Residential Solar Advice & Design

Is it Worth Getting Independent Advice Before Installing Solar?

When you get a free quotation from an installer who is looking to sell solar installations, they may have different incentives that don't align with yours. The installer has no duty of care to design the best system for your house.

What We Can Do For You

Which package is for me? Should I Consider Solar Consultancy?

Free Package - Free. You get a direct line to one of our independent specialists & we can review your quotes.

Plus Package - £150. A detailed investigation into getting the best financial return from a solar PV / battery storage system.

Advanced Package - £450. A comprehensive design & report including shade analysis, half-hourly modelling, variable losses calculations as well as EV, pool & heat pump models.

Technical & Structural Survey - Starting from £470. This is a full technical & structural survey from our Head of Installations. The structural survey is then sent off to an external structural surveyor for an official report.

DNO Application - £100.

Planning Drawings - POA. We can prepare any planning drawings. The price depends on which drawings you need and the complexity of the system.

Why You Should Consider Solar Consultation from Spirit Energy.

When you get a free quotation from an installer who is looking to sell solar installations, they may have different incentives that don't align with yours. The installer has no duty of care to design the best system for your house.

This is what we're here to help with. Our incentive is to give you the best advice. We've been doing nothing but solar since 2010 and, as you can tell from the vast knowledge bank on our website, we know what we're talking about.

We're a family business and for the past 15 years, our ability to put food on the table has quite literally depended on our ability to do a second-to-none job at designing solar PV systems throughout Reading.

Which Package is For You?

We'll create as many system designs & models as it takes to nail the best system for your house.

The Free Package - This is free and you'll get a direct line to one of our technical experts who will answer any questions and look through any proposals or quotations that you have.

The Plus Package - £150 - The purpose of this package is to design the system that will give you the best financial return whilst taking into account the features that you would like from the system and the technology that you want to be included. See an example proposal below.

The Advanced Package - £450 - This is for the more complex systems where you have an EV or you need to model for shade or you're looking at a heat pump for your swimming pool. It's also a great add-on if you're particularly techy and want to see detailed graphs and models showing everything from panel degradation to how many miles your EV will drive per year on solar electricity. The Plus Package is included in this. See an example report below.

The Design & Modelling Process

When you sign up for one of our paid packages, this is how it'll work.

1.) Initial Call. We will call you up to understand what you're looking to achieve and how we can best help. We will also ask for any information that we may need in order to progress to the design stages.

2.) Initial Designs. We will then prepare initial designs & different system models as well as give detailed price estimations. If you have signed up for the advanced package then we will prepare this as well.

3.) Refining the Design. After discussing the initial system designs with you, we will then zero in on the best system for you to go and request from a local installer. If you have signed up for the advanced package, we will discuss this with you as well and it will influence the final designs that we create.

4.) Requesting A Quote from your Local Installers. Once we have settled on a design, we will compose an email for you to send to your local installers outlining exactly what you're looking for and anything for them to include or exclude in their quotations. We can give advise as to what to look for in an installer.

5.) Reviewing your Quotes. If you like, we will look over any proposals that you get and comment on the installer themselves. We can make sure that you are getting a good deal and that the installer has quoted for everything that you'll need.

What is the optimal size of the solar panel system for my home's energy needs?
How many solar panels will I need based on my average electricity consumption?
What type of solar panels (e.g., monocrystalline, polycrystalline, thin-film) is most suitable for my location and roof type?
What is the estimated cost of installing a solar panel system in my area?
Are there any restrictions or regulations specific to my local area regarding solar panel installations?
How will the installation of solar panels affect my home insurance policy?
What is the lifespan of solar panel systems?
What are the options for monitoring and managing my solar panel system's performance?
What warranties are offered by manufacturers for solar panel systems?
What are the latest advancements in solar panel technology, and should I consider them for my installation?
Should I get bifacial panels?

Which battery system is best for me?
What are the best battery storage solutions for pairing with my solar panel system?
How much battery storage capacity will I need to meet my home's energy needs?
What is the lifespan of battery storage systems?
What are the latest advancements in battery storage technology, and should I consider them for my installation?
Do I need power-cut protection?
Which is the best battery chemistry?
How much inverter throughput do I need?
What is RCD protection and do I need it?
Can all batteries provide three-phase backup?

Do I need to obtain any permits or approvals before installing a solar panel system in the UK?
Do I need bypass diodes and how do they work?
What are the technical considerations for the installation process (e.g., roof orientation, shading, angle of installation)?
Is it worth installing on a north facing roof?
Can my existing electrical system accommodate solar panels and battery storage?
How do weather conditions in the UK affect solar panel efficiency and battery storage performance?
What warranties are offered by manufacturers for battery storage systems?
How does net metering work in the UK, and how can I benefit from it?
Can I expand my solar panel system in the future if my energy needs increase?
What are the key differences between off-grid and on-grid systems?
How does the seasonal variability in sunlight in the UK affect my system's design and efficiency?
Do I want an AC or DC- coupled inverter?
Where's the optimal location for the inverter?
How does a hybrid inverter work?
Are AC- coupled inverters better in the loft or garage?

What are the maintenance requirements for solar panels and battery storage systems?
What are the safety considerations for installing and operating solar panels and battery storage systems?

How do solar panels and battery storage systems impact property value?
How do I calculate the return on investment (ROI) for my solar panel system?
How does the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) work, and where can I find the best rates?
Are there any community solar programs or collective purchasing schemes I can participate in?
How does export limitation affect the cashflow?
How is the IRR of a solar system calculated?
How much value will solar and battery add to my house?
How are off-peak charging savings calculated?
How does panel degradation impact the payback period?

How do I choose a reliable and experienced solar panel installation company?
What are the potential challenges or pitfalls to avoid during the planning and installation process?
Is export limitation necessary for my system?
Should I bother with a solar diverter if I have a battery?
Is it worth getting an intelligent EV charger?
Which electricity provider is best for a house with a solar or battery system?
Do I need a smart meter?

Although care is taken to ensure that the information on our website (www.spiritenergy.co.uk) and any guides, calculators or checklists provided by us, electronically or otherwise, are accurate and up-to-date, we cannot accept any responsibility for mistakes or omissions. We enter into no express or implied conditions, warranties, terms or representations regarding the quality, accuracy or completeness of the information. We exclude to the extent lawfully permitted all liability for loss or damage, whether direct, indirect or consequential arising out of your use of our website or any guides, calculators or checklists provided by us, or from any information or omission contained in our website or any guides, calculators or checklists provided by us.