is becoming more attractive to energy companies and as a result tariffs have slowly been improving over the past couple of years.

Providers can offer a tariff where they will pay you for everything that you generate and not simply the spare electricity that you haven’t used. The rate they offer is 9p per unit. This means that you save twice, you save the money from buying the electricity in the first place but you also get paid for generating it. This could equate to more than 20p per unit.

People often take about how far ahead Germany are in respect to microgeneration tariffs but the UK is genuinely catching up.

If you are interested in microgenerating, give us a call at Intelligent Energy Solutions and we would be delighted to guide you through it.

Posted in Solar PV Panels, Wind Turbines | No Comments »

World's Largest Solar PhotoVoltaic System

Tuesday, July 8th, 2008

The world’s largest rooftop solar power station is being built in Spain. The 12 megawatts of power covers an area of around 2 million square feet. The roof space is owned by General Motors but is being leased out to Veolia Envirnoment and Clairvoyant Energy.

The £40 million investment will see an output of more than 15 million kilowatt hours.

This shows that PV is a very viable prospect for commercial investment. Obviously smaller systems are available for domestic and commerical premises. Typical installations range from 1kW to 20kW peak power. Installation costs are typically around £5500 per kW. In a good position each kW of peak power should generate around 800kWh per year.

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Solar PV Panels – Off Grid or On Grid

Tuesday, June 24th, 2008

Off Grid On Grid – What does it all mean?

The first thing worth saying is that we are talking about solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and not solar water heating panels.

The term grid refers to the national electricity grid. On grid means that your solar electricity system is connected to the national grid. Off grid means that the national electricity grid is not connected to your solar panel system.

Most people, both commerical and domestic, would talk primerily about on grid applications. The grid is a wonderful thing and there is not usually any sense in disconnecing yourself from it.

However in some cases the grid is not available. This is usually a remote location such as a field with a building in it. In many cases the cost of running the cable from the nearest grid transformer is enormous and the power requirements can be met with an off grid solar photovoltaic electricity system.

This system comprises a set of solar panels, battery conditioner, battery bank and invertor. The batteries give you power when the sun is not shining and the invertor gives you 240V mains electricity.

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Roof Integrated solar PV Panels

Friday, June 13th, 2008

Solar Electricity Panels

Solar Electricity (or PhotoVoltaic) panels generate electricity for domestic and commercial use. Panels come in a variety of different shapes and sizes but one question that people have to decide is whether to have the panels mounted on the roof or in the roof.

On Roof Solar Panels

The easier way of retrofitting solar panels is to mount them on top of the existing roof covering. this means that the existing tiles remain in place and the panels sits directly on top. The panels are fixed to the roof joists via special brackets.

Roof integrated Panels (In Roof)

As an alternative to on roof panels the existing tiles can be removed and the panel can be fitted into the roof structure. This leaves the panels almost flush with the existing tiles.

When making a decision as to which is best there are a number of factors to consider. On roof solar panels are easier and quicker to fit. Hence the installation costs are less. However, on roof panels will add additional loading to the roof structure.

Roof integrated panels require the existing roof covering to be removed, this may raise questions with the condition of the felt and battens beneath the tiles, if it is poor it will need rectifying. In roof panels also require expensive flashing sets to make the roof water tight. However, in roof panels aesthetically look better than on roof systems.

Of course if you have a house that has not yet had the roof fitted (new build or new extension) then roof integrated panels are almost certainly the way to go. You will also save some money as less tiles will need to purchased.