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Is my roof suitable for Solar Panels?

Solar panels collect solar radiation directly from the sun, from the sky, and from sunlight reflected off the ground or area surrounding the PV panel. Orienting the PV panel in a direction and tilt to maximize its exposure to direct sunlight will optimize the collection efficiency.  Here we discuss the issues you need to consider when looking at your roof from the perspective of installing solar panels. Orientation of your roof The orientation of your roof has a significant affect on how productive your solar panels will be. You would think that having a south facing roof would produce the

EV Charger

How many CT clamps are required for the zappi to work with the solar panels and be able to prioritise between charging the battery and the ev? The short answer is that the EV charger (Zappi) and solar battery charger (Huawei) operate independently. The solar PV inverter will supply the house load first, and if there’s anything left over, charge the battery. Once the battery is full, it will start to export. The Zappi will detect the export and start to charge the car. There’s no ability to program the Zappi to charge the car battery ahead of the solar PV

seai grants

SEAI Grants 2022: Solar Panel Grant Ireland | A bittersweet update from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland

A bittersweet update from Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) as we move into a new phase of domestic solar PV. Back in October 2021, we published a blog post on the highly anticipated changes to the SEAI grants reportedly coming into affect in 2022. If you haven’t read this post, we strongly recommend you take the time to do so. You will learn about the Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) scheme set to be introduced this year; with the primary objective of compensating homeowners for the clean energy they produce and subsequently export back to the grid. These payments are

solar PV ireland photovoltaics

Are solar panels worth it in Ireland?

Are solar panels worth it in Ireland? It’s a frequently asked question. Considering a solar panel in the south of Spain receives over twice the solar irradiance we do here in Ireland: How much do you need for it to be a worthwhile investment? The short answer is that most homes in Ireland do receive enough solar energy – light is sufficient, it doesn’t need to be direct sunlight – to make it a worthwhile investment. And that’s before the environmental benefits are factored in. For the longer answer, please read on… How much electricity will solar panels generate? This

Irish energy

Creating Wealth for Irish Energy Citizens

I’ve just finished listening to a new episode of the excellent Five Degrees of Change podcast by Daniel Murray at the Business Post. For those not familiar with the format, an expert in climate, energy and environment is invited to outline three policy proposals and two personal changes they believe would make for a cleaner, greener world. A recent guest was Mark Foley, CEO of Eirgrid. We’re lucky to have someone of Mark’s calibre overseeing one of, if not the most important piece of infrastructure in the country. The analogy of the road system that Mark uses to illustrate Eirgrid’s remit is helpful, but possibly understates the importance of the work – the morning congestion on the M7 is not an option for any electricity grid. That said, I’d like to explore a point

electric car

Can you get an electric car charger at home?

Electric cars are only increasing in popularity as more and more people are looking to reduce both their motoring costs and their environmental impact. An electric vehicle (EV) runs off a charger that can be installed in your home.  Nearly one in four of those surveyed in the National Travel Survey stated that they would be interested in buying an electric vehicle. This was due to a variety of reasons. Better affordability to run was by far the most common influencing factor at 77.8%, especially for those with Solar Panels installed,  followed by making more of a contribution to a

ESB Smart Meter Rollout

The Smart Meter rollout has begun! and the new Clean Export Guarantee (CEG) scheme is on its way

Back in May 2021 we published a blog post on the much anticipated changes to the current pilot support scheme for domestic solar. The grant currently available from SEAI (up to €3000) towards the cost of installing a solar PV system continues to prove very popular. Further support is being provided by ESB Networks who have made the commitment to getting a smart meter installed in every home with solar PV within 4 months of notification. You will learn the significance of having a smart meter in your home throughout this article. On the other hand, a payment scheme for