Solar Survey: What it is and What it Includes

This blog explains the survey process that our engineers conduct when someone inquires about solar panel installation. The survey includes simulation results such as Annual Energy Production, performance ratio, a Detailed Financial Analysis (including Return on Investment and Lifetime Bill Savings), and more.

Financial Overview

This section appears on the first page and provides details such as System Profit (NPV), which considers your current usage and what you are currently paying, as well as the forecasted power your installation will generate.

The Payback Period is also included in this section and is calculated by comparing your potential annual power generation to the amount you could save, based on your current energy provider's rates for your annual consumption.

System Production and Consumption

This section includes a visual representation (in the form of a pie chart). The first chart, System Production, shows the estimated energy your installation will generate, measured in megawatt-hours (MWh).

The Consumption pie chart shows your total consumption based on your current usage, as well as potential ‘self-consumption’ from your installation, represented as a percentage of your total consumption. These figures are also shown in megawatt-hours (MWh).

Estimated Monthly Energy

This page provides a month-by-month breakdown of your Estimated Energy Consumption in an easy-to-understand bar chart, along with the corresponding figures in a table below. All figures are given in megawatt-hours (MWh) for consistency and are forecasts based on your specific installation.

For comparison, the chart also shows your estimated consumption, so you can quickly see what you are generating versus what you are consuming. As expected, the chart and figures below reflect higher production during the summer months.

Estimated Bill Savings

The next page shows the Estimated Bill Savings for both the first year after installation and the forecasted savings over the 20-year lifetime of the installation. For this particular installation, the estimated Net Monthly Bill Saving is £775.96, which translates into an estimated Net Lifetime Bill Saving of £234,333.

Detailed Financial Analysis

This section shows the System Profit, calculated by subtracting the System Price from the Lifetime Bill Savings.

Additionally, it includes the Internal Rate of Return (IRR), a percentage that estimates the profitability of a solar project. The IRR is calculated using a financial formula that includes the PV energy price and cash inflows. An IRR of 20% means the investment should generate a 20% return each year.

Yearly Cashflow

This page continues from the previous one and shows the Net Bill Savings year by year over a 20-year period.

System Loss Diagram

This page documents some of the potential system losses and factors in various variables, including environmental factors such as shading.

There will always be some loss during the conversion from Direct Current (DC)—the energy generated by your solar panels—to Alternating Current (AC), which is used in properties. This is entirely normal and is always documented in the survey report.

Solar Panel Installation: No Planning Permission Required!*

Did you know? Installing solar panels might be easier than you think – in most cases, you won’t need planning permission at all!

While there are some exceptions, the majority of solar panel installations don’t require approval, making the transition to cleaner energy hassle-free.

*When is Planning Permission Needed?

Planning permission is only necessary if your property is in a designated area, such as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty or a Conservation Area.

What About a Standard 12-Panel Installation?

For most homes, a typical 12-panel solar setup doesn’t require planning permission, unless your property is listed or located in a conservation area.

What if the Installation Exceeds 1 Megawatt?

Previously, a planning requirement existed for installations over 1 megawatt, but this has now been removed to encourage more renewable energy adoption. For most domestic and business properties, no permission is needed. Learn more.

What About Places of Worship?

Places of worship with ecclesiastical exemptions, like the Church of England or Roman Catholic Church, don’t need listed building consent, but they will need approval from the relevant denominational authority.

For more details, check out Historic England’s guidelines: Historic England's Solar PV Advice.

Do Listed Buildings Require Planning Permission?

It’s always best to double-check with your local authority. Generally, if you want to install solar panels on a listed building, planning permission will be required.

The Process of Converting Solar Energy into Usable Electricity

This information has been created to provide a basic overview of how solar works. It should be noted that there are different confgurations, batteries and inverters that could change depending on requirements.

The process of capturing solar energy, storing it in a battery, and using it involves several steps. Here's a breakdown of how solar energy is captured, stored, and used through a solar battery system:

1. Solar Energy Generation

Solar Panels Capture Sunlight: Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, typically mounted on the roof or ground, absorb sunlight and convert it into direct current (DC) electricity.

Inverter Conversion: The DC electricity generated by the solar panels is sent to an inverter, which converts it into alternating current (AC) electricity, the type used by most household appliances.

Diagram of standard solar power process utilising a DC to AC inverter and storage battery.

2. Power Flow Management

Once the solar panels generate electricity, it is managed in different ways:

Direct Usage: The AC electricity can be used immediately by the home or building to power devices and appliances.

Excess Electricity: If more electricity is produced than used, the excess is either stored in a battery system for later use or sent back to the grid (if no storage system is present or full).

3. Battery Storage

Charging the Battery: When there's excess electricity, instead of sending it to the grid, the solar system directs it to charge the battery storage system. These batteries store the energy as DC electricity.

Battery Type: Most solar energy storage systems use lithium-ion batteries, although lead-acid, flow, and other types of batteries can be used.

4. Energy Usage from Battery Storage

Discharging the Battery: When solar energy is not available (e.g., at night or during cloudy periods), the stored energy in the battery is used. The battery discharges its stored DC electricity.

Inverter Use: Before being used by household appliances, this DC electricity from the battery passes through the inverter again, converting it to AC electricity.

Energy Supply to Appliances: The AC electricity from the battery then powers the home or building.

5. Backup Power (Optional)

During Power Outages: Many solar battery systems are designed to provide backup power during a grid outage. In this case, the battery system automatically switches to power critical loads like refrigerators, lights, and other essentials.

6. Grid Interaction (Optional)

Net Metering: If the battery is full and the solar panels continue to produce electricity, the excess can be sent back to the grid. In many areas, utility companies offer net metering, where you get credit for the electricity you send to the grid, offsetting your future electricity costs.

Grid Usage: If the battery is depleted and solar generation is low, the home or building will pull energy from the grid as a last resort.

Key Benefits of Solar and Battery Storage:

• Energy Independence: Reduce reliance on the grid by storing your own solar energy.

• Peak Shaving: Use stored energy during high-cost peak hours, reducing utility bills.

• Backup Power: Maintain power during grid outages with stored energy.

• Energy: Rely on clean, renewable solar energy, reducing carbon emissions.

This process ensures that solar energy is efficiently captured, stored, and used when needed, providing flexibility and energy savings.