Solardirect for UK homes is a guaranteed investment. The Feed-in Tariff is guaranteed for 25 years (linked to inflation and tax free), the panel performance is guaranteed for 25 years and the solar irradiation your home receives (although it may vary from year to year) averages out at a predictable level. This makes solar a guaranteed investment.

A guaranteed investment that can only get better. The cost of energy is rising and this means every year you will be saving more on your bill. Also, the  export to grid bonus payment you can sign up to should also rise in the future.

Helping the environment. PV panels can easily provide 50% of your home’s annual electrical energy consumption (and much more if you make your home energy efficient). This reduces your carbon emission      significantly (your personal contribution to the UK’s 2010 Kyoto carbon reduction agreement). PVs take around 4 years to repay their ‘embodied energy’ (the energy it takes to make, deliver and install your panels). After this, they will be carbon positive for the next 46 years or more.

Increasing the value of your house. Once you have bought your panels they become an asset (i.e. you could sell them). They increase the value of your house, especially now as people want to ensure their energy bills are reduced and do their bit for the environment.

Low hassle. All you really need to do is take meter readings twice a year, although we encourage you to get involved with your panels and track your energy production more closely.

Helping you and your home become more energy efficient. Once you and everyone else in your home get to know what your panels are generating you will naturally become more energy conscious. This leads to the whole household becoming more careful with energy on a daily basis and developing a natural inclination toward energy minimisation.

Aesthetically pleasing. Ten years ago, solar panel manufacturers did not pay too much attention to aesthetics but now most of the latest high-efficiency panels have been designed with aesthetics in mind and look much more appealing.

Off-the-shelf technology. This proven technology has now reached a certain level of maturity since its humble beginning in the 1960s. This means installations use standard off-the-shelf parts which make solar PV easier and cheaper to install.

Harmless to the local environment.

Very reliable and not prone to breakdowns even in the harshest climates (as it doesn’t have moving parts).

100% Silent.

Capable of generating electricity even in cloudy and cold conditions. Because PV converts light straight into electricity (via the photoelectric effect) it doesn’t require heat and can still generate power in overcast conditions.

Maintenance free and has no moving parts. Unlike your boiler which needs regular services, or wind turbines which need maintaining, PV is solid-state technology: no moving parts to wear out, no need for      lubrication, etc. The performance does decrease slightly with time but manufacturers guarantee that the panels will still be producing 90% of their energy in 20 years time. There is one exception – the inverter (the      technology installed next to your meter which turns DC into grid compatible AC). Some inverter components may need replacing but only after ten to twenty years.

100% compatible with other renewable energy technology. If in the future you want to add wind power, solar thermal (for your hot water) and or heat pumps to your home, PV will be completely compatible, working side by side with these other renewable energy technologies to power your home.

Expandable. As PV is fully modular, you can start off with a modest installation and easily add more panels later.

Future proof. Energy prices and ‘energy security’ are genuine concerns for the future in the UK. Although PVs do not work if the power is cut off (this is due to current regulation to prevent panels giving an electric shock to engineers carrying out repairs on local power lines) they can easily be enabled to charge a battery system in the future which means you could still have power in the event of a power failure.

Supported by national government. PV receives the highest Feed-in Tariff set by the UK government of all renewable energy technologies.

Supported by local governments. More and more councils are adopting the ‘Merton’ rule which states all new developments must have at least 10% of their energy supplied by home-renewable energy. Due to a change in planning laws in 2008, planning permission is not required in most (but not all) regions unless you are in a conservation area or live in a listed building, in which case planning permission will be required. However, PV      systems have even been installed on listed buildings.

Supported by big business. Utility companies (electricity providers) and other companies, like Google, are seeing the need for and the value of solar PV and are getting deeply involved in decentralised energy      generation. Many other smart companies have also set up large PV installations such as Intel and Tesco.

A visible commitment to the future. Installing solar panels (unlike many other things we can do in our homes to help the environment) is a visible sign to others that you are doing your bit for the future. We believe this display of commitment is an important part of getting the country as a whole to change for the better.

Self-cleaning. The action of the rain and the natural slope of your roof mean you won’t have to clean you panels on a regular basis and self-cleaning Panels are available.

