Frequently Asked Questions

A typical 4kW residential solar panel system in Wiltshire costs between £5,000 and £7,000 including installation, with 0% VAT until March 2027. Larger systems (5-6kW) range from £7,000 to £9,000. Every Lumos Energy quote is bespoke — based on your roof, your usage, and your goals.

A typical 4kW system in the South West generates approximately 3,920 kWh per year. At current electricity rates, this can save £800-£1,200 annually depending on your self-consumption rate. Adding battery storage increases savings further by using more of your own generation.

Most residential solar systems in Wiltshire and the South West pay for themselves within 5-8 years, depending on system size, energy usage, and whether you add battery storage. After payback, you generate free electricity for 20+ years.

Yes. Since April 2022, domestic solar panel installations in the UK have been zero-rated for VAT. This applies to panels, inverters, battery storage (when installed with solar), and installation labour. The 0% rate is currently guaranteed until March 2027.

The SEG pays you for surplus electricity you export to the grid. Current rates are approximately 10.8p per kWh. Your system must be MCS certified to qualify — all Lumos Energy installations are MCS registered as standard.

Solar Together is a group-buying scheme organised by Wiltshire Council that allows residents to get competitive prices on solar installations through collective purchasing. Three rounds have completed with 3,400+ registrations. Lumos Energy offers competitive independent quotes that often match or beat bulk-buy pricing with more personalised service.

Most Wiltshire homes install between 10-16 panels (4-6.5kW). The exact number depends on your roof space, electricity usage, and budget. A 4kW system (10 panels) suits a 2-3 bedroom home; 5-6kW (13-16 panels) suits larger properties with higher consumption.

Yes. Solar panels generate electricity from daylight, not direct sunshine. They produce less on overcast days, but Wiltshire receives 1,620 hours of sunshine annually and solar irradiance of 980 kWh/kWp — strong enough for excellent solar performance year-round.

South-facing roofs generate the most energy, but east and west-facing roofs still produce 80-85% of optimal output. East-west splits can actually be more useful if you are home mornings and evenings. North-facing roofs are generally not suitable.

Modern solar panels have a typical lifespan of 25-30 years, with manufacturer performance warranties guaranteeing at least 80-85% output at year 25. The inverter may need replacing once during the panel lifetime (typically after 10-15 years).

Most domestic solar panel installations fall under Permitted Development and do not require planning permission, provided the panels do not protrude more than 200mm from the roof surface and are not on a listed building or in certain designated areas. Listed buildings and some conservation areas require additional consent.

Yes, but you will need Listed Building Consent from Wiltshire Council (or the relevant authority). Lumos Energy specialises in heritage-sensitive installations — we use black-framed panels, in-roof mounting systems, and sympathetic placement to satisfy conservation officers. We have experience with listed buildings across Wiltshire.

In most conservation areas, solar panels on rear or side roof slopes (not visible from the highway) can be installed under Permitted Development. Panels on front-facing roofs visible from a public highway may require planning permission. We advise checking with your local authority.

Yes. Domestic rooftop solar is generally Permitted Development within the Cotswolds National Landscape (formerly AONB). Ground-mounted arrays over 9 square metres may need planning permission. Lumos Energy has experience installing across the Cotswolds and North Wessex Downs.

Permitted Development rights allow solar panels on most roofs in conservation areas, but panels must not protrude more than 200mm, should not face a highway if on the front roof slope, and must be removed when no longer needed. For any doubt, we recommend a pre-application enquiry.

Battery storage is worth it if you use most of your electricity in the evening (when solar panels are not generating) or if you want protection from power cuts. A battery typically increases self-consumption from 30-50% to 80-90%, making more of your solar investment pay for itself.

Modern lithium-ion batteries typically last 10-15 years, with most manufacturers offering 10-year warranties guaranteeing at least 70% capacity retention after 6,000+ charge cycles. Battery technology is improving rapidly.

Yes. Lumos Energy regularly retrofits battery storage to existing solar panel systems. We assess your current setup, recommend a compatible battery, and install it alongside your existing inverter or with a new hybrid inverter if needed.

