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If you are considering a solar or wind energy system, we strongly recommend reading the following buyers
guides,
published by NRC (Natural Resources Canada) as they provide excellent basic information :
Solar PV Buyers Guide 
Wind Energy Buyers Guide
We also have a wide selection of informative solar & wind energy related videos in our links section.
Below are a few questions which come up time after time...
Does the EDC supply domestic solar & wind energy systems ?
That depends on your situation... if you are talking about a remote property, where there is no
existing mains connection - then yes we can help you. If you are talking about a property which is
already connected to the national grid, we do not get involved in grid-connected systems. We
specialise in stand-alone power systems.
How much would it cost to power an off-grid house with renewables ?
A very common question - unfortunately not easily answered until you define the power requirements and
energy usage
patterns of this 'average' house. A German study recently found that a renewable energy system to power
a standard
house, equipped with conventional appliances, would cost in the region of £ 40,000. But when they
approached the
scenario in a slightly different way, by buying the most energy efficient appliances (washing machines,
lights, TV's,
VCR's etc.) currently available - they came up with an astonishing result....
The new energy efficient appliances cost in the region of £ 5,000 but the renewable energy system
now required to
power them only cost £ 10,000, thus reaching a total of £ 15,000 with new appliances throughout
the house. In the UK
the average annual energy bill is about £ 1,000 - giving this scenario a ten year payback period,
assuming appliances
would have to be bought anyway, for many new buildings and renovations. After which, of course, the
only bills are for
the maintenance and upkeep of the system.
PLEASE NOTE: WE DO NOT SUPPLY SOLAR SYSTEMS FOR GRID-CONNECTED DOMESTIC PROPERTIES. WE
SPECIALISE IN STAND-ALONE (GRID INDEPENDENT) SYSTEMS.
Do I need planning permission to install solar panels on my roof ?
Generally - planning permission is not necessary for the installation of solar panels. There are a number
of exceptions to
this. If you live in a listed building, a building with any kind of conservation order on it - or of
any historical value, or if you
live in an area designated as National Park, an area of outstanding beauty or with any other kind of
special order. To find
out if you need planning permission call your local council and ask for the
planning department. You may also need planning permission if you intend to mount solar panels on a
frame that is not
flush with the roof itself.
How do I know how many solar panels, or what size wind turbine I need ?
The number of solar panels or size of wind turbine needed for any application is dependent on two factors.
The first is 'how much available solar irradiation or wind energy is there?' Let us know
your longitude and latitude and
our system designers will be able to estimate this data for you.
The second is ' how much electricity do I currently use - or intend to use?' To answer this you need
to find out how
many watts each appliance uses, whether it runs form AC or DC, and how long each appliance is used for. These two
figures are then multiplied together to give an answer in kilowatt-hours.
For example:
1 x 10 watt light bulb run for 2 hours a day = 10watts x 2hrs = 20watt-hours = 0.020 kilowatt-hours.
You may only use some appliances once or twice a year - so don't forget to include them. It can be difficult
to estimate
how much time each appliance is used for so a rough estimate will do. The more accurate understanding
of your energy
use you can give us the more accurate a system we can design for you. Please also remember that your
use of some
appliances will change according to the seasons - for example you will probably use your lights more
during winter.
Filling out the 'Power Estimator'' sheet on the downloads page will help you to work out how much electricity you use.
Once you have filled out a 'Power Estimator' - send it to us. Using the latest meteorological
software, our system
designers will be able to tell you how many solar panels or what size of wind turbine you will need.
Please note: this
question cannot be properly answered without knowing your energy use and the available solar or wind
resources.
How do I find out more about system design ?
We strongly recommend that customers get involved in the design of the system as this leads to a better
understanding
of how to get the most out of the technologies. We supply a range of energy related books which will guide you through
the process. The EDC also offers site analysis & system design services . The site analysis establishes the resources
available, and the system design team will then design a complete energy system according to your requirements.
Can I install solar panels or a wind turbine and still be connected to the National Grid ?
Yes. There are two ways of using the energy produced from solar panels or wind turbines. Either you
can store the
energy they produce in batteries and use that energy to run your electrical appliances, or the energy
produced by your
renewable energy system can be fed directly into the National Grid and you continue to buy your electricity
in the usual
way. You could choose to maintain your grid connection for back up power.
PLEASE NOTE: AT THE EDC, WE DO NOT SUPPLY GRID-CONNECTED SYSTEMS.
What is a 'hybrid' energy system, and what advantages do they have ?
A hybrid energy system usually consists of two or more energy sources used together to provide a better
energy
supply balance. For example, in the UK, a solar electric (pv) array could be coupled with a wind turbine,
which would
create more output from the wind turbine during the winter, whereas during the summer the solar panels
would produce
their peak output. Hybrid systems can make more economical sense than wind or solar alone.
What is a stand-alone system ?
A stand alone renewable energy system is one that is not connected to the grid. This type of system
is usually more
expensive due to the batteries required to store the energy.
How long do the technologies last in constant use ?
Many of the technologies we supply are expected to last more than twenty years. Technologies with moving
parts such
as wind turbines, will eventually require replacement bearings. Solar panels, which have no moving parts,
last an
extremely long time. Some of the earliest solar electric panels, made about 35 years ago, are still
producing energy
today. Recently, photovoltaic panel manufacturers have started offering 20 year performance warranties.
What size of cable should be used for my application ?
The correct size of cable is essential to get the most out of any low voltage energy system. An under-sized
cable can
cause major headaches with voltage drops and in extreme cases it can be very dangerous. Please click here to see our
cable sizing table.
Why do you recommend low voltage appliances for use with a solar or wind energy system ?
Click here to visit our page on low voltage appliances.
Got a question not answered here ? Contact us - if its a common question, we'll add it to this page.
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