Solar Panel Installers in Suffolk, Norfolk & Essex
Greenfuture Energy are proudly one of the leading solar panel installers in Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex. Our well-honed expertise lets you enjoy carbon-footprint reducing, renewable energy at unbelievably competitive prices.
Solar photovoltaic (PV) cells convert the sunlight into electricity making a major contribution to powering your home. Additionally, solar photovoltaics panels do not need direct sunlight to work, and will even generate electricity on a cloudy day. For more information about solar power installation in Suffolk, contact our experienced installers today for free advice.
Approved Solar Panel Installers
Greenfuture Energy are MCS certified, members of the Renewable Energy Consumer Code (RECC) and registered with the NICEIC. You can count on us as approved contractors and domestic solar panel installers in Suffolk, Norfolk and Essex.
What Does our Service Entail?
Our service includes designing, planning, repair, servicing, maintenance and installing Solar PV systems from our certified solar panel installers in Suffolk, Essex & Norfolk. Solar PV panels are mounted on the roof of your property. They can also be placed on the ground if a suitable roof is not available. We’re cost-effective, professional & tidy when installing your PV system.
The Greenfuture Energy team can carry out the feasibility studies, design, installation, and any aftercare and maintenance requirements of your system. We treat each individual project with care to ensure that we come up with the best options for your specific needs.
We are passionate about the environment and what we do. The best of both worlds! We would be happy to discuss Solar PV with you and give you an honest assessment of whether a solar PV system installation will work for your home or business. Our team will look at orientation, the elevation of the roof and what relevant shading is around to try to guarantee the maximum efficiency of the system.
Our services include solar panel installation, repair, servicing and maintenance from only certified installers in Suffolk, Essex & Norfolk. We’re cost-effective, professional & tidy when installing your solar PV panel system.
Isn’t it time that you found out how both you and the environment could benefit from a solar panel installation? Contact our team on 01728 604368 to discuss having a Solar PV system installed on your domestic or business property in Suffolk, Essex or Norfolk.
Benefit from Solar PV Panels
Why choose Greenfuture?
Go Solar Today
Greenfuture Energy’s solar power team are the experts in helping you make savings in your fuel bill with renewable energy solutions. Request a callback today from our expert installers for free advice with your solar panel installation and see the difference solar power can make to your home.
Solar Panel Installation FAQs
How do Solar Panels work?
Sunlight shines on the solar panel and creates a direct current of electricity. The brighter that the light is the more electricity that is generated. The DC current flows through an inverter which converts it into alternating current (the type of electricity used in your home). From the inverter the electricity flows through a meter into your mains consumer unit, within your fuse box, where it connects with your homes’ electrical system.
Solar energy will power your home in exactly the same way as electricity from the grid. The only difference is that it is free and will always be used before any power from the national grid. If there is not enough power from the panels to meet your needs or it is at night time, your electricity supplier will continue to supply your home.
Any of the solar energy that your panels have generated that you do not use flows back into the grid for someone else to use, which ultimately means that your solar PV is helping to cut general carbon emissions. An inverter is used to convert the direct current (DC power) produced by the PV system to alternating current (AC). The inverter is an integral part of a Solar PV system as it ensures the output voltage from the PV modules is slightly higher than the voltage coming from the grid.
This means that your home will use the electricity from the solar PV system before drawing from the grid thus reducing consumption of more expensive electricity. Any surplus solar PV electricity will be exported back to the grid.
What is Solar PV?
PV stands for Photo (light) Voltaic (Electric). Solar PV panels convert light into electricity. Note the word light, not sunlight. They continue to produce electricity on cloudy days. It’s just that their output will be higher, the brighter the light is. This is not a new technology – the use of light to produce electricity dates back to the 19th Century.
How long does a PV Solar Panel installation take?
Home Solar Panel installations take up to two days to install. However, typical solar panel installations are finished in one day.
Commercial solar panel installations can take longer, depending on the size of the site and the specific requirements of your business.
Do Solar Panels need planning permission?
In most cases, no. Domestic solar panel installations are considered ‘permitted developments’ and don’t require planning permission unless:
- you live in a listed building
- your home’s in a conservation area or an area of outstanding natural beauty. (Panels are permitted in a conservation area as long as they’re not installed on a wall or roof that fronts the main highway)
- the panels protrude more than 200mm from the roof. We always fit within this limit.
- you are having a ground-mounted array.
Do solar panels work in rain?
Photovoltaic panels can use direct or indirect sunlight to generate power, though they are most effective in direct sunlight. Solar panels will still work even when the light is reflected or partially blocked by clouds. The rain actually helps to keep your panels operating efficiently by washing away any dust or dirt.
How are solar panels installed?
Solar panels are typically fitted on the roof of a property, which is done according to the roof’s specifications to achieve maximum sunlight. When it’s not possible to mount the solar panels on the roof, they can be installed on the ground, ensuring nothing obstructs their access to the sun.
When solar panels are mounted on the roof, the process can be broken down into eight steps. The first step is to set up the scaffolding to make sure that the entire procedure is safe. At this point panel mounts that will support the base of the solar panels get installed on the roof. To achieve the most amount of sunlight this mounting structure needs to be installed at an angle of around 18-36 degrees.
The next step is to attach the solar panels to the mounting structure while tightening up bolts and nuts to keep it stable. Having the structure up on the roof, the technician will start installing the electrical wiring, having initially shut off the household’s electricity supply.
