Solar Panels (Solar PV)

Do Solar Panels work in Ireland

There is an opinion out there that Solar Panels (Solar PV) would not work in Ireland, this stems from people thinking that we don’t get enough sunlight in the Summer, never mind the Winter for solar panels to produce energy.
This however is not true, Solar Panels (Solar PV) work on daylight as opposed to the heat from the sun. In fact, Ireland has the same annual Irradiation levels as many parts of Central Europe, ranging from 1200 kWhr/m2/yr in the south of the country to 1000 kWhr/m2/yr in the north of the country, a good average for the entire country is 1100 kWhr/m2/yr.
If you consider our typical winters would not be as bad as many parts of Central Europe, our mild climate is ideal for Solar Panels (Solar PV), as we never get too hot or too cold and we have good light levels for a large part of the year.

Why should I choose solar panels

Solar Panels (Solar PV) are a clean source of energy  – Solar Panels (Solar PV) uses the sun’s energy to generate clean green electricity that can be used directly in place of conventionally generated power in your home or business. It is one of the easiest and most beneficial renewable energy technologies to add to any building, whether commercial or domestic.
Solar Panels (Solar PV) saves you money  – You not only save money on your electricity bills, but you are protecting yourself against inevitable price rise from energy suppliers and potential energy shortages in the future.
Solar Panels (Solar PV) reduces your carbon footprint – Each unit of electricity generated by a solar PV system reduces the amount of CO2 that is emitted from conventional power stations. Over 25 years, a 2KW Solar panel (Solar PV) array will generate over 36,000 units of electricity and save over 20 tonnes of CO2.
Solar Panels (Solar PV) are versatile  – Solar Panels (Solar PV) can be installed at almost any location; usually mounted on a building’s roof, but they can also be integrated into the fabric of the building, replacing traditional roofing, glazing or cladding materials, or on simple ground-mounted structures.

How do you know that the system is taking power from the panels and not the grid

Solar Panels (Solar PV) system will take power from the Solar Panels “first” naturally and will only draw power from the grid if there is insufficient power available from the Solar Panels. The flow of electricity in a system is determined by the electrical potential at all points in the system. The simplest analogy is to think of the flow of electricity in a network of conductors connected to the grid as being like the flow of water through a network of pipes connected to a water main. If there is more pressure in the network of pipes than in the water main, water will flow out into the water main – and vice-versa.

How long do solar panels last

We use Peimar Solar Panels (Solar PV), these modules have a 20 year product warranty and a 30 year performance warranty with a working lifetime of 40 years and beyond. As the photovoltaic effect is a naturally occurring phenomenon, there is nothing to say that the panels will not continue to create electricity for as long as they are in sunlight. A Solar Panel (Solar PV) system that is designed, installed, and maintained well will operate very efficiently for at least 30 years. The best way to ensure and extend the life and effectiveness of your PV system is to purchase quality components from a reputable company who will guarantee that your system is correctly installed and commissioned.

Is there a government grant for solar panels

SEAI are offering solar panel grants for the install of solar panels on your home.  There is currently a solar panel grant of €900 – €2,400 for solar panel (Solar PV) and battery installs. In order to qualify for the SEAI solar panel grant you must meet the following criteria.

€900 per kWp up to 2kWp and €300 for every additional kWp up to 4kWp

As of February 2022 there is no longer grant add for a battery add on.

Your house must be built and occupied prior to 2021  and not of availed of a grant for solar PV in the past. You must also have a post works BER completed after installation (these are included in NRG Panel quotations).

Do solar panels need servicing

Solar Panels (Solar PV) are maintenance free  – Solar Panels (Solar PV) are usually cleaned quite adequately by the rain. As the system has no moving parts it requires no general maintenance and the only projected cost is the replacement of the inverter at some time during the lifetime of the system.

Will solar panels get rid of my electricity

No, you will still have an electricity bill with Solar Panels (Solar PV). We aim to design a bespoke system for you that will reduce your bills by up to 50% – there is a payback period on the system of approx. 8 years.

