Photovoltaic Solar -- for powering your school

What Is Solar Photovoltaic (Solar PV)?

Solar PV is a technology that provides electricity from the suns rays, through solar panels made from silicon.

How much does it cost?

• Solar PV is not cheap, and can cost around £6.5K for the first Kilowatt installed. After that the cost of each additional Kilowatt is around £4.5 - £5K.
• From April 2010 the Government will introduce Feed-In Tarriffs, offering to pay up to £0.365 per Kwh produced.

What does Solar PV give me for my money?

• 8-10m squared of Solar PV panels will deliver 750 Kwh.
• PV panels require direct sunshine unlike thermal panels, but do still operate in cloudier days.
• Depending on your heating system PV panels can assist in this process, and generate substantial savings in comparison to old fashion oil fed systems.

How do I know if my school is suitable?

• The best locations are southerly facing surfaces (roofs usually) which have a 30-45 degree tilt towards the sun. Panels can also be sited on surfaces with an easterly or westerly aspect, but these do suffer from a drop in efficiency.
• It is preferable to have your site on the rear or sides of a building and not the public facing side as this avoids many planning issues. Listed buildings have stricter rules and it is essential you contact your local authority.
• It is also possible to site panels on flat roofs, and with the use of an A-Frame ensure that the panels are at an optimal angle to maximise exposure to the sun.

How do I connect Solar PV to my electricity supply and can it make me money?

• Solar PV is connected to your building through an inverter that converts the raw energy into that which can be used in your electrical appliances.
• You can connect your Solar PV system to the national grid through a meter and grid connection. If you are in a remote location this can be expensive and may be worth considering off-grid connections using battery storage.
• If you wish to sell your electricity to the grid you need to register with the grid as a micro generator and then contact an energy provider who is willing to buy your electricity. They will agree a price to buy your electricity from you.
• If you are grid connected your system works when the grid works. If the grid goes down, your system will not function. If you wish to use Solar PV as an independent supply you will need to invest in battery storage.
• One important consideration is the length of your connection. The longer the distance between your panels and your power requirement the more power you will lose in the cable.

What Products do Freesource Energy use?

Freesource Energy offer most major product brands, including Sharp, Sanyo and Schuco.

What do I get for my investment?

• Freesource will always take time to discuss your needs and plans before specifying a product. Once you are happy to proceed Freesource will send a fully qualified installer to survey your property and specify.
• All Freesource quotes include product costs and installation so you know the total cost of the product. Where VAT applies this will be at a reduced rate of 5%.

Funding

Please see our funding page.

Do I get any warranties?

All products used by Freesource Energy have warranties which range from 5-10 years depending on the brand.

Do I need planning permission?

You should contact your local authority and notify them of your intentions as early as possible. Not every site requires permission but Freesource recommends you check with your local council. Councils requiring permission to be given often like to see photographs of your site and your surrounding area as well as your location on the map. They will often request details of the product dimensions and any other information to support your reasons for this investment.

How often should I maintain my system

• Most systems have little or no problems in their lifetime, we would recommend you get your pressure checked at least every 1-2 years.
• No cleaning of the panels is required, as this occurs naturally due to the tilt/elevation of the panels
• The key requirement is for regular testing of your electrical system, we would recommend that this is carried out on an annual basis

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