Simply.Makes.

Sense
What you need to know about Solar Power in 2013

Introduction
Facts:
Energy bills are rising faster and faster Investing in Solar power has reduced drastically Fully installed systems available from 3,200+ Government incentives guarantee solar is a profitable investment Climate change is happening Result Renewable energy is now a sound financial investment It is more important to generate clean energy
SOLAR SIMPLY MAKES SENSE

Energy Prices Past, Present and Future

How have energy prices changed in the last 6 months?

Source: uSwitch.com 7 March 2013

SOLAR SIMPLY MAKES SENSE

Where next for your energy prices?

The rise in prices next year will be bigger than normal. Consumer groups warned that the rises could be as much as 15 per cent over the next two years. Office for Budget Responsibility Most of the UKs major domestic energy suppliers have announced electricity and gas price rises of between 6 and 11 per cent, to be implemented by the end of 2013. The Telegraph, December 12th 2012 Consumer groups warned that the rises could be as much as 15% over the next two years. Telegraph 2012

The days of cheap energy are over uSwitch

Double whammy of bigger bills and lower temperatures - BBC

Energy companies are failing consumers by stifling competition through a combination of tariff complexity, poor supplier behaviour and lack of transparency. Ofgem 2012

Energy price rises showing no signs of abating. Financial Times, 2012

Prices could rise by around 200, over the next 18 months. uSwitch, 2013 Energy prices to rise by 8.7% BBC

SOLAR SIMPLY MAKES SENSE

Isn't everything getting more expensive?

Yes, but energy costs are rising fastest of them all. Have a look at energy price rises compared to other costs over the last 8 years (uSwitch 2013):

Alcohol: 31% Water: 50% Petrol: 66% Household Electricity Bills: 151% Equivalent to 787 per year for an average home

SOLAR SIMPLY MAKES SENSE

Why is energy getting more expensive, faster?

Global competition: The UK is now a net importer of gas and must compete globally on prices Wholesale prices: Peak oil means restricted access and smaller, more remote reserves Decreased Supply: Coal power stations being taken offline Infrastructure: Rising demands require greater investment Decreased competition between national energy suppliers Environmental costs: Carbon taxes, penalties, upgrades to meet targets and commitments
Oil Reserves

= more expensive energy

SOLAR SIMPLY MAKES SENSE

Cutting Energy Bills with Solar

Solar Power - how does it work?

Light (not heat) from the sun creates electricity through panels on your roof Sunlight creates flow of electrons Works even on cloudy or cold days At night, batteries or mains supply take over Fully automated - no need to switch on/off

SOLAR SIMPLY MAKES SENSE

Parts of a Solar PV System*

Inverter

Solar panels mounted on roof

*Parts shown are representative and might not reflect the actual appearance of your installation

Controller

Meter

SOLAR SIMPLY MAKES SENSE

The financial benefits

Cost savings Generating your own energy reduces energy bills Payments The government pays the Feed-in Tariff (FiT) to clean energy generators
and

Energy companies pay for surplus energy fed into the grid Combined value Total value is up to 19% p.a. return on investment
SOLAR SIMPLY MAKES SENSE

Environmental benefits
And the obvious environmental benefits: Solar energy is clean energy No CO2 emissions No smoke emissions Your carbon footprint is reduced by ~1 tonne of CO2 per year. This is equivalent to: Planting 46 trees Driving 2,998 miles

SOLAR SIMPLY MAKES SENSE

Questions to ask yourself

Do you think energy bills will get lower in the
next 20 years? No? Solar brings more profits if prices rise Do you have a savings account? Yes? Solar will outperform it by a large margin and it's guaranteed by the government and taxfree too Do you want to cut down your CO2 emissions? Solar will cut down your CO2 emissions by up to 1 tonne per year Equivalent to planting 46 trees every year
SOLAR SIMPLY MAKES SENSE

Myths about Solar

The UK isn't sunny enough for solar power Solar requires constant maintenance If I'm moving home, I won't get the returns Homes with solar panels sell for up to 3% more - and up to 30% faster (Source - uSwitch 2012) The Feed-in-Tariff is no longer available Solar power is getting more efficient/cheaper every year, so I should wait

SOLAR SIMPLY MAKES SENSE

What can I expect?

South-facing roofs offer the
best performance, but East to West-facing will bring around 10% less and will be factored into projections Installations usually complete in 1-2 days 30-35 years of hassle-free energy
Solar Irradiance for the UK

Sheffield

By law, all projections must be standardised for a home receiving the equivalent irradiance as Sheffield city centre

SOLAR SIMPLY MAKES SENSE

Profiting with Solar

Feed-in Tariffs (FiT)

The UK government is committed to reduce CO2 emissions by 60% by 2050 They guarantee homes that generate clean energy like solar power - tax-free payments through the Feed-in Tariff scheme for 20 years Payments are linked to the Retail Price Index The FiT is paid on top of the other benefits of solar power - and you still get free electricity All installations through SMS Energies qualify for FiT payments from Day 1
SOLAR SIMPLY MAKES SENSE

Export Tariffs
All electricity that you generate will be paid for by the FiT, but you will receive an additional payment for energy you generate and do not use 50% of your generation will qualify for an additional payment of 4.5 pence kWh

SOLAR SIMPLY MAKES SENSE

Other Benefits
On top of the FiT and the Export tariff, you will also get free energy from your solar system Equivalent to ~14.5 pence kWh Your CO2 emissions will be reduced by ~1 tonne per year Equivalent to planting 46 trees every year Equivalent to driving 2,993 miles every year Houses with solar sell up to 30% faster Houses with solar sell for up to 3% more