How much are solar panels

Here at NRG Panel we use top quality Solar Panels (Solar PV) sourced directly from Europe with some of the highest warranties and efficiency levels on the market.

Solar panel prices Ireland vary. It is really important that when you are comparing quotations for Solar Panels you compare like with like on all components of the system, there are cheaper models on the market however, these are not of the same quality or efficiency. You also need to consider the company you are dealing with, is this an established company with quality customer service that will be there in 5-10 years should you have any issues with your Solar Panels down the line.

It is very hard to give a direct quote as it all depends on the type of system the consultant designs for you, but prices start from around €8,000 before any grant subsidies.

The Solar Panel (Solar PV) system designed for you is dependent on a number of factors including your electricity usage, lifestyle and the details of your home and roof, this is why it is important to have a consultation to ensure we are offering you a bespoke system specifically designed for your needs.

Air to Water Heat Pump

What is an air to water heat pump

A heat pump extracts low temperature energy from the environment and increases its temperature for heating purposes. Heat pump efficiencies are normally quoted as the coefficient of performance of the system, these are typically in the range 3 to 5 In other words, extracting heat from renewable sources requires just 1kW of electrical input to generate 3kW to 5kW of heating output. Heat pump systems, therefore, are 3 to 5 times more efficient than fossil fuel boilers and are more than capable of warming a house completely, even during the lowest winter temperatures.

How does an air to water heat pump work

Air passes through the heat exchanger outside called the evaporator and the refrigerant gas absorbs heat from the outside air and evaporates. The vapour passes into the compressor and by compression increases its temperature and pressure. Hot vapour is condensed in the 2nd heat exchanger, the heat is being passed by water onto heating or domestic hot water system. The liquid refrigerant passes back through the expansion valve, reducing its pressure ready to start the cycle again.

What is the efficiency of an air to water heat pump

A heat pump’s efficiency is often referred to as a “Coefficient of Performance” (COP) and all heat pump manufacturers are giving this value for nominal conditions of 7 °C outdoor temperature and 35 °C flow temperature.
The Coefficient of Performance (or COP) describes the ratio of electrical power used to heating power produced under fixed input and output conditions by the heat pump unit only. A COP is used for examining the performance of a heat pump unit at ideal test conditions, usually in a laboratory.
COP of 4 means for every 1kW of electrical energy used, 4kW of useful energy is produced – a net 3kW of useful energy will be ‘free’ generated by the heat pump.

Air to water heat pump – can be used in conjunction with underfloor heating and low temperature radiators, aluminium or steel panel or fan coils which require flow temperatures up to 55 °C

What is a refrigerant

A heat pump can heat or cool down an indoor space and heat up a DHW cylinder by the means of a refrigerant gas that can evaporate even at -25 °C. The refrigerant inside the piping helps in transporting this energy between the inside and outside of your home. This is the reason why there is an indoor and outdoor unit. The substances used have such properties that the process is the most energy efficient and achievable with technology, which is safe to use. There are a few types of refrigerants that Daikin has invented and still owns the patent on them, such as : R410 and the most environmental friendly & energy efficient R32.

Is there a government grant for air to water heat pumps

SEAI are offering a grant incentive of up to €6,500 for air to water heat pump installations.

Apartment (Any) €4,500

Semi-Detached/End of Terrace/Detached/Mid Terrace €6,500

There is also an SEAI incentive of €200 for a technical assessment and €50 for a BER assessment.

In order to qualify for the air to water heat pump grant your home must be built and occupied prior to 2021 and have a heat loss indicator of 2 W/K/m2or lower.

Finally in order to be eligible, you must not have been in receipt of the air to water heat pump grant in the past.

Heat pump cost

Generally, air to water heat pumps can cost between €13,000-€17,000 but to determine an exact cost, we would have to conduct a technical assessment which is a detailed heat loss survey of your home.

This step is also required by the SEAI who is offering a grant for air to water heat pumps of €6500.

Installation is usually done in 1 to 2 days and the average daily running cost is between €2-€4.

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