1/9/10 - BBC Breakfast News reported today on the choices available to customers interested in installing solar PV. In a comparison between 'solar for free' initiatives and customers investing in their own systems, the value of the feed-in tariff and excellent investment returns were highlighted.

Companies offering solar PV for free has grabbed the headlines recently which has left customers wondering if they should pay themselves or take advantage of these tempting offers. Overall, we believe the concept is sound, particularly for schools and community buildings.

For domestic properties, why let someone else make money from your roof when you can reap the benefits yourself? The media coverage received for these ideas has increased people's understanding of the feed-in tariff and the investment opportunities it provides, this in turn has made 'solar for free' less attractive for domestic properties.

The offers of free solar panels are specific in location, orientation and size of system, but most importantly a customer would be giving away 8-10% feed-in tariff returns to a third party. In our opinion, if you have capital available, you should take full advantage of the feed-in tariff and free electricity and grab the investment for yourself. This is a risk free investment that will run for 25 years, linked to RPI and tax free for domestic properties. It is widely regarded as one of the most secure and reliable investments currently available (see Sunday Times).

Where capital in unavilable, low interest loans and mortgage advances could cover the initial cost of the installation (£10-12,000). We are hoping that the Government will review its green banking plans in the near future.

26/8/10 - Westminster Councl has granted planning permission for Prince Charles to install 32 solar panels on his roof at Clarence House, London.  The approval has been given as Ofgem disclosed reports that a record number of home owners had solar panels installed in August 2010.

Figures show 2,257 solar panels were installed in August 2010, compared to 1,700 in July and 1,400 in June 2010.  These figures compare to a recent report by Isis that solar PV installations are due to rise by 1500% in 2010.

The Green Electrician has reported a 400% increase on installations compared to last year with installation numbers increasing each month.

16/8/10 - With the teams now installing four solar PV systems a week, The Green Electrician has increased stock holdings of solar panels and inverters to meet demand and avoid delays.

"We have built very strong relationships with our suppliers and this has enabled us to increase stocks in all areas and ride over the shortages that other companies are suffering. We have particularly good supplies of SMA, Fronius, Mastervolt and Stecca inverters for all sizes of systems, and we are currently holding stocks of Suntech, Sharp, Kyocera, Mitsubishi and Mobasolar," says installation director, Paul Taylor.

"Relationships with distributors are critical in our business to avoid delayed installations or having to return to fit missing parts. Thanks to our solid supply lines, we can guarantee domestic roof installations within eight weeks of receiving the order."

The continual growth in installations follows Isuppli research in August, revealing that the solar PV market in 2010 will go up 1500% on last year, with an estimated 96MW installed by the end of the year. This makes the UK the fastest growing Solar PV market in the world, alongside Spain.

For further information: Claire Davies, Marketing Director

1/7/10 - Solar PV Specialist, The Green Electrician, has completed the installation of the UK’s largest solar panel array that tracks the movement of the sun. 


This innovative ground mounted tracker system is now generating power at the Ecotech Centre in Swaffham, Norfolk.

The system of 44 individual solar panels covers 56m2 and sits in front of a 100m high wind turbine in the Ecotech grounds. Unlike fixed solar PV systems that have to wait for the sun, this solar tracking system is automatically guided so that it can absorb the optimum solar radiation, which results in 30% more efficiency. It also adjusts its path depending on the time of the year.

This new 7.92kWp system will generate an estimated 7,500kWh of electricity per year, this will be used to supply the Ecotech Centre, with the remainder being exported back to the National Grid and used to power homes in Swaffham. The Green Electrician also installed a public display system and output monitoring system to be used in the centre for educational purposes.

The solar array was joint-funded by the Ecotech Centre, Ecotricity, the Low Carbon Buildings Programme and the National Lottery via its Community Sustainable Energy Programme.

16/6/10 - Solar PV installer, The Green Electrician, has expanded its renewable business in the North West this year, opening a new logistics centre in Cheshire, increasing its fleet of vehicles and employing nine new staff from around the region.

