With installed prices for solar PV having dropped by nearly 50% since the introduction of the Feed In Tariff, installing Solar PV panels still makes economic sense even with the reduction in the Feed In Tariff rate to 21p per kWh for domestic size systems.

Leeds Solar anticipate further reductions in the FIT rates through 2012, probably as early as April 2012, as well as stringent energy efficiency requirements coming into force, so recommend getting on with it if you're contemplating having solar PV installed.

Beginners guide to solar PV

Solar PV systems generate electricity from the sun using an array of solar PV panels usually mounted on a south facing or near south facing roof. The solar panels can also be mounted on east or west facing roofs, flat roofs, walls, car ports or even as a free standing unit.

The PV panels produce DC electricity, which is fed into a specialist inverter that converts this electricity to AC electricity at the same voltage and frequency as the electricity from the national grid.

The inverter is connected to your consumer unit (fuse box), and electricity generated can then either be used directly by you in your house, or exported to the grid for other people to use if more is being generated than you can use yourself.

The total amount of energy the system generates is measured by a new total generation meter that we will install, and this figure is used to calculate how much you will get paid by your electricity supplier.

You will be paid 21p, through the Feed In Tariff, for every kWh of electricity generated whether you use that electricity yourself or not . You will also be paid 3.1p per kWh for any electricity that you don’t use and export to the grid, as well as not having to pay for any electricity used directly in the house.

Please follow these links for further information; Issues to consider when deciding if solar PV is suitable for your house; Feed In Tariff information; Shading Impact Assessment, Leeds Solar price guide

Solar PV - Options

Leeds solar system designers have over 150 different Solar PV system variations to choose from when we design your PV systems for you. This allows us to design the perfect system to fit both your roof space and your wallet.

We split these options into 3 product ranges, Value, High Spec and Ultra Efficient, and will usually supply quotes for more than one option to all.

Solar Calculators

To help you to assess the likely cost and payback rates of different system sizes and options for yourselves, we host Solar Calculators within the Price Guide section of our website or you can access them via these links:-

Solar Calculator - Value Systems
(Suntech, Up Solar, Yingli Solar panels + Aurora Power-One)

Solar Calculator - High Spec
(Schott, Hyundai or Sharp panels + SMA Sunnyboy inverters)

Solar Calculator - Ultra Efficient
(Sanyo HIT H & N series panels + SMA Sunnyboy inverters)

What areas do Leeds Solar cover for solar PV installations?

Leeds Solar can cover a fairly wide area around our Leeds base for solar PV installations, mainly in Leeds, West Yorkshire and surrounding areas. To give an idea of the areas we can cover, we have previously installed solar PV systems in the following locations:-

Solar PV installations in Leeds; Adel, Armley, Chapel Allerton, Cookridge, Crossgates, Guiseley, Headingley, Holt Park, Horsforth, Hyde Park, Meanwood, Rawdon, Thorner, West Park

Solar PV installations in West Yorkshire; Bingley, Bradford, Brighouse, Castleford, Drighlington, Harrogate, Ilkley, Menston, Otley, Pontefract, Wetherby

Solar PV installations in North Yorkshire; Beverley, Knaresborough, Northallerton, Scarborough, York

Solar PV installations in South Yorkshire/Derbyshire; Barnsley, Chesterfield

Solar PV installations in Greater Manchester; Chorlton, St Helens, Warrington, Wigan

Solar PV installations in Scotland; Inverness, Black Isle, Rosehearty (by special arrangement only)