Frequently asked questions

Today’s technology is cost effective, simple to install and helps both Planet & Pocket.

Helping the planet

Over 25 years the average home solar system offsets the same amount of CO2 as recycling 16 tonnes of domestic waste or driving a family car for 112,745 miles. That’s the same as driving around the Earth 4.5 times

Helping your pocket

An average 4kWp home solar array, generating 4,000 kWh per year, could result in annual savings of between £200 and £650 per annum.

For example, if your 4kWp solar array generated 4,000 kWh per year and you were able to consume 2,000 units (50%), then the saving against a rate of 17p would result in an annual saving of £340.

This is dependent on how much solar energy you use of course, and your own personal needs and requirements.

Some of our business customers have saved between £8,000 and £40,000 per annum.

Solar technology reacts to daylight, not sunlight. Our country’s overcast weather is well suited for solar, as it also offers the ideal operating temperature. Today, London generates the same amount of solar power as Madrid and the UK is Europe’s fastest-growing adopter of solar energy.

Not necessarily. South facing panels offer the best performance but installations facing east and west come a very close second. Our consultants will assess your property to ensure that solar will be viable for you.

Solar PV is designed to fit onto most roof coverings including; slate, tile, fibre-cement, tin, corrugated, standing seam and box profile.

We can also install integrated roof systems too.

Our consultants can advise further.

A typical Solar PV system for the home is made up of 10 solar panels producing about 4,000*kWhs of free electricity per year. (*a kWh is a unit of electricity). Most of our customers use between 4,000 and 6,000kWh’s per year in their home.

Yes, we can install solar panels on outbuildings including barns, sheds, and garages. We can also install ground mounted systems.

Roof mounted, home solar panel installations are seen as ‘permitted developments’, so the majority of customers will not need to apply for planning permission; unless your home is listed, or you wish to have a ground mount. Planning consent might still be required in a conservation area so it is advisable to check with your local planning authority/portal.

Most home installations take a day (or two) at the most. Our consultants will be able to provide a more accurate estimate once they’ve carried out your initial survey.

A 20m² roof will typically fit a 4kWp system comfortably. We install systems from 4kWp to over 100kWp and will be able to advise on the best size to suit your needs and roof space.

The inverter is the brains behind your whole solar system. Inverters take the DC (direct current) from your solar panels and turn them into AC (alternating current) for use in your home and by the Grid. Your Mole Energy consultant will ensure that yours is placed in the best position possible, in line with the manufacturer’s guidance and required aesthetics.

Many of our customers choose to add a battery system to their solar array to enable them to store any excess power generated, when normally it would have been lost back to the National Grid.

Instead, any excess power can be utilised to help meet your home energy needs in the summer, manage additional consumption in the winter and improve self-reliance throughout the year, particularly in the event of a power cut.

With all Home Storage Battery systems, we will need to seek permission from your DNO, (District Network Operator), which will be the National Grid (previously Western Power) or SSE.

You can find out more here:https://www.moleenergy.com/homeowners/tesla-powerwall-2-0/

And here:https://www.moleenergy.com/homeowners/battery-storage-solar-edge/

It’s not necessary as we will self-certify your installation and provide you with a building control certificate.

Mole Energy is an accredited member of the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS). MCS is an internationally recognised quality assurance scheme, supported by the Department for Business, Energy, and Industry Strategy (BEIS). MCS certifies installation companies and helps to ensure that products and installations are to a high standard.

From January 2020, the larger energy providers are obliged to offer a Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) to solar owners. This means there will be various tariffs available that enable you to sell your unused solar energy back to your provider. You will need a smart meter to be able to do this and tariffs will vary from supplier to supplier.

We advise that you personally check with your chosen energy provider as tariffs will vary by company and over time. Each energy supplier will determine the rate they will pay, their contract length and other terms.

For more information, please visit Ofgem’s website.

Grant availability varies so we recommend you visit the UK Gov’s website and search, Improve Energy Efficiency, for the most current information.

VAT is zero rated for all home solar installations.

Battery storage installations are also zero rated but only if purchased at the same time as your solar array. Our consultants will be able to advise you further.