Many modern battery systems offer backup power functionality, but not all. If power cut protection is important to you, we ensure your system specification includes this capability. Some systems switch to backup within milliseconds.

Most homes benefit from a battery capacity of 5-10 kWh. The right size depends on your evening and overnight electricity usage, your solar panel output, and whether you want full overnight coverage or partial backup. We size every battery to your specific usage profile.

A standard residential solar panel installation takes 1-2 days. Combined solar and battery systems typically require 2-3 days. We schedule installations to minimise disruption and keep your property tidy throughout.

Most installations require scaffolding for safe roof access. This is included in our quote and erected the day before or morning of installation. Scaffolding is removed within 1-2 working days of completion.

Day 1: Scaffolding erected, mounting rails fixed to roof rafters, panels mounted and wired. Day 2 (if needed): Inverter and battery installed, electrical connections made, system tested and commissioned. We walk you through everything at handover.

Yes. Lumos Energy handles everything: MCS registration, DNO (Distribution Network Operator) notification, EPC updates, building control notification, and Smart Export Guarantee registration. You do not need to do anything.

MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme) is the quality mark for renewable energy installations in the UK. Only MCS-certified installations qualify for the Smart Export Guarantee and 0% VAT. Lumos Energy is a fully MCS-certified installer.

Solar panels require very little maintenance. Rain keeps them reasonably clean in the UK. We recommend an annual visual check and occasional cleaning if panels become heavily soiled (bird droppings, tree sap). Inverter firmware updates may be needed periodically.

You receive the panel manufacturer warranty (typically 25 years performance), inverter warranty (10-15 years), battery warranty (10 years), and our own installation warranty. All warranty details are provided in your handover pack.

Your system includes a monitoring app that shows real-time generation, consumption, battery status, and export in real time. We set this up during handover and show you how to use it. Most systems connect via Wi-Fi.

Contact us directly on 01225 632 727. As a local installer based in Broughton Gifford, we can respond quickly to any issues. Most faults are identified remotely through the monitoring system before you even notice a problem.

In many cases, yes. We can add additional panels if you have available roof space, or add battery storage to an existing solar-only system. We design systems with future expansion in mind where possible.

Yes. A solar-integrated EV charger like the Zappi or Ohme can detect surplus solar generation and divert it directly to your car. A typical 4kW solar system generates enough to cover 8,000-10,000 miles of driving per year — effectively free fuel.

A dedicated 7kW home charger fully charges most electric cars in 4-8 hours, depending on battery size. A 3-pin plug socket takes 12-24 hours and is not recommended for regular use. Smart chargers can schedule charging during cheap overnight tariffs or solar surplus periods.

The OZEV (Office for Zero Emission Vehicles) grant provides up to £350 towards the cost of a home EV charger for qualifying properties — typically rental properties and flats. Owner-occupiers of detached, semi-detached, or terraced houses are no longer eligible, but the charger remains a cost-effective investment.

We install leading smart chargers including the myenergi Zappi (best for solar integration), Ohme Home Pro, Easee One, and Andersen A2. All offer smart scheduling, solar divert capability, and smartphone app control. We recommend the best option for your specific setup.

We recommend professional cleaning every 12-18 months in Wiltshire. Panels in rural areas with heavy bird activity or near farmland may need more frequent cleaning. Dirty panels can lose 15-25% of their output — a professional clean typically costs far less than the energy you recover.

Yes. We frequently take over maintenance for systems installed by other companies — including those that have gone out of business. We inspect your system, identify any issues, and provide ongoing care regardless of who originally installed it.

Our annual health check covers: visual panel inspection for cracks and hotspots, mounting rail and clamp integrity, DC isolator and cabling check, inverter performance data review, earthing continuity test, generation data analysis, and a written report with recommendations.

Yes. Our annual service plan includes one professional clean, a full system health check, monitoring data review, and priority callout if issues arise. It is the most cost-effective way to keep your system performing at its best year after year.