FAQs

We want to make sure you have all the information you need - so we’ve put together some of our more frequently asked questions!

If you still need to know more, please just give us a call and we’ll be happy to help.

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Solar PV Panels

Will I need scaffolding for my solar PV install?

Solar PV Panels

If you live in a two-storey house, you will need scaffolding to ensure your installers are able to work safely at height. DW Energy can arrange the scaffolding for you and include the cost within your quote. A scaffolding may not be necessary if you live in a bungalow.

Business EV Charging

Do you provide charger installations for business premises?

Business EV Charging

DW Energy carries out small-scale charge point installation for businesses, as well as complete installations for larger commercial operations. DW Energy can advise if you are eligible for an OZEV government grant to subsidise the cost of your installation and how to claim it.

Solar PV Panels

Do I need a smart meter for my solar PV installation?

Solar PV Panels

It is recommended that you have a smart meter at your property in order to effectively communicate the volume of energy you are adding back to the grid. You must be able to send half-hourly export monitoring to your energy supplier in order to be eligible for the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). Smart meters are the easiest way to do this, however it is worth noting that some areas of the UK lack the network coverage to support smart meter transmissions. It worth checking with your energy supplier if there is network coverage in your area.

Solar PV Panels

Does roof orientation affect how much energy my solar PV panels will generate?

Solar PV Panels

Yes, the ideal placement for solar PV panels is on a South facing roof as this maximises the length of time the panels are exposed to the sun. However, any roof that gets sun exposure will produce energy, so West and East facing roofs can be just as productive. DW Energy will advise you on the best placement for your panels to ensure you have the most productive and efficient system possible.

Solar PV Panels

How much will I get paid for exporting solar power to the grid?

Solar PV Panels

Energy suppliers are obligated to offer you an export tariff to reimburse you for the energy you provide to the grid. Currently it is around 5p per kWh, however this tariff varies widely across the industry. DW Energy can advise you the best rates being provided by energy suppliers at the time of your install.

Home EV Charging

Will an electric car increase my electricity bill?

Home EV Charging

Yes, but not by much and you will still save money compared to the cost of fuel. In addition, there are a number of specialist electric car energy tariffs which can save you even more money. Getting solar panels on your roof is a great way to reduce your energy bill by up to 70%. The Zappi charger from myenergi can even charge your car directly from your solar panels!

Solar PV Panels

Can I get a domestic solar PV system installed on finance?

Solar PV Panels

Yes. DW Energy can install your system on 0% interest finance on a 12 month term provided by Shermin Finance. If you choose to pay for your installation in this way, you are still obligated to pay a 25% deposit up front, with the remaining 75% paid for via the 0% interest finance agreement. Please enquire for further details.

Solar PV Panels

What is the VAT rate on solar PV installations?

Solar PV Panels

All domestic solar PV installations attract a VAT rate of 0% until 2027. Commercial installations attract the standard rate of 20%, however this can be recovered if the business is VAT registered.

Home EV Charging

What is a “Smart” EV charger?

Home EV Charging

The UK Government is leading the way to ensure that EV charging points are Smart. As per the government definitions published on 14 December 2018, this means charge points must be able to be remotely accessed, and capable of receiving, interpreting, and reacting to a signal.

Smart EV charging can also reduce high peaks of electricity demands, minimising the load of charging electric vehicles on the grid – and keeping costs down for consumers by encouraging off-peak charging.

All government funded charge points for EV's must use innovative ‘Smart’ technology from July 2019, fulfilling the commitment in the Road to Zero Strategy published earlier this year.

Here at DW Energy we specialise in Smart HomeCharger installations and believe in providing the best future proofed charging solutions on the market.

Solar PV Panels

Do I need planning permission to install solar PV panels?

Solar PV Panels

Most domestic solar PV installations can be installed as permitted development so do not require planning permission.

Domestic solar installations are considered a permitted development of the panels do not protrude more than 200mm from the roof and are not installed above the ridgeline of the roof. If panels are installed on flat roof it is likely that planning permission is required as they will most likely project more than 200mm above the roof.

Installations on listed buildings will most likely need an application for listed building consent, so it is recommended you check with your local planning office.

Ground mounted solar PV installs usually require planning permission.

Commercial installations below 1MW are regarded as a permitted development if they are a minimum of 1m from the edge of the building, protrude less than 200mm from the roof and do not form the highest part of the building, excluding the chimney. There are specific instances where permitted development doesn’t apply, such as on listed buildings, but DW Energy can advise at the point of enquiry.

Home EV Charging

What is "rapid charging"?

Home EV Charging

Rapid charging refers to vehicles or chargers that are capable of charging from 43kW to 150kW. They are not available in domestic properties and are usually located at service stations, cities, and supermarkets, although rapid chargers at fuel stations are expected to become commonplace.

There are two types – AC or DC[Alternating or Direct Current]. Current Rapid AC chargers are rated at 43 kW, while most Rapid DC units are at least 50kW. Both will charge the majority of EVs to 80% in around 30-60 minutes (depending on battery capacity).However, 120kW and 150kW rapid charging units are becoming more common too.

Home EV Charging

What is "fast charging"?

Home EV Charging

Fast charging refers to any vehicles or chargers that are capable of charging from 7kW to 22kW. They can charge the typical Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) in around eight hours, depending on the size of the battery. While the 22kW fast chargers are quicker, they are require a 3-phase connection which are not usually found in the average domestic property.

Our domestic fast chargers include those which provide power from 7kW to 22kW, which can fully charge an EV in as little as four hours but this does depends on the battery size of the vehicle.

Solar PV Panels

Do I need a good internet connection for my solar PV system?

