← Older posts April 23, 2012

Solar PV Installation – Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire

“I am most happy to provide this testimonial endorsing the satisfaction of work carried out by Chiltern Solar.
I was contemplating having Solar PV panels for my home and had contacted several different companies both locally and nationally. However, after speaking with several, it transpired that my brother had had them fitted locally by Chiltern Solar a few months ago. When he discussed his experience of the work carried out; detailing the quality of product, competitiveness, efficiency of work and the accommodating nature of the company who maintained close contact throughout, I had to go with a recommendation by someone I trusted. I am very pleased to say that his experiences were replicated when it was my turn to have them fitted.
Therefore, I am delighted to provide this testimonial to potential customers.”

C.Randall – Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire

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April 18, 2012

Solar News Update
If you’re having trouble keeping up with the latest news on the solar industry, you’re not alone. With all the recent confusion surrounding the government backed feed in tariff, you’d be forgiven for thinking now is probably not the best time to invest in solar. In actual fact the opposite is true.Whilst the feed in tariff rate has come down and is now confirmed at 21p/KWh until 1st July 2012 the total consumer demand has driven down the price of solar modules themselves together with the overall cost of an installation. The average price has dropped by up to 30% in some cases with both domestic and commercial investors still being able to achieve a return on investment ranging between 6-11% This is tax free, inflation linked and guaranteed by the government for the next 25 years, meaning the financial incentive for installing solar is a lot stronger than you might think.

Up to 11% Return on Investment
A 4Kwp system made up of 16 panels should cost in the region of £8,500 fully installed together with the necessary MCS certification to qualify for your feed in tariff contribution.A system of this size should generate up to 3,434 kWh a year, providing annual FIT payments of £772 and bill savings of £242, giving an overall tax-free earning of £1,014. This is before you take inflation and future energy price rises into account and would take between 7-8 years to pay back.

Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) 
As from 1^st April 2012 every home considering a solar installation will need an EPC at grade D or above in order to receive the full feed-in tariff. The extra energy efficiency requirements should not put you off as the government has estimated that around half of UK homes meet grade D already. By adding a solar installation to your property in itself will significantly improve your overall energy rating however, if your house doesn’t reach the required grade it could be as simple as adding 10cm of insulation in your loft. You may also be able to take advantage of the current government grants on offer for the fitting of loft and wall insulation making energy saving very affordable.  An EPC should cost around £60 which is fully refundable with every Chiltern Solar installation.

Feed in Tariff Going Forward
The Department of Energy and Climate Change has outlined a plan for the feed in tariff over the next three years which will be based on the total volume of solar installations across the UK. Following on from the current feed in tariff rate of 21p / KWh and depending on the uptake of solar installations registered in March and April 2012 the feed in tariff from July until the next review in October 2012 will be between 13.6p – 16.5p/KWh

From October 2012 the feed in tariff reviews will be carried out every six months in April and October until 2015. These reviews are designed to push the costs of solar technology and installations down even further to continue to be able to offer an attractive return on investment for consumers and commercial businesses going forward.

Despite all the changes and recent uncertainty solar is still an attractive proposition for a number of reasons – some financial, some environmental.
• Guaranteed feed-in tariff rate of 21p per kWh for 25years.
• Tax free inflation linked investment with returns of up to 11%
• Price of panels and installation 30% reduced
• Energy prices are going up, 10% year on year
• It’s good for the planet – reduce your CO2 emissions

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March 19, 2012

EPC’s For Solar The Facts

The Government has introduced a new energy efficiency requirement for all solar PV installations applying for the Feed In Tariff from 1 April 2012.

WHAT IS AN EPC?
An EPC is an Energy Performance Certificate that contains information on your homes energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. It includes a recommendation report that suggestions of ways to reduce energy and enhance your overall efficiency rating.

WHY DO I NEED AN EPC IF I AM INSTALLING SOLAR PV?
From the 1st April 2012 you will be required to have an energy assessment carried out on your house and produce an EPC if you are going to apply for the Governments Feed In Tariff. To qualify for the current highest rate of 21p / kwh your property will need to be rated ‘D’ or above.
At Chiltern Solar we offer a FREE EPC service if you agree to have your install carried out by us. Our service will provide you with an EPC which will consider the impact of having a solar PV system installed together with recommended energy saving enhancements that would be required to ensure your property meets the minimum requirement of a D rating

HOW LONG IS AN EPC VALID FOR?
An EPC is valid 10 years, which could be useful if you choose to move home in that time.