The company which has been installing solar pv since 2006 in the Midlands and North West, has expanded quickly to keep up with the increased demand for solar pv installations in this region over the last few months. "Since the introduction of the feed-in tariff in April 2010, the number of installations in the area has more than doubled," reports marketing director, Claire Davies. "Customers can now make around 8-10% return on their investment, guaranteed for the next 25 years and index linked to RPI, simply by putting solar pv panels on their property.  For domestic customers this is tax free and the returns will further increase as electricity prices rise.

"We have strengthened every part of our business to ensure that we continue to provide a very efficient and professional service as we expand. We welcome two new directors, Rupert Higgin responsible for Business Development and Hamilton Ashworth, responsible for Operations. Both directors bring valuable experience from former businesses and have helped us move quickly to adapt and develop in this fast and dynamic industry."


The Green Electrician is a fully qualified, MCS accredited installer of solar pv panels, specialising in domestic and commercial installations including roof mounted solar PV systems, building integrated PV, ground mounted and tracker PV systems. For further information call 0845 643 2528.

15/6/10 - PriceWaterhouseCoopers has revealed in a recent report that the UK market for solar photovoltaics (pv) is expected to expand five fold over the next year and 30 times over the next five years. The dramatic rise comes as a result of the new Government backed feed-in tariff paying a premium for ever unit of electricity generated by solar pv panels. Despite this impressive rise, the UK still lags a decade behind other leading European countries on solar installations.

"The number of installations has dramatically increased since the Feed-in Tariff was introduced in February 2010," said Rupert Higgin, business development director of The Green Electrician. "The financial sense for installing PV on one's own property is now a no-brainer. If someone was offered a savings account with these sorts of returns, they would not think twice about it. Over the next few years, the early adopters will do very well financially whilst also feeling they have done something to help the environment."

The Green Electrician will be exhibiting at the Formby Environmental Day, Formby Pool on Saturday 4th September 2010.

As Solar PV installers in the Midlands and the North West, we have offices in Warwickshire and Cheshire. We look forward to welcoming visitors to our stands and discussing solar PV energy as an investment and a renewable future.

For further information contact 0845 643 2528

2/6/10 - Solar PV Specialist, The Green Electrician, is now a selected installer of Suntech Solar PV modules in the UK. 

Suntech Power, based in China, is one of the largest producers of PV solar modules in the World, with a large presence in Germany, currently the world’s biggest PV market. The Suntech modules received accreditation earlier this year certifying that the modules meet or exceed Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) standards on safety, reliability and product performance in the UK.

“We are impressed by the quality, excellent performance and reliability of the Suntech modules”, comments director Rupert Higgin. “They also offer a 25 year performance warranty and are very competitively priced, increasing the return on investment for our customers. “

Jerry Stokes, Vice President of Strategy and Business Development at Suntech in Europe adds “We see the UK as a strategically important market. With a high degree of home ownership and a positive feed-in-tariff legislation which offers secure returns, we are confident that the UK market offers great potential.”

23/5/10 - The Sunday Times put solar PV panels as one of its top five investments for making 10% returns on your savings. In the article it advised customers to consider PV following the introduction of the feed-in tariff in April, offering them a tax-free, index linked income for the energy they produce. The new coalition Government has agreed to honour the feed-in tariff system for electricity.

"Given that the income is tax-free, the return on a £14,000 investment is equivalent to 12.9% for a 50% tax payer and 10.3% for a 40% tax-payer, with the investment recouped in as little as seven years. As the payments are linked to RPI, this equates to a real return of 18.2% and 15.6% respectively at today's RPI rate of 5.3%" reports The Sunday Times.

"As a small, specialised photovoltaic installer in the UK, we are available to offer our customers highly competitive prices that make solar pv a very good investment for today which will only increase in the future as electricity prices rise," comments marketing director, Claire Davies. "With the feed-in tariff guaranteed for 25 years by law, this makes installing pv panels a very LOW RISK, HIGH RETURN investment by any standards."

30/4/10 - Specialist photovoltaic installers, The Green Electrician is now a Fronius Service Partner trained to diagnose and fix Fronius inverter problems. This means we can have any breakdowns fixed quickly as we carry spare components in stock. Meaning the customer's photovoltaic system is up and running and back earning them money.

Optional extras for photovoltaic systems include wireless displays, large public displays, web based displays, PV system monitoring with email or text breakdown alert.

For further information contact info@thegreenelectrician.co.uk