My name is Jason Pope from Selec Group. Behind me is a finished installation: 16 panels, south facing, JA Solar all black, 465 watts each. Once they are connected they will produce a lot of electricity, and this homeowner will have a very small electricity bill now and into the future. In this post I will explain why we chose these panels, what makes a good panel, what this array will produce, and why this house is set up well for the move to electric heating down the line.
Why south facing matters
This array faces south, which in the UK is the best direction you can have. A south facing roof catches the most sun across the day, so the panels work at their peak for longer.
You do not have to face south to make solar worthwhile. East and west roofs still produce well, just spread across the morning and afternoon. But when a south facing roof is available, you make the most of every panel, and that is what we have here.
What makes a good panel
Not all panels are equal. When I pick a panel for a job, I am looking at a few things:
- Power rating: how much each panel produces. These are 465 watts, which is strong for a domestic panel.
- Build quality: how the panel is made and how long it is built to last.
- Warranties: what the manufacturer stands behind, both for failure and for performance over time.
- Looks: how it sits on the roof, because most people want it to look tidy.
The JA Solar all black 465 watt panel ticks all of these. It is a well made panel from a long established manufacturer, and it looks the part.
All black, and why it matters
These are all black panels. The cells, the frame and the backing are all dark, so the panel reads as a single clean block of black from the ground.
Older panels had silver frames and a visible grid, which stood out on a roof. All black panels sit flatter and quieter. Most homeowners prefer the look, and on a south facing front roof that matters. You get the performance without the system shouting for attention.
Glass on glass build
These JA Solar panels are glass on glass. That means there is glass on the front and glass on the back, rather than the older style of glass front and a plastic backing sheet.
Two sheets of glass make the panel tougher and more stable over its life. Glass does not degrade the way some backing sheets can, so the panel holds up better against weather and time. From the ground the back glass can give a faint silver look, but the panel still reads as all black.
What this array will produce
A typical UK south facing 465 watt panel produces roughly 465 kWh per year. With 16 panels facing south, this array should produce a good chunk of this home’s annual electricity.
Here is how that works for the homeowner:
- Day to day, the house runs on its own solar first.
- Spare power can charge a battery if one is fitted, then export to the grid.
- Exported units earn money through the Smart Export Guarantee.
The upshot is a very low electricity bill, and in good months close to nothing from the grid.
Set up for electric heating
This bill stays low until the homeowner changes from gas heating to electricity. That is where many homes are heading, and this one is planning the same.
They are looking at air conditioning, which we also install. Air conditioning here means an air to air heat pump: a system that pulls warmth from the outside air and moves it inside. It heats efficiently in winter and cools in summer, and it runs on electricity.
That is a neat match with solar. When you heat with electricity and you make your own electricity, the savings add up. The panels feed the heating, and the heating costs a fraction of what running it from the grid alone would. When that change comes, they may want a few more panels or a battery to cover the extra demand, and because the system is built properly, adding to it is straightforward.
Long warranties for peace of mind
A good panel should last decades, and the warranty should reflect that. These JA Solar panels carry a long product warranty against failure and a long performance warranty, which guarantees they keep producing a high percentage of their rated output for many years.
For a homeowner, that is the reassurance that the system you pay for today keeps working for the long haul. We are MCS certified, so the install is done to standard and registered properly, which protects those warranties.
The bottom line
This is a finished 16 panel, south facing array using JA Solar all black 465 watt glass on glass panels. South facing for maximum output, all black for a clean look, glass on glass for durability, and a strong power rating for a low bill. It is also set up well for the move to electric heating through air conditioning later on.
We install solar, battery and air conditioning across Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire, in places like Spaldwick, Grafham, Huntingdon and St Neots. If you want a system specified and fitted properly, call the office on 01480 400607 or request a survey through our website.
Jason Pope
Owner, Selec Group