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Solar PV Site Surveys, Feasibility Studies & Site Selection Reports

We have taken many solar PV and renewable energy installation projects from conception through to completion. In this time we have encountered many types of installation all with their own unique challenges and solutions; we have learnt that to deliver quality, well matched and on budget installations of any size, you need to plan effectively; this starts with reliable, accurate and clearly presented figures, location information and measurements.

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If you are at the start of a solar PV, electrical or renewable energy project and need the following information prepared before creating tender documents, requesting quotations or before making the decision to proceed, then we invite you to contact us and commission a professional feasibility study, site survey & site selection report:

The optimum location of a PV array in relation to system performance (yields) Vs location constraints; special surveys for open terrain, roof based and building/roof integrated systems; Solar panel mounting options, inc advice on any structural requirements in relation to the additional loads imposed on roofs and buildings by solar PV panel arrays; Accurate roof measurements and roof condition assesments, power cable distances, advice on the integration of a new solar PV system with the existing electrical system; Capacity and condition of existing power supply cables, electrical compatibility checks; Local shading considerations in relation to chimneys, dormer windows, trees and other buildings which might affect the performance of a solar PV installation; Identify any electrical, roof, ground or other works that will be required at the installation site before a PV system can be commissioned; Identify any potential on-site hazards and risks related to a PV system and it's installation; identify any site access restrictions; Identify the DNO and any possible grid connection restrictions, identify the acceptance process and identify any electrical works required before grid connection; Identify any planning permission considerations and identify the details of any applicable building regulations and the authority responsible; An independent performance appraisal of the installation site to get an accurate forecast of a systems electricity production capacity;

Surveys and survey reports are customised to suit each client and project and can be cost effectively carried out for projects of any size, reports take from between 1-5 days to prepare depending on the size and and complexity of the project. We take care to ensure that results are usable by first timers as well as professionals and are provided in an accessable format using plain language, reports can be used in any number of ways:

by local authorities, schools, charities and community groups to help with the preparation of RFQs and other technical tender documents; to assist land owners, developers and farmers in preparing planning documents; by architects, new home and self builders at the design stages of a build incorporating solar photovoltaics; by solar PV system designers and installers looking for accurate technical and location information; by residential and commercial clients looking for impartial technical information, exploring the suitability and possibilities of a solar PV system before requesting system designs and quotations from installers;

We provide solar surveys, feasibility studies and site selection services for systems owners and developers for solar PV projects of all sizes across Southern England, with specialist experience working with farms, land owners and industrial buildings.

Articles

Further reading and calculators related to surveying, planning and installing solar photovoltaic (PV) systems.

Solar PV System Components

Overview of the basic components needed to install a complete solar PV system. Introduction to solar PV panels. power inverters, AC & DC isolators and mounting systems.

Evaluating Solar PV Panels - Which panels to buy?

What to look for when evaluating and selecting solar PV panels for UK installations. Electrical characteristics of solar PV arrays and the safety factors used for selecting BoS equipment, also mounting options.

Free Solar PV Calculators

A list of free solar PV calculators, solar design tools and software, Use to calculate solar yields and the Return on Investment (ROI) for solar PV systems.

Solar PV: Smart Export Guarantee

Interesting times ... The Smart Export Guarantee came into affect in January 2020. The Smart Export Guarantee is an obligation set by the government for licensed electricity suppliers to offer a tariff and to pay small-scale low carbon Generators and Micro-generators for any electricity that they export to the National Grid.

Types of Solar Photovoltaic (PV) System

Introduction to the different types of Photovoltaic (PV) System available including Grid Tied, Off-Grid, Hybrid and Batteryless solar PV systems.

Engineering Recommendation G98

Grid Connections for Micro-Generators including Solar PV Systems and Elecricity Storage Systems in the UK. Under 16Amps Per Phase, grid synchronised.

Solar PV, Safety & The Building Regulations

Residential PV systems notifiable under Part P. Special consideration needed for Part A. A combination of serious risks for solar PV installers.

Safely Retrofitting Solar PV Roof Mounts

The things to consider before installing a retrofited solar PV system on a roof and an introduction to the type of equipment used to secure an on-roof solar PV system.

Planning Permission for Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Systems

A solar PV installation can be classed as 'permitted development' subject to conditions and when not located within a conservation area, AONB or world heritage site.

Solar Panels - PV Array Calculator

Solar Panels: Solar PV System sizing and power yield calculator. Use to work out roof layouts, PV array sizes, No. of panels and power yields. Based on SAP 2009.

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Case Studies

We carry out Solar PV System installation work and a whole range of related support services including design, repair, testing and maintenance work on solar PV systems all across the UK. We work with Homeowners, Landlords, Councils, Large and Small Businesses, Farmers, Developers and Contractors.

