Renewable Energies
Why Brook & Mayo?
- Long established company
- Track Record spanning 42 years
- Electrical contractor offering full range of services
- Full long term back up
- Peace of mind - high quality equipment, company ethics and no hard sell
We specialise in the installation of Solar PV and Solar Thermal systems for both commercial and residential applications across Lincolnshire and the surrounding area. We offer a complete and unique service from concept to completion.
Brook & Mayo Renewable Energies offer a range of installation options from 1.75kw upwards - A typical 3 bedroom property installation costs approximately £8,500. Typical pay-back period is currently 8 years.
Arrange a survey today - Call 01522 686851,
or complete the Call-Back Form.
What are Photovoltaic’s?
Photovoltaic cells
(P.Vs): convert energy from sunlight into electricity. P.Vs are also able to convert ultra violet rays into electricity and therefore still operate when there isn’t direct sunlight – but less efficiently. PV’s are manufactured in a variety of forms, they can be installed as stand alone panels or form part of a roof itself with the PVs embedded in a tile “substitute”. They also can be incorporated as transparent cells that can be used in windows (roof lights) and conservatories.
How does it work?
Each PV cell consists of two layers of semiconducting material (frequently silicon). The sunshine creates an electric field across the layers and thus electricity is produced. The greater the light the more power is produced. The power of a PV cell is measured in kilowatt peak (kWp) which is the amount of electricity the cell will produce in full sunlight.
Where will it work?
PVs can be mounted on roofs or on the ground within 90° of south. To achieve maximum panel potential, it wants to be south facing and tilted to an angle of around 35°. However a west facing panel may still achieve up to 86% potential if correctly installed. The panels are heavy and therefore roof structures must be strong enough or be strengthened to bear the additional weight.
PV Farms
Ground installation of PV panels on a large scale can achieve economies through scale and lower installation costs. Greenfield sites can also work with panels mounted some 2m off the ground providing a range of options for maintenance.
Regulations:
The installation of PVs will have to comply with Building Regulations, and for those up to 50kW will have to be installed by an approved MCS installer. Above 50kW, access to FITs is obtained through Ofgem as for other similar sized renewable technologies. Planning permission is not normally needed for domestic installations.
Income:
Power generated can be used to offset electricity used on site and/or to export to the grid. A 100kW installation might generate 85MWh of electricity per annum, and its value will be determined by the proportion of power used on site and that exported. On the basis of 50% own consumption, the value of the electricity supplied would be approximately £5,000. The value of the Feed-in Tariff (see below) would be £26,690
Feed-in Tariffs
The introduction of FITs from 1st April 2010 provides a support structure for renewable power generation technology. In essence there are two payments, one for power generation (see table) and the other a guaranteed export tariff i.e. a guaranteed payment for electricity transferred into the Grid at 3p/kWh. Tariffs are guaranteed for 25 years and index linked but for installations commissioned post March 2012, tariff levels will progressively reduce to reflect predicted increasing efficiencies and lower capital costs.
| Table of generation tariffs for year (2011-12) |
Scale | Initial tariff (p/kWh) |
| P.V. | <4kW (new build) | 37.8 |
| P.V. | <4kW (retrofit) | 43.3 |
| P.V. | 4-10kW | 37.8 |
| P.V. | 10-50kW | 32.9 |
| P.V. | 50kW-100kW | 19.0 |
Grants
For schemes as described above depend on survey results - Book a No-Obligation survey Today.
Solar Thermal
What is Solar Thermal?
Solar thermal is a renewable energy system for generating domestic hot water. Solar thermal water heating works in a similar way to leaving a hosepipe in the sun. Solar thermal generates renewable heated water using solar panels (known as “collectors”) fitted at an optimal angle on a roof. Solar heat warms fluid, usually anti-freeze, in the collectors and this is then pumped to heat water stored in a hot water cylinder. A boiler or immersion heater tops up the water to the temperature set by the cylinder's thermostat (>60°C)
Solar Thermal Performance
Energy output of solar thermal relates to latitude and levels of direct sunlight. Solar thermal might provide up to 70 percent of the average house’s hot water needs, depending on the amount of hot water used and levels of energy efficiency in place. However, the Energy Saving Trust information is that a more accurate figure is lower than this.
Benefits of Solar Thermal
- Solar thermal should work all year round during the day but consumers will probably need to heat the water further in winter months, using a boiler or immersion heater.
- Solar thermal can save on fuel bills
- Solar thermal should be eligible for renewable heat incentives
- Solar thermal can cost a lot less to install than other micro generation technologies
Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) Scheme
What is the Renewable Heat Incentive?
On 10 March 2011, the Government announced the details of the Renewable Heat Incentive policy to revolutionize the way heat is generated and used. This is the first financial support scheme for renewable heat of its kind in the world. At a time when the governmentt can see many problems with relying on a rapidly changing world and continuous reliance on oil and gas, it is proposing to put in place a key foundation stone of our energy future where both carbon reduction and energy security are assured.
Current legislation requires that solar PV installations must be installed by MCS accredited companies; furthermore equipment used within the installation must carry MCS certification to qualify for the feed-in tariff. Ensure your installer carries the required certifications. Calculator provided courtesy of Solar Guide.