Requiring little additional equipment. Most roofs are naturally angled to receive the sun. PV power plants require supports to hold the panels at the optimum angle (35degree in the UK) but home-mounted PV panels only require minimal roof mounts.

Requiring no additional land. Power-stations require precious land resources – home-mounted PV is a way of using the free area we already have on our roof.

Ideal for low transmission losses. The average transmission and distribution losses in the UK national grid are around 7%. This means 7% of all the energy produced by power-stations is lost on the way to your homes. Because PV is on your roof, the transmission losses are a fraction of this figure.

Long lasting. Extrapolating current performance data (as modern PV haven’t been around that long) shows that PV modules could easily have a useful lifetime of 50 years.

Fully recyclable. The industry is working hard to ensure that the panels it produces can be fully recycled at the end of their useful life. They have an extremely high recycling potential which conserves energy, makes future PV cheaper and reduces the need for landfill.

Fuel independent (no fuel requirement just the sun’s light)

Not consuming or polluting water

Not producing any waste

Creating local jobs and boosting local economies

Vital to encourage solar panel manufacturers to keep investing in solar technology research and development – essential for a green future.

Likely to follow the success of Germany. Germany, which has a very similar solar climate to the UK has now over half a million solar PV installations – thanks largely to the government’s Feed-in Tariff – with   2008 being the most successful year so far.

Flexible.  Literally – PV ‘thin film’ panels, although less efficient than regular PV panels, do have the advantage of being bendable. They can and have been be used to clad curved building surfaces.

Available as solar roof tiles. To integrate seamlessly into the roofs of our home, PVs are even available off the shelf as specially coated roof tiles. These are especially interesting when building new homes.

Available to install on facades (vertical walls), as shades (solar protectors for windows) and in windows (integrated into the glazing).

Robust. When installed on your roof the sturdy panels can withstand the full weight of an installer.

Power to remote locations. PV coupled with a standard battery system can bring power to locations without grid access. It can also bring energy to your garden (charging lights) and your garden shed or homes.

Educational. A solar power installation on your roof can become a real and practical demonstration of green technologies. This can help friends, family, the neighbours and the next generation to be more environmentally      conscious.

The future. In this decade the vast majority of newly built homes will have solar power installed as standard. Decentralised energy (an energy network of many local energy producers – organised through the internet) is the future in many areas worldwide.

Feel good technology. Doing your bit for the environment feels good. Solar power is one big positive step for any home – towards a sustainable future.

It is very well Paid with the UK Feed-in Tariff for home-mounted PV installations.

Why Solar PV Enough solar energy reaches the earth every hour to meet the world’s energy consumption for a whole year. After 40 years of development, the technology to harness some of this energy in the form of electricity is economical, safe and reliable when correctly designed and installed by suitability competent and certified engineers.

Solar energy, radiant light and heat from the sun, has been harnessed by humans since ancient times using a range of ever-evolving technologies. Primary Solar radiation and secondary solar powered resources such as wind and wave power, account for most of the available renewable energy on earth. Only a minuscule fraction of the available solar energy is used. Solardirect is an independent specialist solar company with a proven track record in delivering high performance low cost solar systems generating low carbon free energy.

Photovoltaics – Photo (Greek) = photos: light; Volt = unit of electric tension (tension through light). The generation of electric power from solar energy is called “photovoltaics”. Positive and negative charge carriers are released in the solar cell under the influence of heat and light. The direct current thus generated can drive motors or charge accumulator (storage) batteries. As Europe primarily uses alternating current, the direct current is converted into alternating current by means of an AC converter.

The benefits of Solardirect PV systems offer a range of benefits, both environmentally and financially. With the price of electricity going up and the environment increasingly at the forefront of people’s minds, solar is becoming a very attractive investment opportunity.

You’ll generate your own free electricity and cut your other energy bills Sunlight is free, so once you’ve installed your Solardirect PV panels, you can use this electricity for free and only use your standard supplier as normal in the evenings. This also means that the bills you receive from your energy provider are going to be considerably lower as you are no longer as reliant on them to power your home.