	New Build Housing Development This new housing development in Lyneham, Wiltshire gave us the opportunity to install solar PV sytems on all of the houses. Their future owners will enjoy all of the environmental and financial benefits of being able to generate their own clean free electricity.
	Solar Barn, inc Planning and Power Supply Low profile, all black solar PV panel system, installed with minimal visual impact on the landscape. 104 x monocrystalline solar panels, 2 x three Phase AC/DC power inverters supply power to a number of residential and agricultural buildings and farmhouses.
	Residential Care Home, inc New Roof This Care Home is located on a busy road in West London. By removing roof tiles and replacing with frameless all black PV laminates, we maintained the original roofline and achieved a subtle integrated look for the roof. In addition to the residents power requirements, the home operates it's own kitchens, laundries and lifts. Over the course of the year, the care home will be close to generating as much power from the roof as is used inside the building.
	Solar Barn, inc power supply The Solar Barn in Guildford offered us the ideal combination of location and mounting structure to design and build a high performance PV system to cover the whole south facing side of the metal roof of an old tractor barn. The 19.4kWp solar PV system satisfies approximately half of the farms annual electrical power requirement.
	50kWp Ground Mount inc Groundworks This 50kWp ground mounted solar PV system located just outside Reading, Berkshire supplies power to a working farm incorporating various industrial units, office units and polytunnels for soft fruit cultivation.
	Eco House, inc New Roof A challenging new build project where the solar PV arrays were intergrated into the roofline. Objective was to maximise the output from the angular space with the 3 PV arrays (E, S, W facing) foming part of the roof. Solar PV panels deliver the base power needed by 2 x air source heat pumps, a rainwater harvesting system and a heat recovery system.
	Slimline, All Black We installed this slimline and high performance all black system on the South West facing roof of a stable block. Chosen based on good work we had previously carried out nearby, the specification was for another system that would integrate seemlessly into the landscape. Unless you look closely or already knew it was there you would most likely walk straight past this one and not even notice the mini powerhouse sat up on the roof!
	50kWp Ground Mount, inc Groundworks We were responsible for the design, supply and installation of this bespoke 50kWp ground mounted solar PV system located in Pewsey, Wiltshire. The installation demanded careful planning and a high degree of accuracy to achieve the optimum output from the difficult installation area and limited available space.
	Custom Ground Mount, Hidden away in the countryside we installed this 16-panel all black solar PV system. The solar PV array was designed to follow the shape and contours of the land, blending the PV array unseen into the landscape with no compromise in performance.
	Solar Barn, Inc Barn Refurbishment, New Roof Previously roofed and clad in asbestos, this barn refurbishment in Oxenwood, Wiltshire gave us the opportunity to design and install a completely bespoke solar PV and roofing system. Inside we installed new electrical points, distribution boards and EV charging facilities.

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Areas Served:

Swindon: Abingdon, Aldbourne, Andover, Banbury, Basingstoke, Bath, Berkshire, Bicester, Blunsdon, Box, Bracknell, Bradford on Avon, Bristol, Burford, Calne, Camberley, Carterton, Cheltenham, Chippenham, Chipping Norton, Chipping Sodbury, Cirencester, Corsham, Cricklade, Devizes, Didcot, Evesham, Faringdon, Fleet, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Henley-on-Thames, Highclere, Highworth, Hook, Hungerford, Keynsham, Kingsclere, Lambourn, Lechlade, Lyneham, Maidenhead, Malmesbury, Marlborough, Marshfield, Melksham, Minety, Newbury, Oxford, Oxfordshire, Pewsey, Purton, Ramsbury, Royal Wootton Bassett, Salisbury, Shalbourne, Slough, Stow, Swindon, Tewkesbury, Thatcham, Trowbridge, Wanborough, Wantage, Warminster, Wiltshire, Winchester, Windsor, Witney, Wokingham, Worcester, Wroughton and Yate.

Torquay: Babbacombe, Bantham, Barnstaple, Bideford, Bodmin, Bridgewater, Brixham, Bude, Burnham-on-Sea, Chard, Cleveden, Cornwall, Crewkerne, Devon, Dorset, Exeter, Exmouth, Frome, Glastonbury, Holsworthy, Honiton, Ivybridge, Kingskerswell, Launceston, Lyme Regis, Lynton, Marldon, Minehead, Newquay, Newton Abbot, Okehampton, Painton, Plymouth, Salcombe, Seaton, Sidmouth, Somerset, Street, Stroud, Taunton, Tiverton, Torquay, Totnes, Wellington, Wells, Weston-super-Mer, Weymouth and Yeovil.

Derby: Ashbourne, Ashyby-de-la-Zouch, Bakewell, Beeston, Birmingham, Burton upon Trent, Buxton, Cannock, Cheadle, Chesterfield, Coalville, Congleton, Corby, Coventry, Crewe, Derby, Grantham, Kettering, Leek, Leicester, Lincoln, Long Eaton, Loughborough, Macclesfield, Matlock, Melton Mowbray, Newark-on-Trent, Nuneaton, Oakham, Peterborough, Sheffield, Sleaford, Stafford, Stamford, Stoke-on-Trent, Sutton Coldfield, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Swadlincote, Tamworth, Telford, Uppingham, Uttoxeter, Wigston, Wolverhampton and Worksop.

York: Barnard Castle, Barnsley, Beverley, Boroughbridge, Bradford, Bridlington, Burnley, Castleford, Darlington, Doncaster, Driffield, Easingwold, Goole, Halifax, Harrogate, Hartlepool, Helmsley, Hessle, Hornsea, Huddersfield, Hull, Keighley, Leeds, Malton, Manchester, Market Weighton, Middlesborough, North Yorkshire, Pocklington, Pontefract, Ripon, Rotherham, Scunthorpe, Selby, Sheffield, Skipton, South Yorkshire, Stockport, Thirsk, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, Wetherby, Whitby, Withernsea, York and the Yorkshire Dales.

East London Basildon, Barking, Bexley, Blackheath, Braintree, Brentwood, Brixton, Bromley, Burnt Oak, Canvey Island, Chatham, Chelmsford, Cheshunt, Chigwell, City of London, Croydon, Dagenham, Dartford, Dulwich, Edgware, Enfield, Essex, Gravesend, Grays, Greater London, Grenwich, Harlow, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, Hornchurch, Ilford, Kent, London Docklands, Maidstone, Mill Hill, Orpington, Peckham, Rainham, Rayleigh, Rochester, Romford, Sevenoaks, Sidcup, Southend-on-Sea, Stoke Newington, Stratford, Tilbury, Waltham, Walthamstow, Westminster, Wickford, Woodford and Woolwich.

Residential - Commercial - Agricultural - Industrial

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