Solar panel proposals are key to understanding what you will get when you work with a solar company. AR Power takes great pride in offering the best possible service to our customers. We explore the information you should compare and review when choosing a commercial solar PV installation company for your project.
With so many solar panel companies on the market, it can be difficult for companies to choose the right one. Most businesses, when in the very early stages of your solar journey, will get several solar energy proposals and compare them.
This process will help you to understand what your prospective provider is offering, including expected power output, type of solar system and payback time, so you can find the solution that meets your energy needs.
As a leading commercial solar panel installer based in the North East with national reach across England, Scotland and Wales, AR Power has over a decade of experience helping companies across a range of industries to understand the advantages of solar for business and the installation process.
In this guide, we explore how to compare multiple quotes for solar panels so you can make an informed decision.
A solar proposal should include a selection of information to help you understand the system you will be getting, including:
– Company details
– System size and capabilities
– Solar technology options
– Payback period information
– A full quote including what is included
– Equipment additions like bird deterrents and permanent safety equipment
– Financing options
– Company safety accreditations and certifications
– Case studies of work carried out for other customers
Other factors such as customer service and how they promote their installations, are important to review. Keep reading to learn more about these factors and how you should review them.
Before you even start solar panel comparison and look at proposals, you need to consider the company you’re working with. There are hundreds if not thousands of solar installers in the UK, and choosing the right one to carry out the commercial solar PV installation for your business is important. There are multiple questions you need to ask before choosing a solar panel provider, such as:
– How long have they been in business?
– Do they have many case studies?
– Do they have their own installation team?
– Can they maintain the system?
– Do they offer a project management service?
– What solar industry accreditations do they have?
The answers to these questions will determine whether or not it is worth considering a solar panel proposal from any given provider. Companies like AR Power offer in-house installers and full project management, and are fully accredited, with MCS, CHAS Elite, Safe Contractor, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ConstructionLine, NAPIT, Cyber Essentials, and many more. As such, we’re the ideal choice for many businesses.
There are many different variations of system specifications when it comes to solar so it is important that you choose one that is reliable and is going to last 25 years or more. When it comes to solar power, cheap is not always better, and you need to make sure you find the solution for your business.
Depending on how much power you need, you may need a different system size than other businesses, and this might mean exploring various options.
One popular solution for large solar systems is SolarEdge. A SolarEdge system has many more benefits when compared to a string inverter system. For example, if one of the panels becomes shaded then all of the other panels will operate at the same level, however with a SolarEdge system all of the panels work independently. If there is an issue with a panel, its usually not obvious which one it is on a string inverter system.
However, the SolarEdge monitoring app tells you where the issue is, enabling the engineer to fix the problem sooner, saving you money and reducing downtime.
A SolarEdge system also has a lot of built-in fire safety features. It is important to ensure that the solar installation company is aware of the measures that can be put in place to assist the emergency services in the event of a fire. The built in features include Arc protection and switching to extra low voltage if the AC supply is disconnected. There are other measure that can be put in place including an isolator at ground level and wiring the system directly into your main fire alarm.
Solar panel type is also a key consideration, are they using the latest technology. Ideally, your installation company should be offering N-Type, glass backed panels with a 30 year performance warranty.
Read the details to make sure you’re getting a good deal in the long run and that the equipment you’re being sold is efficient.
There are many funding options for commercial solar PV system. The main way people choose to fund their projects is using their own CapEx paying for the system outright. This will enable you to own the system faster and enjoy greater long term benefits. Another popular funding method is Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) where a funder will pay for the solar PV system and sell the energy it generates back to you at a fixed lower rate. Once the agreed term is over, usually after 25 years, you will own the system.
A solution that’s becoming more popular is asset finance, allowing companies to save their capital for other projects and pay for their commercial solar PV system in monthly amounts. AR Power will try to model payments so they are less than the money you save on your energy costs, making the project cash positive from year one.
It is important to understand all options and go with the best option for your business and long term strategy. Make sure that all the financing options available to you are mentioned in your solar panel proposal, and that there are accurate projections so you can understand how much you will pay and when.
This is probably one of the most important deciding factors when choosing a solar PV installation provider: how soon the system will pay for itself. Solar companies use many factors when illustrating a payback period. These factors include your current unit rate, historical energy usage, future rates through inflation, and potential export rate.