You’ll make a profit thanks to the Government-backed Feed in Tariff (FIT), not only do you get paid for generating your own electricity, but you’re also paid for any extra electricity that you produce and export back to the national grid. Combine this with the savings you’ve made via the reductions on your bill with your standard electricity supplier and you could be paid over £1,000 a year, tax free, index linked and government guaranteed for 25 years.

It’ll increase your property value homes fitted with solar PV are more desirable as the cost of traditional fossil fuel energy increases and generates up to over £1000 a year for 25 years, tax free, index linked and government guaranteed. The best financial rewards from installing a solar PV system will be gained from staying in your property for 25 years, however if you were to move within this period, your Feed in Tariff benefit is transferable to the new owner and will therefore add value to your property.

Solar energy is environmentally friendly by investing in solar power for your home you are going to be reducing your carbon footprint and helping the environment.  Solar cells don’t release anything into the air, unlike traditional fossil fuels that release greenhouse gases, carcinogens and carbon dioxide, which are contributing to climate change.

Solar energy is renewable thankfully, the sun is a consistent power source and is always going to be there every day – so we never have to worry about it running out or using it all up!

Self-satisfaction  you can feel satisfied in the fact that you are using free, clean and renewable energy and you are playing your own part in fighting greenhouse gases and helping to make the world a greener place.

Solardirect - the standard for high energy output solar PV modules  the core of our technology is the patented stay-powerful™ Technology that interconnects solar electric cells and collects the power they generate. This innovation is a direct replacement of the conventional, high temperature solar cell soldering process.

Stay-powerful™ Technology is comprised of a polymer film embedded with a number of copper wires specially coated with a proprietary, low-temperature melting point alloy. This establishes a low-resistance electrical contact with the surface of the PV cell creating over 2,100 independent electrical contacts.

This process triggers a number of far reaching benefits, including improved PV cell efficiency and mechanical stability, exceptional PV module power density and better long term performance where it truly matters – in the field.

The result is more kilowatt hours over the lifetime of the product with virtually no power losses. It also improves power output and performance in both low light conditions and higher temperatures compared to standard solar modules.

Intelligent shade protection for real world conditions  shade reduces the efficiency of solar PV modules. Solardirect work-smart^™ Technology enables optimum performance by maximizing the energy yield, even when the module is shaded by trees and buildings or partially covered by leaves, moss, snow or dirt.

Conventional solar modules contain three strings, or zones, of interconnected PV cells. When even a small portion of one string is partially shaded, the entire zone may no longer collect energy, significantly reducing the module’s capacity. The flexible cell layout of the stay-powerful™ Technology allows for the design of a module with nine independent operating segments. If one is shaded, the other eight keep working.

This means that with work-smart™ Technology, modules are three times less sensitive to the effects of shade and debris than traditional PV modules.

Your assurance of quality and durability in solar modules  solar photovoltaic modules perform well under ideal conditions – particularly during their initial years of operation. Challenging environmental conditions over 25 years of use may significantly affect the performance of conventionally built modules. It’s important to choose a quality Solardirect PV module to make the most of your investment.

The live-long™ Technology mark from Solardirect is your assurance of durability, quality and that the module will meet your performance expectations for two decades or more. Advanced technologies, quality components and superior manufacturing processes go into every module that carries the live-long™ designation.

Solardirect  modules  live-long™ mark feature a watertight back-sheet material containing aluminum foil. Certified to protect from the damaging effects of moisture and salt-mist, these solar modules are immune to harmful gasses like ammonia found at greenhouses and farmlands, and designed to perform exceptionally well in hot climates.

Superior energy collection solar cells are at the heart of PV modules – they convert the sun’s energy into electricity. The way cells are interconnected, and the energy collected, can have a significant impact on the amount of electricity delivered.  Our solar modules with stay-powerful™ Technology connect cells in an innovative way that can result in superior energy collection.

Micro-crack protection  over time, ordinary PV cells can develop energy draining micro-cracks, or even break, due to the stress from daily heating and cooling. Modules with our stay-powerful™ Technology are less likely to develop cracks due to their unique interconnection and continue to collect power from cells even if a break occurs. Our micro-crack resistant cell design means the energy output from modules with stay-powerful™ Technology are less sensitive to PV cell breakage than modules made from traditional technology.

