Solar Photovoltaic (PV)

At Raine or Shine we can supply anything from small systems suitable for 2 bedroom houses up to commercial systems which are powerful enough to power factories!

All Raine or Shine's installations will qualify for Feed In Tariffs as we are MCS approved installers.

The photovoltaic (PV) process converts sunlight, the most abundant energy source on the planet directly into electricity. The equipment required for this process has no moving parts and as a result requires minimal maintenance. In addition, the electricity is generated with no emissions and no noise.

A PV cell consists of two or more thin layers of semi-conducting material, most commonly silicon. When the cell is exposed to light, electrical charges are generated and this can be conducted away by metal contacts as direct current (DC). The electrical output from a single cell is small, therefore multiple cells are connected together to provide a more useful output. Cells connected in this way are encapsulated (usually behind glass) to form a weatherproof module or panel. Multiple modules can likewise be connected together in order to provide sufficient power for common electrical appliances.

• Solar Photovoltaics factsheet
• Solar Photovolatic Panels
• Sharp ND Series Solar Panels 200W / 210W / 220W
• Sharp NU Series 185W / 180W
• Sharp NA Series Solar Panels 121W / 128W / 135W
• Grid-Tie Inverters
• Aurora 1200 G83
• Aurora 3600 G83
• Diehl AKO Platinum Inverter
• Diehl AKO Platinum Inverter Manual
• Fronius 15 G83
• Fronius 20 G83
• G83/1-1 Sunnyboy SB2000HF-30 / SB2500HF-30 / SB3000HF-30
• G83/1-1 Sunnyboy SB3300 / SB3800
• G83/1 Sunnyboy SB1100 / SB1200 / SB1700
• G83/1-1 Sunnyboy SB2500 / SB2800i / SB3000
• G83/1 Sunnyboy SB3000TL-20
• G83/1 Sunnyboy SB4000TL-20
• G83/1 Sunnyboy SB5000TL-20
• Sunnyboy SB1200 / SB1700 Technical
• Sunnyboy SB2500 / SB3000 Technical
• Sunnyboy SB2000HF / SB2500HF / SB3000HF Technical
• Sunnyboy SB3000TL / SB4000TL / SB5000TL Technical
• Sunnyboy SB33300 / SB3800 Technical
• Sunnyboy SB3000TL / 5000TL User Manual
• Sunnyboy User Manual
• Sunnyboy SB1200 / SB1700 Installation
• Sunnyboy SB2500 / SB3000 Installation
• Sunnyboy SB3000TL / SB4000TL / SB5000TL Installation
• Sunnyboy SB3300 / SB3800 Installation

What is PV?

The photovoltaic (PV) process converts sunlight, the most abundant energy source on the planet directly into electricity. The equipment required for this process has no moving parts and as a result requires minimal maintenance. In addition, the electricity is generated with no emissions and no noise. A PV cell consists of two or more thin layers of semiconducting material, most commonly silicon. When the cell is exposed to light, electrical charges are generated and this can be conducted away by metal contacts as direct current (DC). The electrical output from a single cell is small, therefore multiple cells are connected together to provide a more useful output. Cells connected in this way are encapsulated (usually behind glass) to form a weatherproof module or panel. Multiple modules can likewise be connected together in order to provide sufficient power for common electrical appliances.

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How long has Solar PV technology been around?

In 1838 the photoelectric effect was discovered by physicist Edmund Becquerel although it wasn't until the 1950's that the technology was developed enough to produce efficient working cells. During the 50's and 60's Solar PV was put on satellites and sent into orbit but it was still too expensive for general use. The next few decades brought better technology with lower prices and Solar PV was installed in world-wide remote villages to provide electricity for where there was no supply. Grid-connected Solar PV has had a massive growth since 1990's in the more developed countries of the world.

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Are photovoltaic panels expensive?

Over the last 20 years the price of PV modules have fallen dramatically, from around £15 per Wp in 1980 to current prices of around £3.50 per Wp. That means that a single module, typically generating 60W of power under standard test conditions, now costs around £200 Solar PV is still a more expensive technology than most other forms of renewable energy, but it has many advantages over other systems.

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Doesn't PV technology need bright sunshine to work properly?

The electrical output of a PV cell is dependent upon the intensity of the light to which it is exposed. So PV cells will tend to generate more electricity on bright days than when skies are overcast. However, photovoltaics do not need to be in direct sunlight to work, so even on overcast days a PV cell will be generating some electricity.

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Is PV suitable for use in the UK?

In the UK, we get 60% of the sunlight received at the equator - so there is still a lot of potential energy available! PV has been used in the UK over the last 20 years or more for many applications, particularly in remote areas where grid connection is impractical, such as weather monitoring stations, marine navigation aids, etc. Over the last few years PV technology has also started to be introduced into urban areas, incorporated into the roofs and facades of homes, offices and factories. A modest sized domestic grid connect system will provide a substantial portion of a households electricity needs for over 6 months of the year and installations on commercial buildings are particularly suitable, meeting the daytime demands of an office. Over 1.5 MW of building integrated PV is already installed in the UK.

