With the cost of household energy bills on the increase, solar photovoltaic (PV) systems offer an environmentally-friendly way to produce free electricity to use in your home or office. You’ll also be paid for any of this electricity that you don’t use as it will be ‘fed’ into the National Grid for other people to consume.

This Feed-in Tariff has made solar PV installations financially attractive and will provide households with an alternative source of income until 2035. Although these FiT rates have reduced since they were introduced in 2010, Gentoo’s high-quality, affordable solar PV systems still allow for a generous return on your investment. For example, a typical 2kWp system will generate a 10% return on your investment per year until 2035. Which means you will recoup the cost of your system in just 10 years.

Instead of continuing to use energy that’s generated from non-renewable sources (such as coal and oil), you will be creating your own in-house generating system. Not only will this power things like your TV, computer, washing machine and kettle, it will also reduce your carbon footprint and help make a positive impact on the environment.

Most people will have noticed solar photovoltaic (PV) panels on rooftops here and there, but the complete system actually consists of three main elements – the PV panels themselves, an inverter and a generation meter. The panels are mounted onto the roof of a building where they create electricity using the sun’s energy. This electricity then flows into the inverter and is transformed into a form of energy that’s suitable for a domestic supply. Finally, the meter measures the amount of electricity that’s being generated by the system and it is these readings that are used to claim the FiT.

Once the system is up and running, you will be able to use your renewable energy  - and it will be maintenance-free for a number of years. You’ll be pleased to know that the PV panels are designed to be self-cleaning, so all you need to do is read the generation meter every three months so you can claim your FiT payments.

As Gentoo is accredited under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS), you will be able to claim payments under the FiT. We’ll even help with the registration procedure so that you have all the information you need to claim your FiT payments.

The good news is that solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are an affordable way to reduce your carbon footprint (and your energy bills). And thanks to the FiT legislation, they represent a fantastic return on investment.

As you might imagine, we offer an affordable way to enjoy the benefits a solar PV system. Of course, the overall cost depends on the size of the system we recommend and the type of the property on which it is installed.

However, before we do anything our Solar Technicians carry out a detailed survey based on size, orientation and pitch of the roof. This will tell us whether your property is suitable and give you an indication of the expected performance of the system.

 If you decide to go ahead with the installation, our team of accredited installers can usually fit a system in under two days - and with the minimum of disruption. Once completed, you will be issued with a certificate and provided with all the information you need to claim the FiT payments.

If you would like an accurate quotation for your home, please contact us on 0191 525 5000, or email pvenquiries@gentoogreen.com.

Surprisingly, not all properties benefit from the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV). However, if you have a roof that faces within 90 degrees of south and isn’t overshadowed by other buildings or trees, then you’re off to a good start. The roof also needs to be strong enough to support the weight of the panels. But don’t worry, we’ll inspect this thoroughly before work commences.

While most PV installations don’t require planning permission, it’s worth checking with your local planning office just to be on the safe side. This is especially important if your home is a listed building or in a conservation area.

Installing a solar photovoltaic (PV) system offers the home owner some really fantastic benefits. Not only will you reduce your use of non-renewable energy consumption, you’ll also have a smaller carbon footprint and save money in the process. What’s more, the FiT means that as long as you have a system installed by an accredited installer such as Gentoo, you will get paid for producing electricity.

Obviously, the savings you make depends on the size of your system, how you use the electricity it generates and the environmental conditions. However, a typical 2kWp system can generate 1800 kWh per year, which is approximately 40% of a typical household’s electricity*. Assuming you only use half of what the system generates, this will reduce the cost of a utility bill by around £120 for an average 3-bedroom semi-detached house.

Your FiT payments are index linked and will rise with RPI until 2035. Your projected savings don’t take into account any increases in fuel costs and as a result, you may save even more money on your utility bill.

Savings and generation examples:

21p per kW

System size – 2kwp

System output – 1800kwh per annum

Income per annum - £509

Saving per annum on energy bill - £103

Total savings over 25 year lifespan - £2,575

Total income over 25 year lifespan - £12,750

CO2 Savings over 25 years lifespan – 23 tonnes

Just so you know, the performance of Solar PV Systems is impossible to predict with any certainty due to the variability in the amount of solar radiation (sunlight) from location to location and from year to year. This estimate is based upon the government’s standard assessment procedure for energy rating of buildings (SAP) and is given as guidance only. It should not be considered as a guarantee of performance.

Because we are a non-profit organisation, we have the freedom to invest any surplus capital we make into our staff and the communities in which we work in order to make a positive impact for the future of our planet. So what does this mean? Well, it means that we can give you a great price on our services without compromising quality. It also means that by working with us, you can do your bit too - by contributing to sustainability in the truest sense of the word and investing in our communities socially, economically and environmentally.

The solar photovoltaic (PV) system we use is sourced locally from one of the only two UK-based PV manufacturers. This ensures we provide you with high-quality solar panels at an affordable price. So despite the recent FiT reductions, you can still see generous returns on your investment.