FAQ
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What is a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)?
A solar PPA is a long-term contract for us to design, build and maintain a solar PV system for you. There is no capital expense. You will pay a significantly lower rate for your electricity.
What is the cost of electricity produced by the system and does it increase?
The starting rate for electricity through your PPA (in p/kWh) is adjusted annually according to the Retail Price Index (RPI) and is exclusive of VAT and other regulatory charges. Savings are typically around 30-50% compared with grid electricity rates. However, savings will almost certainly increase year-by-year as energy prices increase faster than inflation.
There is a mortgage or other charge on the property. Do I have to tell the lender and will they approve the installation?
Yes. We seek consent on your behalf from any lender who has an interest in your property. We have direct experience with most lenders. They are familiar with solar PPAs so it is extremely rare for them to object.
What if we want to extend or develop our building?
If your development require the removal of the solar PV system, we may agree with you the terms according to which you undertake the work, on the basis that the solar PV system is reinstated afterwards. If your development does not allow for the PV system to be reinstated, you may be required to terminate the agreement and make a compensation payment.
How will the system affect my insurance costs and cover?
The system installation should not affect your insurance cover at all. However, you will need to notify your insurer that you are having the system installed. Our investors insure the solar PV equipment itself.
What if we want to buy the PV system during the term of the lease?
We will provide you with the costs of buying the system for each year of the agreement. You can achieve a very good rate of return on the investment at whatever stage you decide to buy the system.
Do I need to change electricity supplier?
No. Your supplier can continue to supply you with the electricity required beyond that generated by the solar PV system.
Will our roof leak?
Not as a result of the system installation. Our accredited professional installation partners follow industry standards and use tried and tested products to minimise any risk of damage to roofs. The installation warranty, insurance cover and long-term operation & maintenance contract allows for any unforeseen or exceptional circumstances that may occur after installation. We also work with roofing manufacturers to ensure that our installations do not compromise existing warranties.
How much maintenance do solar panels need?
Solar panels have no moving parts and if proactively monitored and managed should require limited maintenance. We monitor our systems continuously and arrange for the panels to be maintained when necessary to ensure optimal performance. In our experience, our panels are typically cleaned every two years.
Do I need planning permission?
We will be able to confirm whether your building requires any planning consent. If required, we will obtain any planning permissions required, at no cost to you.
How can I be sure that we will be charged accurately for the solar electricity we use?
We install remotely monitored meters that are MID approved and fully accredited to MID Class 1. Consumption is recorded to the official tolerances required by OFGEM for billing purposes. Our customers have internet access to live generation data to see exactly how much electricity has been generated and how much has been consumed at site.
Who owns the solar PV system?
Our investors own, monitor, manage and maintain the solar PV systems installed on your roof.
What happens if we move or sell our property?
If you move or sell your property within the PPA term, the lease of the roof space and the Power Purchase Agreement are transferred to the new building owner. They will then receive the benefit of the lower energy costs from the PV system.
What happens if we don’t use all the electricity the solar PV system generates?
At times of peak generation, if you do not have sufficient demand on-site, the excess power is exported to the grid. Similarly, when the solar PV system is generating less than your total site demand, the difference is imported from the grid as normal. Depending on the size of your roof and your electricity demand, you can expect to consume most, or all, of the electricity generated from the solar PV system.
What happens if we need to repair our roof during the agreement?
If your repair requires the removal of part or all the solar PV system we will carry out the removal and reinstatement at our cost, once in every 10-year period. The repair work to your roof is carried out by you at your expense unless it has been caused by the solar PV system, in which case we will be responsible for all work and costs.
What if there is a fire, natural disaster or the system is vandalised?
The all-risks insurance will cover any damage to the system that results from such an event.
Will my roof be strong enough for solar panels?
The installed weight of solar panels is typically 14-15 kg/m2 including mounting equipment. This minimal additional loading rarely causes structural issues, but to be certain we carry out a full structural survey on every building as part of each project.
What happens if the system breaks down or develops a fault?
Our remote monitoring will alert us to a fault immediately and it is our responsibility to resolve the problem under the terms of our maintenance contract. To minimise the risk of such issues we only specify and install high quality equipment supported by long-term warranties and guarantees.
Why should we trust your company to be able to offer this solution, for up to 25 years?
Solar PPA and our investors are experienced developers, and asset managers of renewable energy systems. Having invested significant capital to develop the system, it is vital for us that it delivers the forecast performance for at least 25 years.
Will the installation process be disruptive to our business?
No. System installations are completed within a few weeks and there is often very little need for work inside your building that would cause any disruption to your normal work. However, your employees, customers and visitors will certainly take an interest in your new solar installation and how much energy you are saving.
