Switching to solar power might feel like a big step, but with the right system (and the right team), it can be one of the smartest investments you’ll ever make. At Alternative Energy Ireland, we’ve helped homeowners in every county across Ireland harness the power of the sun, rain or shine. We hear a lot of frequently asked questions about solar panels, from battery usage at night to performance during our famously grey winters. So, we’ve rounded up some of the most common queries to help you understand exactly what to expect when you make the switch to solar with us.
Can I benefit from solar PV at nighttime?
Solar PV technology has improved massively in the last ten years. If you install our battery in conjunction with the solar electric system, then you can power your house with the battery at nighttime.
When the battery runs out of power, you seamlessly swap back to mains power. Absolutely no dimming lights or flickering TVs with our system.
If you have night rate electricity, we can set the system up to charge your battery using the lower night rate electricity, which can then be used in the morning. This adds even more savings with our solar PV systems.
What about our dark Irish winter?
The good news is that our solar system works off daylight. It will produce electricity even in low light conditions. With daylight being stronger in summer and the days lasting much longer, you will get more output during the summer months, but there is not a day in the year when your system will not generate some free electricity for you to help reduce your bills.
Does my house have to be south-facing?
No, your roof can face any direction, although between south east and south west is ideal from a generation point of view. There are some advantages to an East–West system, you get good generation right across the day, and you will tend to use more of the generated power in the house directly and export less power to the grid. If you are east or west facing, the output will only be reduced by roughly 15%.
Is there any maintenance on the system?
As there are no moving parts in our system, you have practically no maintenance. We would recommend that the panels be cleaned every 3 years to ensure you are getting the most out of your system.
Can I charge my electric car?
Yes, you can charge your electric car, power your oven, TV, fridge, kettle, toaster, lights and so on with our solar PV system.
What is the warranty on my system?
The solar panels have a 25-year product guarantee and a 30-year performance guarantee. This means the output of the panels is guaranteed for 30 years. However, this is very difficult to measure as different inverters will work better with different panels, so measuring the panel output can be tricky. For this reason, we teamed up with Autarco, which is one of the only companies that offer both panels and inverters. The Autarco panels are specifically designed to work with the Autarco inverters.
What is the Autarco Output Guarantee?
It’s a unique offering from Alternative Energy Ireland, as we essentially guarantee the savings we promise you. No other solar company in Ireland offers this. Don’t let our competitors confuse you with the solar panel power warranty. We guarantee the energy from the entire solar system, not just the power from a single solar panel. There is a big difference, and we can explain more if you call us.
The reason this is possible is because we use Autarco’s panels and inverters, which are designed to work together and because of this Autarco offers an output guarantee with their system. We will design a system to best suit your needs and take all your environmental conditions into account, the best panel location for generation, all shading obstacles, etc, and we will guarantee your output for the first 5 years, and if the system underperforms, we will compensate you for this. Nobody else stands over their output like Alternative Energy Ireland and Autarco do.
Does AEI have much experience installing solar PV systems?
Any good solar PV installer will have several hundred installations to their name. We are one of Ireland’s leading installers with more than 4,000 homes completed in the last 18 years.
Join the solar revolution with help from Alternative Energy Ireland
Whether you’re charging your car, running your home, or simply trying to reduce your electricity bills, solar PV offers reliable, long-term benefits, even in Ireland’s darker months. And with Alternative Energy Ireland’s expert installation, industry-leading Autarco technology, and unique performance guarantees, you’ll have total peace of mind from day one.
Got more questions? No problem. Our team is always happy to chat and walk you through the right system for your home.
Ready to power your home the smarter way? Get in touch with us today and let’s put the sun to work.