Solar PV Panels

DW Energy recommends a good internet connection at your property as some inverters, batteries and monitoring products need to connect your Wi-Fi to function properly. This needs to be taken into consideration, especially if you already have a Nest home security system or EV charger already using up some of your internet bandwidth.

Solar PV Panels

What accreditations should my solar PV installer hold?

Solar PV Panels

DW Energy is an MCS accredited solar PV installer (Membership number NIC2421) Find a Contractor - MCS (mcscertified.com)

Using an MCS accredited installer ensures your project is completed following the latest industry standards, meaning you will receive an MCS certificate as well as an insurance backed warranty on completion. You should also check that your installer is a member of a relevant consumer code scheme such RECC (Membership number 00076142).

Home EV Charging

Can I charge my EV using my solar panels?

Home EV Charging

Yes. Solar panels produce power that can be used to power appliances around the home as well as electric vehicles.Solar PV panels generate electricity during the daylight hours and charging during these hours can be inconvenient. A solar battery would solve this issue as it would be charged up by the solar panels during the daytime ready for the power to be used to charger your EV at another time.

Solar PV Panels

Are there any grants available for commercial PV installs?

Solar PV Panels

Yes, there a number of grants available depending on your business’ circumstances. DW Energy can put you in contact with one of our partners who can advise you if you business is eligible to claim a grant against your installation.

Solar PV Panels

Do I need permission to connect to the grid?

Solar PV Panels

A 3.68kW installation to a single-phase supply or anything up to an 11kW installation to a 3 phase supply does not require prior approval. Any larger installations require an application to the DNO (Distribution Network Operator), which DW Energy will complete on your behalf. You must be aware that this may attract additional cost and can take several weeks for the application to be approved.

Home EV Charging

What are the BIK (Benefit-In-Kind) rates for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids?

Home EV Charging

The BIK (Benefit-In-Kind) rate is a form of company car tax that is calculated based on the CO2 emissions of a vehicle. As of April 2022, electric vehicles are now rated at 2% and it will remain at that figure until April 2025. Compare this to the 28% BIK rate of a diesel Audi A3 and you can see the big savings to be had by switching to an EV for your next company vehicle.

If you or your company is not ready to switch to full electric, however, then a plug-in hybrid is another good option as they also generally pay less BIK tax than full petrol or diesel vehicles. Unlike EVs though, the BIK rate of Plug-In Hybrids varies due to the cost being calculated on emissions output and the number of miles the vehicle can do using electric power alone.

Solar PV Panels

Can I get solar if my roof is shaded or partially shaded?

Solar PV Panels

Shading has massive impact on the power generation of your solar panels, and therefore will affect the financial return of your solar PV system. As part of our quotation process, DW Energy will provide shading analysis using our design software. This helps us design the most efficient panel configuration for your roof, ensuring you maximise your energy production, guaranteeing you do not pay for unproductive solar panels.

Home EV Charging

How long does it take to charge an electric car?

Home EV Charging

Generally speaking, the higher the power output of the charger, the faster the car will charge – for example, a typical wall-mounted charger for the home is about three times faster than a three-pin plug and will charge the car from 0-80% in anything from five to 10 hours depending on the vehicle.

Charging times vary depending on conditions, the current battery level of the car and the vehicle itself.

Solar PV Panels

How long does a solar PV installation take?

Solar PV Panels

A typical 3.68kW install will usually take 1-2 days to complete, depending on the complexity of the installation.

Home EV Charging

Why should I have a dedicated EV charge point installed at my home?

Home EV Charging

It's possible to charge your electric car with the 3-pin plug charger cable supplied with the vehicle, but it's slow and offers fewer options than a dedicated home charge point. Some of the most common reasons our customers choose to have a fit-for-purpose charge point installed included:

Safety

Charging an electric car requires a high and consistent electric current over a long period of time. It is generally considered that a standard electrical socket is not suitable for such a prolonged period of use and overheating of the socket may occur.

Speed

A 2.3kW 3-pin plug typically takes more than 20 hours to fully charge an EV, while a typical 7.4kW wallbox home charging device will comfortably charge the average electric vehicle overnight(usually within eight hours).

Convenience

One of the criticisms levelled at electric cars is the amount of time they can take to charge. However, most EV owners charge overnight with a dedicated wall-mounted device, which means they wake up to a fully charged vehicle every morning. Think about it more like your smartphone - rather than waiting for the battery to run empty before you charge, it is charged regularly and usually when you're not using it. Electric vehicles are used in a similar way.

In fact, you will save time because you will no longer need to drive to a petrol station, (potentially) queue for a pump, fill it up and pay - an EV is ready for you every morning.

Futureproofing

There is no doubt that plug-in electric vehicles are the future of motoring in the UK. By starting the process of installing an EV charge point today, you will be able to enjoy faster, safer charging now and for your inevitable future electric car.

Home EV Charging

Do you install EV chargers in my area?

Home EV Charging

DW Energy can install EV chargers in London and the South East.

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Saving money. Living sustainably. Staying up to date with technology. Whatever your reasoning, get in touch to see how easy going solar, or fitting an EV charger is.

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FAQs

We want to make sure you have all the information you need - so we’ve put together some of our more frequently asked questions! If you still need to know more, please just give us a call and we’ll be happy to help.

Keep up to date with our latest news with our newsletter.

Saving money. Living sustainably. Staying up to date with technology. Whatever your reasoning, get in touch to see how easy going solar, or fitting an EV charger is.

We want to make sure you have all the information you need - so we’ve put together some of our more frequently asked questions!

If you still need to know more, please just give us a call and we’ll be happy to help.