You will be producing clean electricity from your solar panels that you can use yourself, the more you use your own generated electricity the more you will save on your energy bill, If you register for the Feed in Tariff your utility provider will pay you to generate electricity, as a generator they will pay you for every unit you generate through a generation meter we install whether you use it or not. They will also pay you a deemed export tariff at 50% of the generated units on the meter.
These payments last for 20 years and are linked with the Retail Price Index.
OFGEM sets the tariffs.

The Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) is an industry-led and nationally recognised quality assurance scheme, supported by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS). MCS itself is a BS EN ISO/IEC 17065:2012 Scheme and was launched in 2008.
MCS certifies microgeneration products used to produce electricity and heat from renewable sources. MCS also certifies installation companies to ensure the microgeneration products have been installed and commissioned to the highest standard for the consumer.

Yes, if you want to register for the Feed in Tariffs payments your utility provider will ask you for a MCS certificate, this has all the installation details about the generation site on it with your unique MCS number. MCS members should also be registered with the RECC.
You can always check to see if an installer is registered with the MCS through this link http://www.microgenerationcertification.org/consumers/installer-search

Yes, the MCS now require all installation companies to provide an Insurance Backed Guarantee (IBG), details of the IBG are on the MCS certificates, this includes the company that the policy has been taken out with, the policy number and the date the policy was issued.
All Solar Age domestic installations are covered by an “IWA” Guarantee.

Solar PV Panels and planning permission
Planning permission is not normally required for domestic roof installations but there are some restrictions:
– The solar PV array must not protude more than 200mm above the roof line;
– The solar PV array must not be higher than the highest part of the roof excluding chimneys;
– The solar PV array must not face onto or be visible from the highway if located within a conservation area or a world heritage site;
– As far as practicable the array should be sited to minimise the effect on the external apperance of the building.
For more details, please go to https://www.planningportal.co.uk/info/200130/common_projects/51/solar_panels

The solar PV array will increase the energy efficiency of your property and the rating on your Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) will be higher, it will be more attractive to prospective buyers. The new owners will benefit for the remainder of the 20 year contract at the tariff originally agreed. The transfer for new ownership is a straightforward and easy process that the new homeowner registers with their utility provider.

A solar thermal system works by harnessing is the sun’s energy and converting it into heat which is then transferred into your home or businesses heating system as hot water or space heating.
Solar thermal panels are used in conjunction with a boiler, collector or immersion heater. The solar collector will use the sun’s rays to heat a transfer fluid which is a mixture of water and glycol, to prevent the water from freezing in the winter. The heated water from the collectors is pumped to a heat exchanger inside a water cylinder. The heat from the exchanger will then heat the water inside the cylinder.
After the liquid releases its heat, the water will flow back to the collectors for reheating. A controller will ensure that the fluid will circulate to the collector when there is sufficient heat available. Solar thermal technology is proven, reliable and low maintenance.

An air source heat pump (ASHP) is a system which transfers heat from outside to inside a building, or vice versa. Under the principles of vapor compression refrigeration, an ASHP uses a refrigerant system involving a compressor and a condenser to absorb heat at one place and release it at another.

Most installations are eligible for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) payments.
The payments are made over a 7 year period.