How Solar Works

Powered By The Sun

Solar power is harnessed from the sun's abundant energy through photovoltaic (PV) panels. These panels contain cells that convert sunlight into electricity. When sunlight hits the PV cells, it creates a flow of electrons, generating direct current (DC) electricity. An inverter then converts DC electricity into alternating current (AC) electricity, which can power your home or be sent back to the grid. The process is clean, sustainable, and offers a renewable source of energy, reducing both electricity bills and environmental impact.

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Solar Barn

Optimising Your Solar Investment

Optimising solar impact is key to reaping its benefits. SunWorks places a strong emphasis on energy management within a property. The return on investment with solar depends on when and how owners use energy. Even without solar, energy reduction is crucial as the energy future of the Channel Islands becomes less certain. SunWorks installations provide the tools for informed energy choices, featuring energy consumption monitoring for a comprehensive view of a property's energy use.

Enhancing Self-Consumption

Self-consumption refers to the portion of generated solar electricity used onsite. The higher the self-consumption, the better the savings, as offsetting purchased electricity is more cost-effective than exporting solar power.

SolarEdge App

SunWorks offers several methods to boost self-consumption:

  • Promoting Energy-Efficient Habits: Encouraging the adoption of energy-saving habits that align with solar power usage.
  • Automation: Automating appliances to utilize solar power when available, eliminating the need for manual intervention. This is often linked to Electric Vehicle Charging and Solar Hot Water.
  • Battery Storage: Once energy habits are adapted and automation is fine-tuned, battery storage systems come into play to fill in gaps, ensuring maximum energy utilisation during periods of low solar generation. Batteries can also provide valuable backup power during outages.

Installation process

Overall an installation process can take as little as a few weeks. Actual time onsite is limited to just a few days within scaffold typically being in place for no longer than 2 weeks.

Survey & Design

One of our surveyors will come to your property to carry out a detailed survey and understand your energy needs. We will produce a bespoke design to best suit your roof space, budget and energy requirements.

Pre-Installation

Applications to Jersey Electricity will be completed which link the system to the generators JE account and grant permission for the installation.

Scaffolding up & Final Checks

If required, scaffolding will be the first thing to happen onsite. Once complete one of our team will likely visit your property to check the roof condition and measurements prior to installation and plan the upcoming works.

Installation

Our team of solar technicians and electricians will get to work on installing your solar panel system.

Commissioning

Electricians carry out testing and final commissioning of a system which includes making the system live and connecting online for external monitoring.

Handover

Will be arranged to answer any questions, go over system operation and fundamentals. Advice will be provided on energy optimisation and about a service packages.

Buy Back installation

Often in completed in 2 or 3 weeks after installation the process takes half an hour and will be undertaken by a meter technician with a SunWorks electrician in attendance.

Service

Solar PV is a low maintenance product as is has no mechanical or movings parts. Its recommended a site visit is carried our every 3 - 5 years to ensure safety. Annual checks can be carried our remotely through one of our light touch service option SunWorks Protect, which ensures your system remains performing optimally.

Is Your Home Suitable?

Suitable Roof Space

Each solar panel is approximately 1.7m (L) x 1m (W) and need to be formed in a uniform blocks. Roof spaces should ideally be uninterrupted by vents, flues, or dormer windows for best aesthetics and power output.

Orientation

Predominantly south is best for maximum generation. East to West orientated is also good. With our optimised solution we can also install on different roof plans / orientations for a better spread of power through the day.

Minimal Shading

Your roof must have as much exposure to sunlight as possible. Your home will not be suitable if your roof is largely shaded by trees, valleys, cliffs, or other buildings.

Electrical System

We can integrate into your existing electrical system if there is space on the distribution board. If this has no space, is outdated or non-compliant we can install a dedicated solar sub-distribution board or carry out electrical works to bring existing systems up to specification.

Solid construction

Roofs are exposed to additional stress from solar panels and ensuring good fixing is essential. Building control is not required for installation but you may want to have an engineer check this over if there is any doubt.

Roof Coverings

Roof coverings (tiles, slates, and underlay) must be watertight and roofs should ideally be fit for another 20 years of service. SunWorks frequently carry out incidental repairs but in some cases re-roofing is required before. If you require re-roofing we can often undertake this depending on the scale of the project.

Thinking about a renewable future?

Get in touch today to see if your home qualifies

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