It is important to check these rates to make sure the solar installation company who has provided the proposal has used realistic figures and not over-inflated the numbers to make the payback period look shorter and enhance your potential cost savings.
AR Power will ask you for your current unit rates, 12 months half hourly data, information around your operational hours, and use realistic figures to estimate future electricity costs through inflation and a conservative export rate for anything you send back to the grid.
Working on a live site, in built up busy areas, and at height comes with many risks which need to be taken into account when undertaking any solar PV installation project.
It is important to understand what experience your solar installation company has around health and safety on site while installing solar. Some questions to ask include:
– What safety measure they will put in place?
– Will they be using scaffolding and fall restraint systems?
– How will they get access to the roof?
– How will the provider manage other people on site that aren’t part of the installation team?
– What safety instructions will they provide to reduce the chances of an issue?
If there is an accident or incident on site which has been caused by the solar installation company, they will be liable. Still, because it is your site, you will still be accountable, so it is important that you choose a company that understands every risk and puts measures in place to help mitigate them.
A good place to start is to look at the company’s accreditations and certifications. Try to find a company who has CHAS Elite, SafeContractor, and Constructionline, like AR Power, which demonstrates their dedication and understanding of site safety.
Health and safety are paramount at AR Power, and we work hard to keep our staff and anyone on-site safe. As part of this focus, we have our own HSE manager and Project managers to ensure site safety is of the highest standards with every installation and that our employees are fully trained to carry out the installation safely.
Site set-up is planned in great detail, ensuring all relevant scaffolding is put in place and access to the roof is created. We do not start any work unless the site is fully safe and no one is at risk.
Installing a solar PV system is a huge investment for any company and getting all of the information you need to make a decision to install solar for your business takes time. It is important to consider the communication you have had from the solar installation business and if it has taken longer than expected to get the answers you need.
If communication has been great and you have received the information you required quickly, then great, however if you have had to wait for information to come back and phone calls to be answered, it could mean that when it comes to installation and aftercare, you may be waiting longer than expected to get a response.
This could also mean that the company you are dealing with are outsourcing the installation to another company, essentially being the middleman, adding an extra layer to your chain of communication.
AR Power employ our own installation teams.
Our Head of Commercial will guide your through the process and work with you and your team on choosing the right system.
Once you decide to go ahead, we will provide you with a Project Manager who will be your main point of contact throughout the installation period. If you have any questions before, during or after the commercial solar installation is complete, we will always be here for you.
When reviewing solar panel proposals, make sure that you ask questions and review how the communication is from each solar company you’re considering.
As well as reviewing your solar panel proposal, make sure you do online research to check what happens after your solar system is installed.
After every installation, AR Power like to complete a case study about the project, which is shared across multiple platforms, giving you’re a lot of brand awareness.
In some cases we engage our PR company to write an article about the project and to release that to local press and national trade publications.
Because we have access to drones and our own marketing team with video editing software, we will also look to create a video of your installation once complete. You can then use this video to promote your investment to your customers.
We consider this to be added value at no extra cost to you. Not all commercial solar installers offer this additional support, so it is worth asking the question when you are choosing a solar PV contractor.
If you’re looking for a solar panel provider, you need to make sure that you find one that offers you top-quality solutions that will last for many years.
AR Power have been in business since 2011 and have installed commercial solar PV systems for companies including Komatsu UK Ltd, Dunelm, the NHS, Parker Hannifin, Atlas Copco, Port of Blyth, the University of Sunderland, Sunderland City Council and many more reputable, quality focused organisations. Our team can provide a range of different systems of various sizes, with additions such as battery storage, and can provide long-term support including solar panel maintenance.
Therefore, we’re an ideal choice for businesses across the UK looking to make the most of solar power. However, it is still important that you review solar proposals from many installers, so you can compare quotes and find the right option for you.
As this article highlights, price isn’t the only factor to consider, and it’s crucial that you take the time to explore the proposal and everything it tells you about the solar system you’ll be getting, the installation process and any maintenance requirements.
It doesn’t always pay to go with the cheapest installer, sometimes using the cheapest may mean problems during the installation, corners being cut, or issues with the system further down the line.
If you’re ready to start your solar installation process, contact us on 0191 4813316 or by emailing sales@arpower.co.uk to get your solar panel proposal.
If you’re ready to get all these solar energy advantages, please complete the form below to start your journey towards generating your own electricity for your organisation.
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