RENEWABLE MICRO-GENERATION

1. Solar Thermal Systems

Solar Thermal Systems use the power of the sun to help heat your water and therefore reduce the amount of conventional heating you use.

A system would need to be sized appropriately to your house but would typically generate about 60% of your annual domestic hot water requirement.

Costs & Savings: Solar Thermal System
Typical installed cost:	£3,500 - £5,500 depending upon system type, size and complexity of installation Example systems: Evacuated Tube Solar Thermal System + Vented Twin Coil Solar Cylinder. IRO £4,250 Roof Integrated Flat Plate Solar Thermal System + Vented Twin Coil Cylinder IRO £5,250 All quotations issued to customers of The Co-operative Bank will give a 5% discount.
Typical carbon saving¹:	350 kg/p.a.
Potential energy bill reduction¹:	£40

Costs & Savings: Solar Thermal System

Typical installed cost:

£3,500 - £5,500 depending upon system type, size and complexity of installation

Example systems:

Evacuated Tube Solar Thermal System + Vented Twin Coil Solar Cylinder. IRO £4,250
Roof Integrated Flat Plate Solar Thermal System + Vented Twin Coil Cylinder IRO £5,250

All quotations issued to customers of The Co-operative Bank will give a 5% discount.

Typical carbon saving¹:

350 kg/p.a.

Potential energy bill reduction¹:

£40

¹Source: Energy Savings Trust

System requirements:

Approximately 5m² of unobstructed, shade free pitced roof slope facing between East and West.
An existing hot water cylinder that can be replaced with a solar twin coil cylinder.

Grants:

Grants are currently available for Solar Thermal Systems under Phase 1 of the government's Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP), administered by the Energy Savings Trust (EST). The current grant level (as of 1^st July 2007) for Solar Thermal Systems is an overall maximum of £400 or 30% of the relevant eligible costs, whichever is the lower.

Planning permission:

In some instances, you may need to obtain planning consent for a Solar Thermal System. This usually applies to listed buildings or those in conservation areas but we always recommend that you check with your local planning authority.

Further Information

Download our Solar Thermal Factsheet

Next steps

If you are interested in installing a Solar Thermal System, Ecofirst offers a comprehensive supply and install service using high quality products and a nationwide network of installation engineers.

A quick desk top survey is usually enough to show us whether or not you have a large enough area of suitably orientated roof to install a solar thermal system. We then ask you to check with your local planning authority whether you can install a solar system without the need to apply for planning permission. In most cases planning permission is not necessary but it is always best to check first.

We will then arrange for one of our solar installers to contact you and arrange a convenient time to come and carry out an in depth site survey. Once we have surveyed your property we will design a suitable system and issue you with a detailed quotation.

Ecofirst is a member of the Renewable Energy Association Listed (REAL) Assurance Scheme and all installations are carried out in accordance with its Consumer Code.

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2. Solar Photovoltaic Systems

Solar Photovoltaic Systems use the power of the sun to generate green electricity and therefore reduce the amount of conventional electricity you draw from the National Grid.

A system would need to be sized appropriately to your house but would typically generate between 25-50%; of your annual domestic electricity requirement.

Most Solar Photovoltaic Systems are connected to the mains electrical supply so any electricity you generate but don't use "in house" can be sold back to your supplier.

Costs & Savings: Solar Photovoltaic System
Installed cost:	From £8,000 - depending upon system type, size and complexity of installation Example system: 2kW Above Roof Grid Connected PV System. IRO £12,500 2kW Roof Integrated PV Tile System. IRO £16,500 All quotations issued to customers of The Co-operative Bank will give a 5% discount.
Typical carbon saving:¹	688kg/p.a
Potential energy bill reduction:¹	£160

Costs & Savings: Solar Photovoltaic System

Installed cost:

From £8,000 - depending upon system type, size and complexity of installation

Example system:

2kW Above Roof Grid Connected PV System. IRO £12,500
2kW Roof Integrated PV Tile System. IRO £16,500

All quotations issued to customers of The Co-operative Bank will give a 5% discount.

Typical carbon saving:¹

688kg/p.a

Potential energy bill reduction:¹

£160

¹Source: Energy Saving Trust

Grants

Grants are currently available for Solar PV Systems under Phase 1 of the government's Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP), administered by the Energy Savings Trust (EST). The current grant level (as of 1^st July 2007) for Solar PV Systems £2,000 per kW of installed capacity or 50% of the relevant eligible costs, whichever is the lower, subject to an overall maximum grant of £2500.

Planning Permission

In some instances, you may need to obtain planning consent for a Solar PV System. This usually applies to listed buildings or those in conservation areas but we always recommend that you check with your local planning authority.

Further Information

Download our Solar Photovoltaics Factsheet

System requirements:

Approximately 20m² of unobstructed, shade free pitched roof slope facing between East and West (preferably South).
Existing connection to The National Grid

Next steps

If you are interested in installing a Solar Photovoltaic System, Ecofirst offers a comprehensive supply and install service using high quality products and a nationwide network of installation engineers.

A quick desk top survey is usually enough to show us whether or not you have a large enough area of suitably orientated roof to install a solar thermal system.

Providing this looks feasible we will arrange for one of our solar installers to contact you and arrange a convenient time to come and carry out a free site survey. Once we have surveyed your property we will design a suitable system and issue you with a detailed quotation.

Ecofirst is a member of the Renewable Energy Association Listed (REAL) Assurance Scheme and all installations are carried out in accordance with its Consumer Code.