Once the wiring is complete, an inverter will be installed close to the main panel. This can be done indoors or outdoors but should be kept out of the afternoon sun and ideally placed in a cool place, such as a garage.
At this point, the solar battery and the solar inverter need to be connected so that the battery can store energy for cloudy days. As one of the last few steps, the inverter needs to be connected to the consumer unit to generate electricity, which can be connected to a monitor to check the performance of your solar system.
Lastly, you’ll need to switch the solar panels on and test how well it works.
How many solar panels do I need?
The number of solar panels you need for your house depends on property size and average electricity usage. A two-person household can use approximately 1,700kWh of electricity annually, which could require at least eight solar panels. A four-person household can use up to 3,400kWh and may need sixteen solar panels.
To accurately work out the number of solar panels suitable for your household, there is a simple mathematical formula you can use.
1. Calculate the daily electricity use by referring to your previous bills.
2. Work out the average daily sunshine hours in your area. One of the best sources we have found for this is the Met Office where they’ve listed an average amount of sunshine hours in each month.
3. Figure out the daily electricity output of a solar panel using sunshine hours. Take the wattage of the solar panel that you are considering installing and times it by the average sunshine hours.
4. Divide the electricity output of a solar panel by your daily electricity usage.
How are solar panels made?
There are three main types of solar panels used in solar panel systems - monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin film. The first two types are more efficient and, as a result, are more widely used in solar panel systems. The manufacturing process of these two types of panels is very similar.
1. First solid quartz is melted down and the oxygen is extracted which creates an impure, molten silicone. This is then purified and taken through a process called doping whereby the silicone turns from an insulator to a semiconductor. The silicone is cooled down in cylindrical ingots. Monocrystalline silicon ingots are made using just one silicon crystal, while polycrystalline silicon ingots are made using multiple silicon crystals, which makes them cheaper but also less efficient.
2. Once the ingots solidify they are cut into paper-thin wafers, usually of a rectangular shape. These wafers then go through another doping process, this time adding the negative charge. Lastly, before the wafers are ready to go they are coated with an anti-reflective for them to absorb more of the sunlight.
3. The ready wafers are stuck onto a panel while the solar cells are soldered together using metal connectors which will allow the electricity to travel between the cells and into the solar inverter. To secure the solar panels a glass sheet of around 6-7mm is placed on top and a junction box to the side. The whole structure is wrapped into a sturdy aluminium frame.
When were solar panels invented?
People have used the sun as an energy source since at least the 7th century B.C. In 1839, French physicist Edmond Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic effect while experimenting with a cell of metal electrodes in a conducting solution. He observed that the cell produced more electricity when exposed to light.
In the years that followed, several scientists invented ways to use solar energy with the use of chemicals other than silicone. It was in 1954 when three scientists, Daryl Chapin, Calvin Fuller, and Gerald Pearson working in Bell Labs created a more practical solar cell using silicone.
Over the years, this solar cell has evolved and become even more efficient, beginning to be used a lot more widely.
What are PV Modules?
A PV module is an assembly of photovoltaic cells wired together to generate electricity. Photovoltaic cells are also known as solar cells and have been discovered in 1839 by French physicist Edmond Becquerel. PV cells are an electronic component that generates electricity when exposed to photons, or particles of light.
As an industry-standard, PV modules consist of 36 photovoltaic cells. A collection of these PV modules forms a PV panel. When several PV panels are put together they form an array, which is one of the main components of a solar photovoltaic system, alongside a charge controller, a battery bank, an inverter, a utility meter, and an electric grid.
Why Choose Greenfuture Energy?
Whatever your requirements, there are many great reasons to choose Greenfuture Energy!
Wide Range of Renewable Services
We offer an impressively broad range of electrical, renewable and solution-driven services. These include (but are certainly not limited to) plumbing, boiler repairs, electrical testing, solar panel installation, and much more.
High-Quality Workmanship
Working to the highest possible standards, our electricians, builders, and renewable energy system installers can always be depended on for whatever job you commission us to do. The quality of our workmanship is backed up by our many certifications and positive reviews.
TrustMark Registered
TrustMark, NICEIC and many other organisations have given us their coveted marks of approval. This ensures the highest level of workmanship and professionalism from our team. See below for a full list of our certifications.
Commitment to Green Sustainability
Greenfuture is more than just a clever name – we truly believe in a greener, more sustainable future for all. Every area of our business has hard-working individuals dedicated to supplying eco-friendly solutions, from solar panels to EV charging stations.
Years of Experience
Our expert electricians and installers have many years of experience in their respective lines of work. We believe that experience matters a great deal in this profession, giving our technicians the knowledge and skill required to complete any job.
What to Expect with Greenfuture
Initial Contact
Reach out to us via our contact form, telephone or email. At this point, you can give us your name, return number and postcode address.
Our Callback
Next, we’ll get back in touch with you as soon as we can to discuss your requirements, preferences, and ideal timeframe for our specialists to arrive.
Free Property Assessment
Our team will be dispatched at a time of your convenience to conduct a free home inspection and assessment before beginning their work.
TrustMark-Approved Work
Beginning work in no time at all, our specialists will make impressive progress on your electrical project.
Wrap-Up
Once we’re done, we’ll leave any energy systems we’ve worked on in a vastly improved condition. Leave us a review to let us know how we’ve performed.