HOW DO I APPLY FOR AN EPC ?
Just make contact directly with our EPC assessment partners CCHI CCHI are regulated by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and have been producing EPC reports since August 2007. They will arrange for an EPC to be done within just a few days and if you decide to go ahead with Chiltern Solar for your installation, the £50.00+VAT initial fee will be fully refundable.

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February 18, 2012

“I’d thoroughly recommend Chiltern Solar to anyone considering a Solar installation. Right from our first
enquiry, their professional and accomodating manner made them the preferred option for us, and as their quotations were competitive with other companies we approached, we went ahead.The installation was straightforward with little disruption. They worked really hard and were a pleasure to have around. The system’s been runnning for a few months now and we’ve been totally satisfied with everything. We definitely made the right choice!”

S.Dewhurst – Stratton Audley

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February 16, 2012

Feed In Tariff News Update

Why Install Solar PV Before April 1^st?

The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) has confirmed that
from 1 April homes must have an energy performance certificate (EPC) at level D
or above to qualify for higher feed-in tariff rates. It is estimated that around half of UK homes are already rated a level D. But from the 1^st April, homes that are rated an E or below will receive the lower tariff of 9p per kWh.  That is why it makes sense to install before the 1^st April and avoid the hassle and extra expenditure of an EPC.

Why book your install now?

Install between 3 March and 1 July and you’ll receive a guaranteed
tariff of 21p per kWh. With our latest pricing that can give returns of up to
10.5% – tax free, inflation linked and guaranteed by the government for the
next 25 years.

Install between 3- 31 March and you’ll have the added bonus of avoiding
the EPC regulation, and any associated costs that may come with it. You’ll also
get your install complete well before July, when there’s likely to be another
busy period.

Why Choose Chiltern Solar?

Peace of Mind

Chiltern Solar is a customer focused company who offer impartial advice and
information. We will design a solar pv solution that meets
your specific needs, show you how you can benefit from the governments Feed in
Tariff incentive (FIT) and guide you through every stage of the installation
process, whatever size your project.

Affordable Solar PV

Chiltern Solar offer you the latest technology from market leading brands at
affordable prices, making solar power a practical solution for everyone. We use
the most efficient solar panels with the longest guarantees available giving
you the best value for money and return on your investment.

MCS

All our installation engineers and solar pv products are accredited under the
governments micro generation scheme (MCS) ensuring that our products and
services are certified to a consistent and high quality standard and you get to
benefit from the Feed in Tariff incentive

REAL

Chiltern Solar is Renewable Energy Assurance Listed (REAL). Membership commits
suppliers to abide by the high standards set out in the consumer code which is
backed by the office of fair trading and aims to guarantee a high quality
experience for consumers wishing to purchase solar pv systems for their homes.

We are an independently run business specialising in
the design, supply and installation of solar photo voltaic (pv) solar
panel systems. Based in the Chiltern Hills of the northern home counties
Chiltern Solar operate predominantly across Buckinghamshire, Berkshire,
Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Oxfordshire, Middlesex, London and the South East
of England.

 If you would  like to find out more, give us a call on 01494 773400 today, or just fill in our quick enquiry on our home page. We look forward to hearing from you.

 

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January 22, 2012

On Thursday the Government finally made a move to end the current uncertainty over the feed-in tariff for Solar PV and announced it would bring forward legislation to ensure the rate reductions they had previously announced would come into effect on the 3rd March, irrespective of the outcome of the on-going court case.

This has removed a lot of uncertainty as there are now only two realistic scenarios to consider;
If the Government looses the court case the previous rates (43p for < 4kW systems) will apply for installations completed prior to 3rd March.
If the Government wins the court case the new rates (21p for < 4kW systems) will apply to all installations from the 12th December 2011 onwards.

The outcome of the court case is not expected for a few weeks and it is very clear that the Government is going to fight it all the way, so there is no certainty there will be a final result before 3rd March, when at least as far as new installations go, it becomes irrelevant anyway.

