Solar PV Systems Reading
At Carter Electrical we’ve been installing Solar PV systems in the Thames Valley since 2010. Although many installers have ceased trading as the Feed in Tariff has been scrapped, we’re still installing and servicing Solar PV systems. Solar PV systems are used to provide clean, renewable energy that can be converted into electricity to use in your home or business meaning you could save hundreds of pounds a year on your electricity bills.
If you’re interested, we can usually provide an initial quote and illustration without even visiting your home. Rest assured there will never be any hard-sell from us.
Browse our Solar PV Services on the Carter Renewables website.
What is solar PV?
Solar Photovoltaic. These are the most common types of solar panels and convert sunlight to electricity (not to be confused with solar thermal panels, which heat water but do not produce electricity – we’re sorry but we can’t help with these).
Solar PV installer in Reading and surrounding area
At Carter Electrical we offer installation and servicing of Solar PV panels for your home and business. We will also come out and look at your panels even if they weren’t fitted by us.
Almost every house can have solar panels fitted to the roof, whether your roof faces, east, south or west. North facing roofs wont be as efficient as they will not gain as much sunlight.
Contact us for your solar pv installation
What are the types of solar panels:
Options include: monocrystalline, polycrystalline, hybrid and thin film. Solar panels are typically fitted on top of your existing roof. With new builds we can use recessed solar panels so that they are not so obvious at first sight.
How much do Solar Panels cost in the UK?
Solar panel system sizes are measured in kilowatt peaks (kWp). This is the maximum output of your system.
“The most common system size, from our survey of more than 1,000 solar panel owners, was between 3.6-4kWp” Which? Prices are from approximately £1000 per 1kW installed (depending on specifications) Therefore the average cost would be around £4,000.
Solar PV battery storage for homes & businesses in Reading & surrounding area:
If you currently have PV solar panels installed or would like them installed and want to make them go further, solar battery storage can be installed at your property. The battery storage is a great way to be able to use the energy generated by your solar PV panels at night time when the daylight isn’t generating electricity. At Carter Electrical we work with Powervault solar energy systems to help you save money whilst protecting the environment.
We also provide customers with Tesla Powerwall installation. The Powerwall is one of the most advanced Home Energy Storage Systems on the market. It can be fitted to any existing Solar System and is used as a cost-efficient way of storing energy to be used at night-time.
What is energy storage?
Storing your energy is the optimal way of making the energy you gain in the day through solar PV last longer. Consider a storage battery to store the power that is generated from your solar panels during the day. Storage batteries can also be used to store cheap power during the night. This power could then be used to charge your Electric Vehicle or used back in the house when power demand is high or for use as backup power.
How much do Solar Panel batteries cost?
Powervault 3 installation costs
We also offer battery storage with PV systems, from under £12,000 for an entire system comprising 4kWp solar PV together with 8kWh battery. We can of course fit battery storage to an existing solar PV system. Don’t worry if this sounds a little complicated we can take care of everything and provide you with the appropriate system for your home.
Tesla Powerwall Installers UK - Home Battery
Tesla Powerwall UK Price
At Carter Electrical we can install a Tesla Powerwall for as little as £8,000 but this can vary depending on the complexity of the installation.
To get a more accurate price for your Powerwall installation contact us today.
Why have Carter Electrical fit your Solar PV and battery storage systems?
Carter Electrical Installations are an MCS-accredited installation company that installs MCS-certified products. MCS is an industry-led quality assurance scheme, which demonstrates the quality and reliability of approved products and installation companies.
Being MCS certified demonstrates to our customers that we install to the industry-expected level of quality every time. MCS gives you a mark of quality which provides assurance.
We are also a member of the Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC). This means that they have agreed to abide by high consumer protection standards. RECC also runs a dispute-resolution process if you have a complaint against an installer registered with it.
What is the Smart Export Guarantee?
The Smart Export Generator (SEG) launched on 1 January 2020 and is a government-backed initiative. The SEG requires some electricity suppliers (SEG Licensees) to pay small-scale generators (SEG Generators) for low-carbon electricity which they export back to the National Grid, providing certain criteria are met.
Anyone with one of the following technology types could benefit from the SEG (provided they meet the rest of the eligibility criteria) up to a capacity of 5MW, or up to 50kW for micro-CHP:
Solar Panels & Batteries FAQ's
How long do solar panels last?
Solar panels typically last between 25 to 30 years. Although, they will often still work after this time period just producing electricity at a lower rate. The panels will often have the longest warranty in the solar PV system and the period of time that they last for is highly dependent on the manufacturer, installer and owner.
Are solar panels worth it in the UK?
Solar panels are expensive to install, because of this it takes a long time to breakeven. Different parts of the UK will have different breakeven points for example, Scotland’s will be a lot higher than the South of England. It usually takes around 10 – 15 years to receive financial benefit however, if you’re planning on being at a property for a long period of time it will definitely be worth the return in the long run.
Do I need planning permission for solar panels?
The Government extended Permitted Development Rights, meaning planning permission is no-longer required to install solar PV or solar thermal on non-domestic buildings. However, there are some properties that will still need planning permission; flat roofs, listed buildings and conservation areas.
How many solar panels do I need to power a house?
The average one-bedroom house needs six solar panels, a typical three-bedroom house requires 10 panels, and a five-bedroom house will usually need 14 panels.