FAQs

How long have Freewatt been operational?

Freewatt Ltd was established in April 2008 by Managing Director Julian Patrick, an experienced electrical and mechanical engineer with a background in lecturing in solar photovoltaics (PV).

Hello, I would like to obtain the financial report of the company. Where should I request it?

We are not a public company so hence do not have any public reports, other than those listed on Companies House.

What are the possibilities for us to become a distributor for Freewatt in another country?

We are not interested at this time.

How quickly will a solar PV system take to pay for itself?

We estimate that an average system takes 9 to 12 years to pay for itself. After that time the system will continue to make a profit for the remainder of its life. This represents a return on investment of approximately 8 - 11%.

How much will I save?

The amount of money that you save depends on how much you pay for your electricity, how much electricity you generate, and how much of that electricity you use. A 4kWp system installed at 30° south will save around £200 a year – assuming that you only use 50% of what’s generated, and pay 12p per kilowatt hour.

What is the cost of a solar PV system?

Solar PV systems start at around £7000. Typically a fully installed system costs between £4500-6000 per kWp installed.

How quickly will a solar PV system take to pay for itself?

We estimate that an average system takes roughly 7 to 11 years to pay for itself. After that time the system will continue to make a profit for the remainder of its life. This represents a return on investment of approximately 10%.

How much will I save?

Savings depend on how much you pay for electricity and how much of that electricity you use. This is dependent on your day time electricity demand.

What is the cost of a solar PV system?

Solar PV systems start at around £7000. Typically a fully installed system costs between £4500-6000.

How does a solar electric system work?

Solar PV panels generate electricity during daylight. They will even generate some electricity on a dull day. An inverter converts the electricity from DC to AC to be used in your home. The electrical energy generated is either used in your home, or if you produce more than you need, exports the excess to the grid. At night or when you are not generating enough electricity you will still import electricity from the grid as usual.

What happens if there is a power cut?

As an automated safety measure the solar PV system will switch itself off. This is designed to protect any network engineers working on the power lines during a power cut. When the power comes back on your system will reset itself and carry on as usual.

How efficient are solar panels?

The efficiency of a system is dependent on where you install your system. The ideal installation would be south facing, un-shaded and elevated at approximately 30-35 degrees. As a rule of thumb every 1kWp of solar PV will generate about 850 kWh of electricity per annum. This means that a 4kWp system should generate >3300kWh which is about the same as the average UK home consumption.

How can the energy benefits of the system be maximised?

Once a system has been installed in an efficient manner you will get a fantastic return on investment. However you can try to make the most out of your generation. Generation you use in your home is worth more to you than exporting it. You should therefore try to consume your usual electricity when you are generating. For example: some of our customers run their dishwasher and washing machines during the day instead of during the night.

Can you supply solar PV outside of the UK?

No. We are not able to supply and install outside the UK. On request we can sell systems in the EU.

Do you sell solar thermal for hot water?

No. We do frequently work alongside other local renewable energy experts. We will be happy to put you in touch with another recommended company.

Is Freewatt able to supply panels from any company?

We can sell any type of solar PV components as we are completely independent. We do prefer certain brands that we feel meet our exacting standards. We do not sell some brands and do not use any Chinese components.

Do you sell your own products?

We predominantly use equipment manufactured by the leading solar PV manufacturers. We do however produce some of our own bespoke mounting systems for heritage projects.

Do the PV panels/tiles need direct sunlight to work?

Solar PV works in daylight. The brighter the light the more they generate so they still work well in our unique British climate! Every estimation of generation we provide with a proposal is designed for our climate, and calculated using the formula provided in The Government’s Standard Assessment Procedure for Energy Rating of Dwellings – 2009 edition.

How long do solar panels take to payback the energy that was used in their production?

The embedded carbon-footprint associated with the manufacture of the system will usually be offset after 2-4 years in the UK. This is dependent on how efficiently the system is installed and performs

What happens at night?

At night, when the solar PV is not generating electricity the inverter will completely turn itself off in order to not consume and waste electricity. You buy electricity from your supplier like normal. The next morning the inverter will come to life again when the sun rises.

Does the glass front of the panels reflect light away?

They will reflect very little light. Solar PV panels are designed to absorb as much light as possible. They have an anti-reflective coating and have a slightly granular finish to further ensure they absorb light.

How much energy will I generate?

This depends on the size of the solar PV system or kWp (kilowatt peak or performance under ideal test conditions). Using our calculator you can estimate what you will be able to achieve with your own system.

Are there different types of solar systems?

Another common form of solar panel is solar thermal designed for heating hot water. The benefit you would get from this is entirely dependent on how much hot water you use and when you use it. Unless you use the hot water you are not receiving any benefit. Unlike solar PV where you get paid from the Feed In Tariff even if you use no electricity at all.

How many square meters are required for a 1kWp system?

It depends on which manufacturer’s panels we use but 1kWp requires approximately 7-8m2.

What are the dimensions of the panels?

Panels vary in size and their electrical rating. On request, we are happy to provide datasheets for the panels that we use.

What size PV system do I need?

The size of system you require is entirely dependent on how much you want to spend and how much space you have. There are significant economies of scale to be achieved from larger systems as there are many fixed costs during installation. Most of our domestic systems are just under 4kWp. This system would usually generate about 3300kWh per annum which is roughly equivalent to the average UK home consumption.

Do I need planning permission?

