Solar Photovoltaic (PV) and Battery Storage

Power your home with free solar energy

Solar panels, also known as Solar PV (photovoltaic), capture the sun's energy and convert it into electricity to help power your house.

The electricity generated will power any household appliances that are running at the time, such as your washing machine or computer – or your heat pump.

Solar panels don't need direct sunlight to work, they can still generate electricity on a cloudy day.

Plus, you can sell unused electricity back to the national grid, use it to heat water in your cylinder, or store it in a battery for use at night.

If you are a homeowner, self-builder, or industry professional then we can you plan, design and install solar panels and other renewable technologies.

Advantages of solar panels

Cheap – the electricity generated by solar panels is free and any excess can be sold back to the national grid.

Efficient – power your heat pump system, improving efficiency and reducing costs even more.

Green – once installed, solar panels do not use any fossil fuels to function.

Low maintenance – solar panels last for over 20 years, with minimal maintenance.

Frequently asked questions

How much electricity will I generate?

Generally we fit a 12 panel system which produces 4 kilowatts at peak performance (lovely sunny day!). This is known as a 4kWp system and will generate about 3,800-kilowatt hours of electricity a year in the south of England – roughly equivalent to a typical household’s electricity needs.

If you have a larger house or heavy demand we can fit up to an 8KWp system on single-phase electricity.

How much do they cost to install and how much will I save?

A typical 4KWp system with Solar Edge technology will cost £6,000 to £7,000 to install.

If you generate 3,800KWh and use it all you would save £950 per year on your electricity bill assuming electricity is 25p per KWh.

The trick though is to use it!

If you are at home and can run your washing machine, boil the kettle, run the heat pump, charge the car you are using the electricity produced and saving money.

If you are out all day then you are likely to use much less of the electricity being produced and therefore save less – which is where a battery might be the solution. Saving all that electricity to use in the evening when you are home from work.

What size do Solar PV Panels come in?

The panels themselves are a little less than 1m x 2m but the physical size of a system is often determined by the available roof space or the energy requirement of the property. To give you an idea, a standard 1kWp array will occupy at least 8m² of the roof.

Where can I place my Solar Panels?

The roof of a building is usually best for solar panels. Flat roofs are not ideal as it is hard to make them watertight. South facing roofs tend to be best but East-West split systems can also be designed.

Larger arrays can be ground-mounted if you have a suitable site but you would need planning permission.

Is there a danger of damaging my roof?

Solar PV systems are not heavy enough to cause structural problems. If your roof is in poor condition we would recommend getting a structural survey before installing solar panels.

If it needs repairing or replacing then it would probably work out cheaper to combine this work with your solar panel installation. In this case, or if you are building a new house, you could install an “in-roof” system, where the panels replace your tiles and look very smart.

I have no access to my loft – will that be a problem?

Inverters generate heat so ideally should not be kept in a cupboard or enclosed space. Lofts are a good place to store them because of their ventilation, but if you do not have access to your loft, we can help you find another well-ventilated are in your home to store the inverter.

What is the life expectancy of a Solar Panel system?

Twenty years or more, depending on the location of the installation. All of the equipment we install comes with a long guarantee.

Battery storage

A solar battery helps you make the most of your electricity production by storing any electricity not used immediately for future use.

It is a simple concept – store energy when it is easily generated and cheaper, to use later when it is more expensive and limited.

What is battery storage?

Battery storage is the future for homes and small businesses who want to store the sun’s energy and deliver clean, reliable electricity when the sun isn’t shining.

If you combine battery storage, solar and an electric vehicle, you can create a zero emission lifestyle. Most homes use only a proportion of the solar energy they collect and instead of sending excess solar energy back to the grid, a battery will store it for use any time.

The benefits of battery storage

• Combine Solar PV and one or more batteries to power your home independently from the utility grid.
• You will also protect your home during a power cut, keeping your lights, Wi-fi and refrigerator running.
• We can correctly specify the battery size, storage, and usable energy capacity it requires to meet your home's electricity needs.
• By using Solar Edge technology, you can also monitor your solar energy use in real-time and receive alerts via your smartphone.
• Installing batteries allows you to consume all the electricity your panels produce when you want it.
• You can use your stored power to run your household, charge your car, run your heat pump.
• On a flexible electricity tariff, such as Octopus, you can charge your battery when the grid price is low at night and use it during peak times when the price is high. This helps in winter when your panels may produce less electricity.
• Electrify your home if it doesn’t have a national grid connection.
• Take your home entirely off-grid with minimal fossil fuels.

Why Biosun Energy?

We’re partnered with local and national companies to offer homeowners the widest choice of solar panels and batteries, fitted by experienced professionals and signed off under MCS, the Microgeneration Certification Scheme for peace of mind.

For example, our systems can come with Solar Edge technology which optimises each panel for the best performance and gives you an app to see exactly what your panels are doing, building up a history of generation and consumption and alerting you and us to any problems that may arise.