 Self-cooling technology like humans, solar PV modules don’t produce as much energy when they get hot. Solar modules built with live-long™ Technology deliver one of the lowest certified operating cell temperatures in the industry. A lower operating temperature means better efficiency and more electricity.

Intelligent shade protection  solar PV modules have several independent operating zones – if one zone is covered by shade or debris, the other zones will not continue to operate. Modules with work-smart™ Technology from Solardirect have up to nine independent operating zones. If one is shaded, the other eight keep working making them three times less sensitive to the effects of shading from trees, buildings or snow compared to traditional modules.

Protection from harsh environments  challenging environmental conditions, such as moisture, salt-mist and harmful gasses can affect the amount of energy delivered by a solar PV module. Modules constructed with Solardirect live-long™ Technology feature a watertight back-sheet material containing aluminium foil. This barrier prevents water vapour from penetrating the module and makes it certified salt mist resistant, providing optimal protection in damp, harsh environments such as coastal areas, farms and greenhouses.

Why Solardirect?

• Solardirect domestic Solar Panels are specifically designed for the UK climate.
• Up to three times less sensitive to the effects of shading caused by the accumulation of leaves or snow, and time-of-day shading from chimneys, trees or other buildings which significantly reduces the amount of electricity produced.
• Your complete solar system is unconditionally guaranteed, including all equipment, parts and labour, for 25 years
• Your solar system will be fully maintained for optimum performance for 25 years completely free and include any call outs if required.
• We cut out the need and expense of sales people, surveyors and project managers for domestic customers.
• Your Solardirect engineer is qualified and fully trained in the latest technology and installation standards to provide you with the very best advice, installation and maintenance service.
• Your first and primary point of contact will be your Solardirect engineer who will explain all possible options and recommend the best solution for your particular home.
• Local Solardirect Managing Engineers supported by the Solardirect Engineering Centre will then provide you with our best possible price within ten days and be available, without obligation, to advise or help in any way possible…. even if you don’t proceed with us.

Our guarantee to you;

• We will provide the best performing Solar PV system at the lowest possible cost – no pressure, no false promises, no fake discounts.
• We will maintain your complete system in optimum working order and provide all parts and labour for free for 25 years.
• Only one primary point of contact from the start – your Solardirect engineer backed-up by the UK’s No 1 independent specialist residential Solar Company.

We do…

• Use fully trained, experienced engineers, who participate in continous ongoing training programmes to ensure they are up to date with all the latest developments and regulations. As well as being highly skilled, our engineers are polite, courteous and tidy.
• Keep you informed. We are more than happy to explain or discuss any queries or concerns you may have – whether it be the initial survey, the various options that are available or our after-installation support.
• Use the best available products to ensure that every component in your system is reliable, robust and efficient.
• Ensure that our customers are shown how to use their renewable energy system and how to get the most out of it.
• Take pride in all the work we are involved in. We know that word of mouth recommendations are the best way of getting new business. The quality of our service and workmanship is of paramount importance for both our reputation and your satisfaction.

We don’t…

• Have one set system that we install as standard, regardless of the situation.
• Use cheap components to maximise our profit.
• Use high-pressure sales, or ask you to place an order during the initial site visit.
• Offer to ‘pay the VAT’ because we give you our best and only price first.
• Offer ‘free panels’ because we give your out best and only price first.
• Offer ‘discounts’ because we give your out best price first.
• Use technical jargon or have hidden costs – the first price you receive is our very best price including VAT etc and includes everything required to keep your system operating at
• its optimum performance for a minimum of 25 years.

And finally…

• We are not a double glazing company that “does a bit of solar”, neither are we a plumbing company that dabbles with a bit of renewable energy.
• We are a specialist solar company, fully qualified to carry out all aspects of your installation with locally based engineers
• We pride ourselves on our customer service and take great care to ensure that we are always accessible and respond to queries promptly.
• All work is supervised by our experienced supervisors to ensure our high standards are maintained without compromise.