How do I know which Solar package is right for me?

Your Solar Panels will come with a manufacturer’s guarantee of the panels? performance. Different manufacturers offer different guarantees, with the more premium levels of protection usually associated with the more expensive panels. It’s wise to make sure you understand the guarantee before you purchase.

Solar PV systems have no moving parts apart from the inverter and as such have very long life spans. The inverter should last for over 10 years and may cost up to £1,000 to replace, however you can buy an extended 20 year warranty for as little as £300. You should expect the panels to last for at least 25 years.

Most domestic Solar Panel installations take no more than a day with minimum disruption. Typically, the scaffolding will be erected a couple of days before the Solar PV installation team arrive. We will then mount the panels on the roof and install the inverter, finally carrying out the internal wiring.

Solar panels are generally self-cleaning if positioned at an angle of over 15 degrees. However it is advised to visually inspect them annually and rinse if necessary. Most window-cleaning companies have a reach-and-wash system and should be able to clean your panels.

It is recommended that your Solar Panels are checked and serviced every 2 years. We offer a standard service and maintenance package, which your local office can advise you on.

It?s highly unlikely, when we install the Solar PV panels we make sure they are securely attached to the fabric of the building using a roof hook and rail system. Our panels are always mounted at least 30cm in from the edge of the roof to prevent excessive wind loading. In the hurricane force winds of February 2014 not a single EnergyMyWay installed Solar panel blew off a roof.

The electricity produced by your Solar Panels is converted from DC (direct current) by the inverter to AC (alternating current), which your home is run on. The electricity is then taken from the inverter via an AC cable to your distribution board, where it is used to power the circuits in your home.

Solar PV panels alone will not give you electricity 24 hours a day as they only produce electricity in daylight hours. You would need alternative energy sources or a battery system as well as Solar PV panels to be able to come off grid.

Your panel choice will usually combine a number of factors including aesthetics, value for money, performance, track record and guarantees. Our engineers know the market and can advise you on the panels that will suit your needs.

If there is a power cut your inverter will switch off, which stops any generation from your Solar Panels entering the property. This is a safety feature to protect workers who may be repairing the grid. However, we can install a back-up system which will enable you to use your solar energy in a power cut.

If you want to be paid for any the excess electricity you generate you will need to have a smart meter, most electricity suppliers are installing them free of charge for their customers if you don’t already have one.

Yes. However, there is a Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) where you are guranteed payments for the excess electricity you generate and sell back to the grid.

Batteries enable you to capture surplus electricity and store it for later use. Usually, batteries are connected to an on-site energy generation system, such as solar panels.

During the day, if your solar panels produce more electricity than your property needs, the extra electricity is automatically diverted to your battery. Once the battery is fully charged, any surplus electricity is automatically exported to the grid so you can be paid for it. During the night, when your solar panels are not producing electricity, your stored electricity is used to power household appliances.

There are a few technical ratings given on all batteries to indicate how they work.

Capacity (also known as energy rating) = how much electricity can be stored in the battery in total. This affects how long the battery will last before it needs to be recharged. 

Power (also known as charge-discharge rate) = how much electricity can flow into or out of the battery in a given moment. This affects how quickly it can be recharged and how many appliances it can power at once.

Cycle = the process where you completely discharge the battery (use all of its stored electricity) and then completely recharge it (put electricity back into it so that it’s full). A battery’s lifetime is measured in the number of cycles it can complete before it expires.

Put simply, yes! Battery storage increases your energy bill savings because it means more of your electricity comes from your solar panels (for free) and less comes from the grid (which you have to pay for). On top of that, any electricity you do buy from the grid will be cheaper because you can draw it out during off-peak times (when it’s least expensive) and store it for later use.   

Battery storage does not affect Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) payments – you can still be paid for selling any surplus solar electricity you don’t use back to the grid.

And that’s all before you’ve even considered the numerous other benefits – a reduced carbon footprint, improved energy security and increased independence to name just a few.

Battery storage means you maximise all the benefits that a solar panel system brings. Cheaper energy bills and easier budgeting with reliably priced electricity. An unlimited source of energy and a reduced carbon footprint. Independence from utility companies and protection from rising grid prices.

On top of that, batteries give you even more independence and flexibility over your energy storage and consumption. They enable you to use your electricity at times that are most beneficial to you. And they make energy generation via your solar panels more reliable, increasing your energy security.

If you’re running a solar panel system, battery storage is the technology you need for maximum savings, convenience and peace of mind.

There are two main types of battery, which differ in the materials they are made from. Lead acid batteries are the older kind – they tend to give poorer performance and require more maintenance. At Cactus Energy, we offer lithium-ion batteries instead. These are the most advanced battery technology. They have a greater efficiency and capacity, a longer lifespan and a faster recharge rate – all of which means they are also more cost-effective overall.

Our range of lithium-ion batteries includes a variety of shapes, sizes and weights. No two projects are the same, it’s all about what’s right for you. Your dedicated Project Manager will assess your property and energy needs and design a battery storage system best suited to you.

Battery storage increases the amount of clean energy you can use. A battery enables you to use more of the electricity generated by your solar panels – electricity that does not produce greenhouse gases (like carbon dioxide) that contribute to global warming. At the same time, you draw less electricity from the national grid – most of which comes from burning fossil fuels that release harmful emissions. Both of these things mean battery storage = a reduced carbon footprint.

A typical residential solar system without battery storage can save around 1 tonne of carbon dioxide a year. That’s equivalent to planting 1.3 acres of forest (a whole football field of forest). Or burning 514 litres less of petrol (about half a year’s driving). With a battery storage system installed, these savings are even higher!

Our batteries are simple to charge and maintain. They require no fuel or cleaning and pretty much run themselves.

There are certain things you can do to maximise the health of your battery. It should be stored somewhere cool and secure, but we will ensure the location is appropriate during battery installation. The way you charge your battery can also affect its performance – for example, you should avoid completely discharging it to 0%. But an integrated battery controller will manage this for you.

Our battery systems are incredibly safe. We use the most progressive lithium battery technology to ensure maximum safety assurance, even during extreme changes in temperate, voltage and current. 

At Cactus Energy, all of our services are delivered according to the highest quality and safety standards. All of our installers are accredited by the national regulatory body for low-carbon technology (the Microgeneration Certification Scheme, MCS) and we offer only the highest performing technology (ISO 9001). All battery systems also come with comprehensive performance guarantees and warranties.

The size and type of battery required will depend on how much electricity you use and how much electricity your solar panels generate. At Cactus Energy, we offer flexible systems and can even connect additional batteries to build up a battery bank if your energy demands change down the line.

For a typical domestic solar panel system, a battery could be anywhere between the size of a laptop and a washing machine. Capacities range from 3 to 16 kWh. To put that in perspective, a 4 kWh battery system could power the kettle 37 times. The best way to find out how much battery storage you need is to get in touch with us today.

Not necessarily – most of our battery customers do have solar panels but you can also fit a battery to do something called ‘grid balancing’. This is where you draw electricity from the grid during off-peak hours when it’s cheaper (usually at night) and store it for later use.

This saves you money because it means you avoid paying peak electricity prices. It can also reduce your carbon footprint because you’re buying electricity when it is most abundant and this is often when renewable grid generation is most productive. In addition, you can help build a more resilient energy system by giving back some of your stored electricity when you don’t need it but grid demand is high.