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What applications are there for PV?

PV technology has many applications in the UK, both for stand-alone systems and for integration onto buildings. PV has been used for many years in the UK in applications such as monitoring stations, radio repeater stations, telephone kiosks and street lighting to name just a few examples. There is also a substantial market for PV technology in the leisure industry, with battery chargers for boats and caravans, as well as for powering garden equipment such as solar fountains. In more recent years in the UK, PV has become more widely used in urban areas, where it can be integrated into new buildings or mounted onto existing buildings. This is a rapidly growing market in the UK and throughout Europe. PV technology is ideally suited to the urban environment, providing pollution and noise free electricity without using extra space. PV technology is also widely used in the developing world. The technology is particularly suited here, where electricity grids are unreliable or non-existent, with remote locations often making PV power supply the most economic option. In addition, many developing countries have a high level of solar radiation levels year round.

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How long will a system last?

The average lifetime of a PV module can be in excess of 20 years, crystalline silicon modules in particular have a very long life span. In addition, they require very little maintenance. Other system components will have a varied lifespan, for example batteries in stand-alone systems can last between 2 and 15 years depending on type.

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How much will I need to power my home?

A typical domestic system of 1.5 kW in the UK would produce around a third of the annual demand of an average family household (taking the average demand to be around 10 kWh per day). However, calculating the system size depends on many factors, for example whether the system is grid connected, energy demand of the household etc.

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How much Power can I expect to get from my PVs?

Typically a 1kWp array will produce 750kWh/year.

Why are PVs rated in Wp rather than watts?

Wp means peak Watts. In other words, a 100Wp panel will produce a maximum of 100W in peak conditions (1kW/m2 solar irradiation) - this is equivalent to a bright sunny midsummer day in the UK.

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Can I connect my system to the grid and be paid for the electricity I generate?

Yes you can! Under the new feed-in tariffs passed by the government at the beginning of April 2010 you can now be paid back for photovoltaic power you generate. In order to benefit from the feed-in tariffs, you will need to have MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) approved equipment installed by Raine or Shine as MCS approved installers. Raine or Shine supplies complete MCS Approved kits in our online shop or at our showroom.

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Is it true that I can get my electricity meter to spin backwards?

Not usually, nor is it legal to do this. The very old meters may cause this to happen, but most have a ratchet-type mechanism to prevent this from occurring.

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How much will I get paid for the electricity I feed into the grid?

If you shop around you can expect 8-10p per kWh plus another 4p/kWh for the ROC entitlement, although the necessary paperwork may not warrant the effort for the ROC payment.

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Why install a PV system?

There are many reasons to install a PV system:

• It is the most practical and economically viable option for many applications in remote areas.
• It is completely pollution free. Installing a small domestic system of around 1.5 kW would provide around 1000 kWh of electricity every year, this would save around half a tonne of CO2 annually.
• PV can be integrated into the fabric of a building.
• Electricity can be supplied at the point of use.
• The system will run silently.
• There is very little maintenance required for a PV system.
• After the initial installation costs, there are no further fuel costs.
• PV systems are modular, and can be added to at any time.

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Are there any planning issues?

For the majority of homeowners the addition of solar PV panels fall within 'permitted development rights', which means that the panels will be more or less flush with the roof. If your property is in a conservation area, Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or is a listed building you may need to apply for full planning permission. We recommend checking with your local council to see what their stance is on solar PV panels.

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Is your roof facing the right direction?

To install a Solar PV system the optimum orientation for your roof should be south; however you can still get great benefits if your roof faces south-east or south-west.

Is your roof clear from shading?

Because the Solar PV needs lots of sunlight its best to keep your roof clear of shade e.g. trees

Do you need planning permission?

Most people do not need planning permission if you live in England or Scotland. If you live in Wales or Northern Ireland you will need planning permission. We advise you to ask your local council.

Is your roof suitable?

Ensure your roof is in good condition and strong enough to hold the Solar PV panels. You will need to know if your roof is pitched or flat although if you are unsure this will be checked during your free survey.

As with all renewable energy technology Raine or Shine will find the best solution for your situation, ensuring that the planning and installation is performed to the highest of MCS standards.

We use large aluminium sections for the module frame, which provides excellent rigidity - much better than most of the well-known names in the industry. Electrical connections are located in a small waterproof electrical box at the back of the panel, and larger panels are provided with quick-fit outdoor high-voltage connectors as standard.

These panels are suited to small scale, low voltage battery-based installations as well as larger grid-tie (grid-connect) systems. Raine or Shine is also able to provide charge controllers/ regulators for PV systems, Grid tie inverters and mounting systems for PV.