At Sol PV Group, we understand the growing desire for homeowners and businesses to take control of their energy bills and reduce their environmental impact. Solar power offers a clean, sustainable solution that can significantly reduce your reliance on the traditional grid.
This comprehensive guide is designed to be your one-stop resource for everything solar panel installations. Whether you're just starting to explore the possibility of going solar or you're ready to request a quote, this guide will provide you with the information you need to make informed decisions.
Throughout the guide, we'll walk you step-by-step through the professional solar panel installation process, ensuring you understand what to expect at each stage. And to ensure you maximise the return on your investment, we'll provide valuable post-installation maintenance tips to keep your solar panels operating at peak efficiency for years to come.
By the end, you'll be well-equipped to make a confident decision about solar power for your home or business. Let's get started!
Why Go Solar?
Before we discuss the process involved in a solar installation, let us first discuss why you may choose to go solar in the first place.
Making the switch to solar energy can bring with it numerous benefits to you as either a homeowner or a business. Firstly, it can reduce your carbon footprint thanks to solar being a renewable energy source. This is especially beneficial for businesses, who are under increasing pressure to reduce their carbon footprint amidst the current climate crisis, but is also ideal for environmentally conscious individuals.
Going solar also reduces your independence on the national grid to power your property with electricity. This in turn can help to lower your electricity bills, since you’ll be utilising the electricity provided by your solar panels. The amount you may be able to save will depend on the size of your building, your electricity needs and the effectiveness of your panels.
Reducing your reliance on the grid also means you won’t be affected by any national power outages. Should a power outage occur, you will be able to rely on the electricity produced by your solar panels to maintain, or at least offer temporary power. If you run a business, then this keeps downtime to a minimum.
As for other financial incentives of solar energy, solar panels also have the potential to increase your property’s value, which is something to consider should you ever plan on selling.
Finding a Reliable Solar Energy Installer
Experience
When choosing a solar energy company to install your solar panels, it’s important to choose a company that has extensive experience. When a company has a proven track record of supplying and installing solar panels for various clients, this is a good sign that they have the experience, capability and reliability to carry out your solar installation.
Don’t be afraid to ask for a portfolio of their previous work or see if they have any case studies showing this on their site.
Qualifications
Having the necessary qualifications and accreditations is imperative for a solar panel installer. Make sure to look out for these when choosing your installer, as this will offer you peace of mind that they are a legitimate and reputable company that has the necessary knowledge and legal approval to carry out an installation.
Reputation
When choosing any company to carry out work for you, you’ll want to choose one that has a positive reputation. Positive customer testimonials suggest that a company is reliable and gives you insight into the quality of work that they offer.
If the company you’re considering for your installation has an overall positive reputation, then chances are they are trustworthy. Make sure to only look at reliable review sites, however - such as Google reviews or Trustpilot.
The Solar Installation Process
1 | Scaffolding
Considering solar panels are installed on the roof of a building, scaffolding needs to be erected first and foremost. This then provides the installers with a safe structure to be able to efficiently access and work on the roof.
Erecting scaffolding can take up to a full day, and is often one of the lengthier aspects of the installation process. However, it is essential nonetheless, allowing the rest of the process to take place with maximum efficiency.
2 | Installing the Mounts
The first thing that needs to be attached to your roof is the mounts. These are what support the panels themselves.
In order to fix these to the roof, the installers will slide roof tiles up to expose the roof rafters and secure hooks to these. The mounts are then fitted across the roof and are connected to these hooks.
Most mounting structures will be titled, often anywhere between an angle of 18-36 degrees depending on the slant of your roof, in order to maximise the amount of sunlight the solar panels will receive.
3 | Installing the Solar Panels
Once all mounts are securely in place, then the next step is to install the actual solar panels onto these. They will be placed onto the mount and tightly screwed on, ensuring they remain stable and secure.
The process doesn’t stop here, however! Though the panels are now installed on your roof, they are not yet operational. That’s where the wiring comes in.
4 | Wiring
Once your panels are on your roof, they will then need to be wired together,so that their combined energy generation can be collected and turned into electricity.
There are two different types of circuits that these can be wired into - a parallel or a series circuit. In a parallel circuit, there are multiple paths for the current to flow through (with all panels sharing the voltage), whereas in a series circuit there is only one path (with all components receiving the full amount of voltage).
Your installers will be able to assess and determine which of these will be best for you and will complete the wiring of your panels accordingly.
5 | Connecting the Solar Inverter
The next step in the solar panel installation process involves installing and connecting the solar inverter to your existing wired electrical system. This crucial component plays a pivotal role in harnessing the power generated by your solar panels.
The solar inverter takes the solar energy your panels have absorbed throughout the day and converts them into electricity. They then act as a bridge, seamlessly translating the direct current (DC) electricity produced by your solar panels into the alternating current (AC) electricity that your home appliances and electronics require.
This conversion process allows you to utilise the solar energy you've collected throughout the day to power your home.
If you’re also having a solar battery installed, then it’s at this point that this is connected to the inverter.
6 | Testing the Panels
Once everything is installed and connected, the final step is to test your newly-installed panels to ensure everything is working as it should be.
The installers will turn the system on, using live, real-time analysis to test your system’s performance and efficiency.
Post-Installation: Maintenance Tips
Visual Inspections
It’s important to undertake regular visual inspections of your solar panels, looking for any signs of damage and ensuring there’s nothing potentially impacting their efficiency.
For example, keep an eye out for any:
● Cracks
● Discolouration
● Hot spots
● Debris (e.g. leaves or moss)
● Shading (e.g. trees obstructing your panels)
Cleaning
You should aim to clean your panels at least twice a year, ideally in the spring and autumn. With that said, if you’re in an area where there are high levels of dust, pollen or frequent bird droppings, then more regular cleaning may be necessary.
As for physically cleaning the panels, it’s best to hire a professional to come and clean them for you. This way, you can ensure that they’re cleaned properly, as taking a DIY approach can run the risk of damaging their delicate surface.
Professional Maintenance
Scheduling professional maintenance, such as annual check-ups, is a great way to ensure your solar panels are continuing to perform as they should.
Here at Sol PV Group, we offer our premium maintenance and analysis system for the first 2 years after installation to all of our customers who have had solar panels installed by us.
Sol PV Group: Your Solar Experts
So, now that you know what to expect from the installation process, are you ready to make the switch to solar? Here at Sol PV Group, we’re the experts you can trust to install effective solar solutions at your business.
If you’re looking to lower your carbon emissions in hopes of supporting a more sustainable future, then get in touch with us today to discuss your commercial solar requirements.
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