SOLAR SIMPLY MAKES SENSE

Typical Installations

Typical Returns: Top-of-the-range

For a property in Sheffield, 4kW SunPower system:
Cost 9,200 fully installed, inclusive Returns over life of panels FiT payments 11,507 Export Payments 1,677 Energy Savings 41,239 Total Returns 54,423 Investment Analysis over life of panels Gross Profit = 45,223 Average Return per annum = 14% Total Return on Investment = 492%
SOLAR SIMPLY MAKES SENSE

Typical Returns: Top-of-the-range

For a property in Sheffield, 4kW SunPower system:
Cost 9,200 fully installed, inclusive Returns over life of panels FiT payments 11,507 Export Payments 1,677 Energy Savings 41,239 Total Returns 54,423 Investment Analysis over life of panels Gross Profit = 45,223 Average Return per annum = 14% Total Return on Investment = 492%
SOLAR SIMPLY MAKES SENSE

Typical Returns: Top-of-the-range

For a property in Sheffield, 4kW SunPower system:
Cost 9,200 fully installed, inclusive Returns over life of panels FiT payments 11,507 Export Payments 1,677 Energy Savings 41,239 Total Returns 54,423 Investment Analysis over life of panels Gross Profit = 45,223 Average Return per annum = 14% Total Return on Investment = 492%
SOLAR SIMPLY MAKES SENSE

Typical Returns: Mid-range

For a property in Sheffield, 4kW SunTech system: Cost fully installed, fully inclusive 7,350 Returns over life of panels FiT payments - 20 years: Export Payments - 20 years Energy Savings Total Returns

13,052 1,141 14,201

28,395
Investment Analysis over life of panels Gross Profit = Average Return per annum = SOLAR SIMPLY MAKES SENSE Total Return on Investment = 21,046 19.32% 492%

How do I know this information is accurate?

All of our marketing materials and messages are covered by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) and Renewable Energy Assurance Ltd. (REAL) Codes of Conduct. These bodies ensure that all of our material and promises are consumerfriendly, legitimate and justified by the real-world experience of our customers.

SOLAR SIMPLY MAKES SENSE

What do I need to do next?

With your approval, SMS Energies will arrange a short survey (or surveys) at your property.

This is completely free - no catch There is no obligation to buy or pay for anything Typically less than 1 hour to survey

You will get

Details of the proposed installation, including all relevant details Simple calculation of the financial and other returns you can expect All the information you need to decide if solar is right for you A simple,all-inclusive quote
SOLAR SIMPLY MAKES SENSE

Didn't we say it was Simple?

Frequently Asked Questions

How can SMS Energies help me?

SMS work with a wide range of certified installers and experts and can arrange for a survey your home. We never charge you a penny and guarantee only the most competent, competitive and professional firms covering your area

How long will installation take?

Planning and custom-ordering the materials may take a few weeks, but the installation process itself will usually take less than 2 working days, with a large number completed in 1 working day

Should I get multiple bids?

SMS Energies recommend that all customers get multiple quotes to compare and contrast and get the best deal, although for some it can be tiring to have a succession of surveyors come to the house. Let your rep know your preference

Explain to me like I'm 5 how solar panels work

By magic, mostly ;0) In simple terms, 2 sheets of silicon are placed next to each other; the energy from sunlight causes electrons to move between them and generate a current, which flows into the circuit.
SOLAR SIMPLY MAKES SENSE

FAQ's continued...

How much will I really save on my bills?

All the projections in this document are reliable and accurate to real-world usage, but standardised to a home in Sheffield. If your home is in an area that receives greater levels of irradiance than Sheffield (see map) then you can expect better performance and returns

How much roof space do I need?

A minimum of 5.5m2 is recommended

Will it work on cloudy or cold days? Yes: cold days make no difference; cloudy days will reduce output slightly, depending on cloud density

My roof is not directly facing South - is this a problem?

No. As long as it is somewhere South-ish (from East to West) it will produce ample electricity Roof pitch should be between 0-60 degrees for attachment
SOLAR SIMPLY MAKES SENSE

FAQ's continued (2)...

Trees shade my roof - is this a problem?

Unfortunately, yes. Shading even a small proportion of the panel can bring 80% reduction in output

Do I need planning permission?

Not unless your home is a listed building - even then, most councils will approve

What servicing or maintenance is required?

Because there are no moving parts, very little servicing is required, although an annual wash with a non-abrasive cleaner will maintain optimal performance. Your installer can give you details if you feel you would like an annual inspection

SOLAR SIMPLY MAKES SENSE

FAQ's continued (3)...

Is financing available?

Yes, financing is available from some of our installers. Please specify if you will require financing

Lastly, how can SMS Energies help me look for the best deal on a solar installation?

SMS work with a wide range of certified installers and experts in the field and we never charge you a penny. For no charge, we will arrange for any number of installers to survey your home and we guarantee that they are the most competent, competitive and professional firms in your area.

SOLAR SIMPLY MAKES SENSE

Contact Details
If you would be interested in finding out how much you could benefit from solar power and can spare 1 hour of your time, SMS Energies Ltd. can arrange a FREE survey for you with no obligation to buy or any hidden costs. Simply contact us here: email phone website survey@smsenergies.com [0844 XXXXXXXXX] 07934 247424 www.smsenergies.com SMS Energies Ltd. Cleves, Castle Street Bletchingley Surrey RH1 4QA

SOLAR SIMPLY MAKES SENSE

Solar simply makes sense.

Major uses of energy in the home

SOLAR SIMPLY MAKES SENSE

Heat loss in the home

Wasted heat is wasted money

SOLAR SIMPLY MAKES SENSE

Solar simply makes sense.