DECCs assumptions on the cost of a domestic solar PV system are very out of date at ?9,648 for a 2.6kWp installation, making their assumed rate of return of 4.5% much lower than a typical consumer could expect to achieve, with 7% – 8% being more realistic and the new rate of 21p will of course be index linked as of the 1st April 2012 and so is expected to become 22p based on the current rate of inflation. This rate of return is still very attractive for domestic homeowners and installations have averaged 850 per week in the first 2 weeks of 2012, a figure which seems set to rise considerably week on week.

DECC has published a very good summary of the current situation on its website

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January 2, 2012

Chiltern Solar Ltd is an independently run business specialising in the design, supply and installation of solar photo voltaic (pv) solar panel systems which generate clean and efficient electricity for households and businesses. Based in the Chiltern Hills of the northern home counties Chiltern Solar operate predominantly across Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Oxfordshire, Middlesex, London and the South East of England.

Sustainability
We fully support the directive from the EU to reduce carbon emissions and are committed to contributing to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) targets to achieve an 80% reduction in green house gas emissions by 2050.

Peace of Mind
Chiltern Solar is a customer focused company who offer impartial advice and information. We will design a solar pv solution that meets your specific needs, show you how you can benefit from the governments Feed in Tariff incentive (FIT) and guide you through every stage of the installation process, whatever size your project.

Affordable Solar PV
Chiltern Solar offer you the latest technology from market leading brands at affordable prices, making solar power a practical solution for everyone. We use the most efficient solar panels available giving you the best value for money and return on your investment.

MCS
All our installation engineers and solar pv products are accredited under the governments micro generation scheme (MCS) ensuring that our products and services are certified to a consistent and high quality standard and you get to benefit from the Feed in Tariff incentive

REAL
Chiltern Solar is Renewable Energy Assurance Listed (REAL). Membership commits suppliers to abide by the high standards set out in the consumer code which is backed by the office of fair trading and aims to guarantee a high quality experience for consumers wishing to purchase solar pv systems for their homes.

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December 8, 2011

Solar PV Installation – Gerrards Cross

“If only all tradesmen were like Steve Gamston of Chiltern Solar. It was an absolute pleasure to work with him during the installation of our solar panels. From start to finish nothing was too much trouble, all of my questions (and there were many!) were answered promptly and professionally. The work has been carried out to a high standard and I am very happy with the result. If you want a professional, competent company for your solar panel installation, look no further that Chiltern Solar.”

SP – Gerrards Cross
 

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November 18, 2011

Chiltern Solar PV Installation in Pitstone, Buckinghamshire.

“Steve Gamston of Chiltern Solar gave a quick and informed response from my initial enquiry all the way through to chasing the MCS certificate after installation. I contacted several potential suppliers but could wait days for others to respond to any questions. Steve gave the lowest price of the 3 local companies contacted. I specified exactly where on the roof I wanted the solar panels placed and they did exactly as requested.”
T.Harvey – Pitstone

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October 19, 2011

Simple answer, yes. But speed is of the essence here, because the Government’s “feed in tariff” for people who generate their own electricity is likely to be reduced after April 2012.
If you install solar panels now, you will get today, and in the future, the highest level of this feed-in tariff, but those who delay will get lower payouts.

Say you invested in a 12 panel PV system that cost around £10,000 and stayed at that home for 4 years and then decide to move on. You will have already re-couped, approximately £4,000 from the feed in tariff and would only need to achieve an extra £6,000 on the sale of your home to have covered your initial outlay. By passing on the feed-in-tariff to the new owners you are enabling them to earn similar money plus reduce the cost of their electricity bills. This is going to be a very attractive proposition to any potential buyer.

There has yet to be a definitive study of the impact of Solar PV installation on house prices here. However, Guardian Online said it would make good economic sense to re-mortgage and invest the money in Solar PV rather than miss out – and you will still make money on the deal over the 25 year payback period.

If reports help, then there are American studies.
The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory looked at some 72,000 homes in California, around 2,000 of which had photovoltaic (PV) solar power systems installed. Solar-equipped homes sell for $17,000 more than those without.
In fact, a home with a fairly new average-sized 3.10kWp (kilowatt) solar power set-up sold for almost $17,000 (£10,300) more than a conventionally powered one. Existing homes that added solar power went up in value more than those built with PV already installed.

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JG 19/10/11

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