Making the most of your Solar PV
Helping to protect your home against energy price increases is one benefit of Solar PV but there are lots of other too:
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clean energy source meaning it produces no direct pollution whilst generating environmentally friendly energy.
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effortless – virtually maintenance free
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reliable – should keep generating energy for at least 10 years
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energy tariffs – can make the most of your energy tariff
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energy performance rating – your home is now more energy efficient and has a higher Energy Performance Certificate rating
How does Solar PV Work?
It's simple
Solar PV is ‘fit and forget”, there are no moving parts and it works automatically – you do not need to do anything, just benefit from the free electricity being generated.
What happens is ...
Your solar panels absorb the sun’s energy and converts it into electricity, so the sunnier it is, the more energy is generated. The inverter (which may be in your loft or in a box on the wall outside) transforms this energy into electricity that can be used in your home. If more electricity is produced than you are using at any one time, any left-over energy is fed back into your local electricity grid. If you need to use more electricity than the panels are producing this will be supplied by your energy provider as normal. In the event of a power cut, the inverter will turn the solar system off and back on again when power is restored.
Stablilize your energy bills
As well as using free electricity, when it is available, you can also help with your energy bills by using energy smarter. Take a look at our general energy saving Hints and Tips and carry on reading for ways to most the most of Solar PV.
Given the current prices (Autumn 2022) you may not see a reduction in your energy bills, but you should be saving on your energy costs when the sun is shining. Savings all depend on how much energy your solar panels produce and how much of the free energy is used. Solar PV will not add costs to your electricity bills
More energy from every drop of sun
Most energy is generated between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. so, try to do as many energy intense activities then, such as laundry, hoovering, ironing, cooking. Also charge any battery powered items.
Only use one large appliance at a time – for example, do not use a kettle at the same time as your oven as the free electricity generated may not be sufficient to supply both whilst powering your fridge.
Solar energy is free, but not unlimited
To get the most benefit from Solar PV:
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Use timer switches – to turn on appliances if you are out during the day.
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Weather watch – to use energy when the sun is shining and the Solar PV is generating free energy.
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Shade - Make sure your panels are not in the shade of trees etc.
Maintenance
There is very little maintenance that you will have to do:
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Take a look, from the ground, at the panels every so often to check if they are in shade, very dirty or after strong winds.
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Look at the inverter (if it is safe to do so and easy to access) to check for any indications of faults. Your installer will explain this at the time of the install and leave a Guide
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If you notice any potential issues, you will just need to contact MTVH.
Questions you may have ...
Can I still switch my energy supplier?
Yes, although with current uncertainty in the energy market finding a good, fixed rate deal may be difficult. Contact your existing energy supplier first and utilise the various switching websites and energy advice organisations.
Will I have a new electric meter?
A new meter will be installed with your Solar PV system and may replace your existing electricity meter or will be an additional meter to measure the free electricity generated. MTVH will advise if and when you need to read the meter. If you have a pre-payment electricity meter you will need to ensure that the meter is always in credit as your new Solar PV will not work when there is a zero balance.
Do the solar panels need cleaning?
Usually, rainfall is sufficient to clean the panels, but if you notice they have become soiled by birds, trees etc., contact your MTVH as it will impact how much electricity is produced.
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Do not make any attempt to clean them yourself.
Can I store the solar electricity?
There are energy storage systems that can store the energy produced as hot water (if you have a hot water cylinder) or in a battery. Discuss any energy storage options with MTVH.
Can I use the solar energy for heating?
If you have electric heating then you can use the solar for this, but it will use a lot, if not all, of the energy produced and unless you have battery storage will only be available when the sun is shining.
How can I tell when the free electricity is available?
If you have a solar energy monitor fitted you can see how much energy is being generated and how much is being used. If a monitor is not present you can monitor your energy usage through your electricity bills in terms of the amount used. Given the current prices rises, you may not see a reduction in cost but you should see a reduction in Kw used. The best time to obtain maximum benefit from your solar panels is between 10 a.m. and 2.00 p.m.