Installation

What you’ll need to know

How are the financial benefits calculated?

We use independant PV Sol software which takes in to account roof pitch, orientation, shading, panel performance, panel degredation, inverter performance, local weather data, efficiency of any storage systems (batteries), the amount of electricity you use and when you use it.  Any one of these variables can have a surprising impact on the benefits to you.  The PV Sol reports you receive with each quote details the financial benefit assumptions used e.g. price per kWh you draw from the grid, rate per kWh you’ll get from Smart Export Guarantee and any inflation assumptions.  These can be adjusted on request and bear in mind any adjustments when comparing future quotes to previous quotes as the playing field will no longer be level.

The performance of Solar PV systems is impossible to predict with certainty due to the variability in the amount of solar radiation (sunlight) from location to location and from year to year.  PV Sol will give an accurate guide to help you make an informed decision, bear in mind that there is a 6%+/- tolerance on the variation of the amount of irradiance that happens year to year.

Are there any hidden costs?

No, our quotes include costs for scaffolding, supply and installation of panels, inverter, total generation meter, electrical installation certificate, PV test results, registration of the installation with MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme), registration with building control and notification to the local electrical Distribution Network Operator.  So everything you need to get up and running with solar is included.

How long is the quote valid for?

Our quotes are valid for 30 days from the date it was sent to you.

Do I need to get planning permission?

Planning permission is normally only needed if the installation is ground mounted, on a listed building or in a National Park. If you are unsure about your need for planning permission please call your local planning department or check the planning portal guidance for domestic solar or non-domestic solar.

Where do the cables & inverter go?

Cables will need to be fed from the PV Panels to the inverter and from the inverter to your consumer unit (fuseboard) and batteries will also need to be connected to your consumer unit. Cable routes may be suggested during your pre-install survey however, the final cable route and the inverter location will need to be agreed with the installation team leader as there may be hidden obstacles which prevent the routing of cables.

Have you got asbetos in your property?

To keep our installers and customers safe, we need to be made aware of any asbestos or suspected asbestos in your property.  In most circumstances, Naked Solar can carry out an asbestos test find out if it’s safe to continue with the work required.   If asbestos is found, we will be able to talk through the options and associated costs required to progress your project.

What about trenching to hide cables?

In some circumstances, you may wish to have your cables hidden in a trench.  Naked Solar recommend that you engage the services of a Ground Works company as there may be issues that require specialist advice and work.  Your trench would normally need to be at least 600mm deep.  Bear in mind that digger tracks as well as the soil and rocks that will be removed, then some temporary damage to a lawn is inevitable.  It’s also difficult to know how long trenching will take as there can always be unforeseen obstacles.  Our Solar Consultants will be able to talk through your options for cable routing.

Can I use the excess electric to heat my water?

If you have an immersion heater you can buy an immersion diverter which will divert any electric you’re not using to your immersion. These can be supplied and fitted by our electricians. Just let us know if you’d like one.

How do I know how much of my Solar PV electric I’m using, how much goes in to my battery and how much goes to the grid?

There are a variety of monitors available. Please speak to your site surveyor or call the office and we’ll be able to advise on the latest devices available.

I’m ready to go ahead!

Give us a call or drop us an email and we’ll ask for a £250 deposit to book your installation slot. We then ask for 60% minus the £250 deposit to be in our account 10 working days prior to the installation, this is used to order your parts. Both the deposit and advance are kept in a segregated bank account and are covered by Renewable Energy Consumer Code insurance. After the installation is complete we ask for the final 40%.

How long does installation take?

An average domestic installation can be completed in 1-2 days.  We’ll let you know if we expect yours to take longer.  Our weekly domestic schedule has installations on Monday – Thursday and we always keep Friday free to catch up with anything that was left over from the week.  Therefore you may need to allow us access on the Friday too or another day if that is not convenient to you.

Please bear in mind that there can be unforeseen issues that mean an installation will take longer, e.g. if slates/tiles have been fixed with steel nails instead of copper, the roof installation will take longer.  Although it’s very rare that we have to increase the price of an installation due to such issues, we may need to take longer to give you a good quality installation.

Commercial installation duration varies greatly and we’ll liaise with you to ensure you know what’s going to happen and to ensure we minimise disruption to your business.

How do I claim SEG?

Smart Export Guarantee can be claimed from your Energy Supplier and in the same way that you shop around for your incoming electric, you can do the same to get the best rate for your exported electric.  Each energy supplier will have their own application process and you are likely to need your MCS certificate which Naked Solar issue once your installation is complete.  Some require a copy of the letter confirming connection to the grid from your DNO (Distribution Network Operator).  We should warn you that this part of the admin process can take several weeks to obtain.

You’ll also need to have a SMETS 2 Smart Meter installed.  Luckily your meter is the responsibility of your Energy Supplier so they will arrange this.  Some customers have had resistance from some Energy Suppliers but once OFGEM or the Ombudsman has been mentioned they’ve found they’ve quickly got a date for the installation of their meter.

Is that it?

Well yes, sort of, we like to keep in touch so you’ll receive an email one month after your install to check that you’re happy and to collect a reading so we can double check that it’s all working OK.  We’ll also email you every year to collect an annual reading as this will highlight any issues more accurately.  Of course we’re always available on email or on the phone if you have any questions about our favourite subject, Solar PV and storage.

Complaints Policy

We always endeavour to provide the best service and products for our customers. However, we recognise that there may be times where our customers may not be completely satisfied.  To ensure we are able to put things rights as soon as we can, please read our complaints procedure below and we will respond promptly to ensure complete satisfaction.

As soon as possible after the completion of the works, please inspect the work to ensure everything has been carried out to our usual high standards.  In the unlikely event there is anything you are not completely satisfied with, please contact us as soon as you can in order that we can rectify any problems as soon as possible.  Either call us on 01637 697 009, or write to at Naked Solar Ltd, 7 Quintdown Business Park, West Road, Newquay, Cornwall TR8 4DS, or email us at truth@nakedsolar.co.uk

We aim to respond within 1 working day of receiving your complaint and where possible, will provide you with a date to remedy any issues raised.

Where we are unable to resolve your complaint using our own complaints procedure, as a Which? Trusted trader we use Ombudsman Services Ltd for dispute resolution. In the unlikely event that we cannot remedy your complaint to your satisfaction you may wish to refer your complaint to them. If you wish to do so please contact Which? Trusted traders in the first instance on 0117 981 2929.

NICEIC Platinum Promise

Should you still be dissatisfied you may also approach NICEIC inline with their Platinum Promise, the details of which can be found here.