home and residential solar power, solar electricity panels and services

Key Benefits

Generate your own FREE electricity and sell what you do not use
Feed-In-Tariffs can provide an income
Reduce your Carbon Footprint by 0.6kg per kWh generated
Use the First MCS accredited solar PV installers in Scotland
Increase the value of your home
Enjoy maintenance free systems with an operational lifespan of 40 to 50 years

Call Aissac: home solar power, solar electricity panels and services

Solar PV Systems

Quick Clicks to all you need to know about Solar PV:

Customer Comments

Why invest in Renewables?

By 2015 it is estimated we as a planet will be using more fuel than we can produce.
Reduce your Carbon footprint.
Reduce your effect on the planet and climate change.
Reduce your reliance on grid supplied power which may be fuelled from gas or oil from abroad with no guarantee of a stable supply.
Reduce your fuel bills. Costs are inevitably increasing as fossil fuels eventually run out.
Government grant schemes have now closed. Visit the Energy Savings Trust (Scotland) or Low Carbon Buildings Program (UK) to check if there are any updates.

Why Solar Photovoltaics (PV)?

Solar Photovoltaics (PV) is the conversion of light into electricity.
Only wind turbines, hydroelectric and solar PV generate electricity. All other renewables generate heat.

Close up of Sanyo 215 Wp solar PV panels

If you generate electricity, any power you do not use is sold back to the grid (see below) or stored in batteries (stand alone systems). Heat generators can only heat air or water and once it is hot the continuing heat generated is wasted.
Of the electricity generators solar PV is silent, the easiest to install, has no moving parts and is the most efficient.
Solar PV systems do not require any maintenance and have a working life span of at least 40 to 50 years. Panels installed in the 1950s are still going strong!
Solar PV produces NO greenhouse gases thereby considerably reducing your carbon footprint by 0.6kg per kWh generated.

A 1kW Solar PV system in the UK should provide at least 750kWh of electricity per year. An average Scottish home uses 4500 kWh per year. The table indicates how much of your electricity bill you could save depending on how big a system you install and what your current electrical usage is:

Current electricity use (from your bills)	1 kW PV System	2 kW PV System	3 kW PV System	4 kW PV System
750 kWh	100%	266%	400%	533%
1500 kWh	50%	100%	200%	266%
3000 kWh	25%	50%	75%	100%
4500 kWh	16%	33%	50%	67%
6000 kWh	12.5%	25%	37.5%	50%

The supplier pays a Feed In Tariff (FIT) for all PV systems installed based on what they generate. In addition they pay variable rates for any power exported. The grid supplier may install a free import/export meter for selling back generated electricity or they assume you export half of what you generate and pay accordingly.

Stand alone solar PV systems are available but require battery banks and therefore add considerable cost to the system maintenance, as well as safety issues. However, Aissac can install such systems where that is the best option.

Why Aissac Electrical & Solar?

Aissac Electrical & Solar are the First MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) Accredited Solar PV Installers in Scotland. Certificate No. MCS 1024. To date we have installed over 118kWp of solar PV in Scotland - see the photographs.

We are also Members of the REAL Assurance reality check scheme - a consumer code for renewable energies regulated by the OFT. See REAL Assurance Scheme Website.

We provide a personal professional service which is fully tailored to our client's requirements and may include:

A FREE self-assessment feasibility study for your property (please enter your details at the top of this page on the right)
Guidance and advice on preparation including Structural Surveys, Planning requirements and Build Warrant applications

A survey of your property to design the most appropriate system depending on budget, available space and your energy requirements.
System installation service including all electrical work, frame and panel installation including scaffolding. Slate work and ground works (if required) are not included.
Full system commissioning, including certification required by Build Control, the DNO (to connect to the grid) and Grant administrators (if applicable).
MCS registration of your new PV system. The MCS will then issue a certificate which enables you access to the Feed In Tariffs through your supplier.
Two year warranty on all installation work.
After-sales assistance in the unlikely event of a system failure. We are also Fronius Service partners and so can maintain your inverter ourselves.
For a year after installation we will keep in touch on a monthly basis to ensure the system is functioning to specification. At the end of the first year we will produce graphs of your system's performance.
Ongoing Periodic Inspection Reports (PIR) as required (usually every 10 years) to ensure the continuing operational safety of your system. Note that these inspections are advisable for ALL your domestic wiring!

What is the cost of a PV system?

Aissac can generally supply any accredited solar PV product on the market and so can offer the choice of systems available. To give some idea, the following table shows an approximate cost of basic standard systems (as of Feb 2011). These costs include a site survey, supply of all materials, design, installation, commissioning, electrical certification, MCS installation certification, grid connection, and VAT at 5%:

System size (kWp)	No. of panels	Approx. Size (m2)	Annual Output kWh	Output as a % of 4500*	Basic Prices
1.1	6	7.6	867	19	£7,600
2.2	12	15.3	1735	39	£10,700
2.9	16	20.4	2313	51	£12,700
3.7	20	25.5	2892	64	£15,200
5.9	32	40.8	4626	103	£21,300
10.0	54	68.9	7807	173	£33,300

Note: * 4500kWh is the average Scottish home useage

Potential Income

In April 2010 the Feed-In-Tariffs were introduced by the government to bring us in line with the EU and which will significantly increase income payments. On 31st October 2011 the DECC announced a consultation with a view to reducing rates as follows:

System size (kWp)
Pence per kWh generated* Pence per kWh generated*

Currently Proposed

<4kW (new build)
37.8p 21.0p

<4kW (retrofit) 43.3p 21.0p

4 to 10kW
37.8p

16.8p

10 to50kW 32.9p 15.2p

50 to 150kW 19.0p 12.9p

150 to 250kWp 15.0p 12.9p

250kWp to 5MW 8.5p 8.5p

Stand alone systems 8.5p 8.5p

The rates above are NOT finalised, we will update them once they are confirmed by the DECC, and when they are to take effect.

* Current rate is guaranteed for 25years, will be inflated annually and is income tax-free. It is assumed the new lower tariff will be the same.

The 3.7kW system in the section above could then earn over £607 every year. This does not include what you are saving by not buying so much electricity, or what you sell........

FREE Feasibility Assessment

Testimonials

" When we began planning the installation of our roof-top PV array, Aissac of Aberdeen came in with the very best illustrated quote, by far, from selected installers.

The company were refreshingly helpful but never over-optimistic with figures, so the project quickly became feasible and very promising overnight.

We went ahead and, after a short but effective survey, paid a deposit.

Aissac efficiently did the rest and, as first the roof mounting system and then the panels arrived, we began to count down the days to the promised date.

There were no broken promises, nor delays – all the planning went smoothly

Come April 2010 the Installation Team of two arrived to find the scaffolding in place.

After three days and a few cups of well earned coffee, the non-integrated roof mounted system was commissioned and switched on.

Our best hopes were immediately fulfilled and, within a week, we had generated enough spare electricity to subdue any doubts we may have had at the beginning of the process.

Using a near-neighbour’s six winter-month’s performance calculations and our own daily figures, we calculated that the Feed-in-Tariff and the guaranteed export rate, would generate well over £1500 a year income, as well as free electricity.

Six weeks later, with no issues to report, the flawless operating system has produced nearly 1000KWh.

There is a 25 year guarantee on the panel performance, a solid guarantee on the structural work and continuing email or phone support from Aissac.

Monthly output figures are sent to Aissac and quarterly figures are returned to our supplier (SSE – Scottish Hydro).

We have no hesitation in recommending the team at AISSAC - support and efficiency is second nature to them."

Derek Mayes, Orkney