There are two main types of solar panel, one type heats water and the other type produces electricity. Both types of solar panels are increasingly popular for domestic, industrial and commercial applications.

Solar water heating panels are also called solar 'thermal' panels or solar 'collectors'. This type of solar panel uses direct & indirect energy from the sun to heat water in a very simple and efficient process.

Photovoltaic solar panels produce electricity. Solar electric panels are also called solar 'pv' panels or solar 'modules'. This type of solar panel has no moving parts and produces current when exposed to high levels of light.

If you are looking for general information regarding the planning of an off-grid solar or wind energy system, or you would like any project specific advice or prices, our experienced system design team are able to design & cost a bespoke power system to your exact requirements.

For full technical data regarding our solar PV panels, please contact us - Renewables Group

The first stage in designing & costing any off-grid solar or wind power system is to establish the average daily power requirement (the load). We use our standard Power Estimator to collect a list of what needs to be powered and how long for. This form helps to establish the average estimated daily loads for both the winter and summer months. It is these two numbers that the design of any stand-alone power system is based on.

To find out More about our system design service and download our power estimator form click here. For help in completing this form, please contact us - Renewables Group

Our team of Engineers follow the following basic principles to when designing and installing a quality PV system:

• We select a packaged system that meets the owner's needs. Your criteria for a system may include reduction in monthly electricity bill, environmental benefits, desire for backup power, initial budget constraints, etc. Size and orient the PV array to provide the expected electrical power and energy.
• Ensure the roof area or other installation site is capable of handling the desired system size.
• Specify sunlight and weather resistant materials for all outdoor equipment.
• Locate the array to minimize shading from foliage, vent pipes, and adjacent structures.
• We design the system in compliance with all applicable building and electrical codes.
• We design the system with a minimum of electrical losses due to wiring, fuses, switches, and inverters.
• Properly house and manage the battery system, should batteries be required.
• We ensure the design meets local utility interconnection requirements.
• We ensure the roof area or other installation site is capable of handling the desired system size.
• If roof mounted, verify that the roof is capable of handling additional weight of PV system. Augment roof structure as necessary.
• Properly seal any roof penetrations with roofing industry approved sealing methods.
• Install equipment according to manufacturer's specifications, using installation requirements and procedures from the manufacturers' specifications.
• Properly ground the system parts to reduce the threat of shock hazards and induced surges.
• Check for proper PV system operation by following the checkout procedures on the PV System Installation Checklist.
• Ensure the design meets local utility interconnection requirements

Photovoltaic Panels - We only offer Solar PV panels that are of the highest quality. All of the panels we provide are manufactured from high quality materials giving high energy yields (kWh/kWp) and all come with 25 year performance guarantees. The panels are subjected to rigorous quality control procedures and conform to CE standards. Our panels are manufactured in Austria and Germany and each of our suppliers endure a rigorous due diligence selection process.

Inverters - We supply and install inverters from Paktim and also from other manufacturers. We will only supply inverters with UK G83/G59 approved and are chosen to work for maximum efficiency.

Mounting Kits - The mounting kit supplied with our systems is a unique selling point for Paktim.

Ancillary Products - All our ancillary products are sourced specifically for PV systems.

Data Acquisition System (DAS) - We also offer a Data Acquisition System (DAS) which provides daily monitoring of the system together with a module that allows automatic calibration to occur daily to ensure that the mounting system adjusts accordingly to maintain peak performance. System performance can also be monitored on your laptop or mobile phone via a web based password protected interface so you can track, record and monitor the performance during the course of the system’s lifespan. If there is a technical issue with the equipment an alert will be sent to our technical control centre and a technical adviser will diagnose the issue and make arrangements for a technician to call to repair the system, we pride ourselves in finding faults before our customers do!