Domestic solar PV systems usually fall under permitted development and do not need planning permission. There are certain stipulations that we will adhere to ensure your installation complies with planning rules and building regulations. Even if you live in a conservation area you can usually install a PV system. However, if you live in an AONB (area of outstanding natural beauty) or in a listed building you should contact your local council. Freewatt has installed the largest installations in the UK on listed buildings.

Does the system need batteries?

No there are no batteries, the solar PV system is grid-tied which means any excess electricity is fed to the national grid. Essentially you use the national grid as your battery exporting your excess and importing when you have a shortfall, during the night for instance.

Can I install the system myself with an electrician to wire it up to the grid?

No, we will only sign off our own work that we have fully installed ourselves. Only by doing this can we guarantee the quality and fully honour the warranties we offer.

How will the fixing system be integrated onto the roof?

It is imperative that the mounting system is correctly installed on your roof to ensure the roof is weather proof and will perform as it should for the life of the system. Freewatt will not drill tiles but use roof anchor brackets that fix directly to the roof timbers and are either covered over by the tiles or are over-flashed with lead. Many installation companies rely on rubber grommets or sponge pads to cover the holes they drill in your tiles. We do not consider this to be sufficient quality for a 25 year design life.

When we receive a proposal and quote can we alter the design?

All of our systems are bespoke and designed specifically to suit your needs and your home. We take great care to provide a design that will give an optimal return on investment and be aesthetically pleasing. If you feel you would like the proposal changing we will always work with you to meet your requirements.

What structural checks are undertaken prior to installation?

Our surveyor will carry out a detailed survey to assess the suitability of your roof. This will be sufficient for most roofs.

How do you calculate how much my system will generate?

We provide an estimation of generation with every proposal. This is of course going to be the basis of your decision to proceed with an installation or not. This figure is calculated using formulae from the BRE SAP 2009 (Building Research Establishment Standard Assessment Procedure. This will take into account all relevant parameters for your project. This is a best-practice stipulation under MCS guidelines. Any company installing the same system should calculate the same annual estimate of generation. You can find this formulae in Appendix M at the following link http://www.bre.co.uk/filelibrary/SAP/2009/SAP-2009_9-90.pdf

What is the risk if the system does meet its predicted output?

The estimated output is usually an accurate estimate, our experience has shown that a well installed system will perform as we predict. Please see our testimonials to see what our customers think. Of course we cannot guarantee the level of generation as the figures are based on an average year and as such some years will be better than others because of the weather.

Can I just buy the solar panels and install it myself?

No, we will only sign off our own work that we have fully installed ourselves. Only by doing this can we guarantee the quality and fully honour the warranties we offer.

I would like to install solar PV on my outbuilding or garage, is this possible?

Solar PV does not have to be on your house roof. We may be able to install on a nearby building or even on a framework on the ground.

I have a very high electricity consumption. Will I be limited to a 4kWp system on my house?

Most domestic systems tend to be limited to 4kWp beacuase of the roof size. In theory any size of system can be attached to home if you have enough space and the electrical supply is to a sufficient standard. For a better understanding of larger system please see our commercial pages.

Does the solar PV array have to be grouped together in one block or can it be split up?

You can install across several roofs of varying elevation and orientation but this may affect the system efficiency and installation cost. We will be happy to design the best solution for you.

There are some shadows on the roof, will this affect the generation?

We try to avoid shade wherever possible as this will reduce generation. If less than 20% of the sky is covered it should not have too much affect. Our surveyor will be able to better assess your situation.

Are the panels laid on top of the roof and if so how are they fixed? Or do they replace an area of tiles?

You can choose an 'in roof' system (which will replace the tiles) or an 'on roof' system (which will sit on roof hooks above the roof tiles). Neither system will damage the roof.

Can solar PV be mounted vertically on a south facing wall?

Yes, it would not make as much energy as it would if it were angled towards the sun (at 30 or 40 degrees from horizontal) but should make about 60-70% of the optimum.

Is electricity produced by the inverter compatible with computers etc?

Yes, it is converted to 240v AC in the same phase as your normal grid power, there will be no discernible difference.

My detached house roof points East-West what can I do?

You can still install solar but will not make quite as much power as if it were south facing, please call us on 01427 787297 for more information.

What is the best angle to install PV at?

30 to 40 degrees from horizontal is the best for the UK.

Would a solar PV system be able to connect into both electricity and hot water systems, therefore reducing both the heating and electricity 'grid' needs?

PV only makes electricity so would only help reduce your electricity consumption.

Is the energy produced affected if the panels get dirty?

Usually any dust or dirt washes off the panels when it rains, if the panels are installed on a roof of at least 15 degrees. In extreme cases dust may cause a power reduction of about 10%.

How long do solar panels last?

Solar panels have a manufacturers’ warranty of 25 years and a working lifetime of more than 40 years.

Do solar PV panels need cleaning?

Not as long as they are mounted at a steep enough angle (over 15°) so that the self-cleaning glass works.

What is a kilowatt peak (kWp)?

Kilowatt peak refers to the value of power generated by a solar panel system under full solar radiation (under set Standard Test Conditions). Solar radiation of 1,000 watts per square meter, 15°c is used to define standard conditions. In the UK, one kilowatt peak of solar will generate roughly 850 kilowatt hours (kwh) per year.

What is a kilowatt hour (kWh)?

A kilowatt hour is the same as a 'unit' of energy on your bill. This is the equivalent energy a 1kW rated appliance would use in 1 hour.