How to Buy

• Introduction
• Grants
• Accreditation

Introduction

The UK energy demand continues to rise and with our dependence on foreign supplies to ‘top up’ our own production capacity this increases our cost of power and decreases our security.

There are many reasons why you might wish to consider solar photovoltaic (PV) power from Sharp which could be economical through environmental to social. These are 10 of ours:

10 Solar PV Installation Benefits

1. Own your electricity supply
2. Protect from rising fossil fuel and energy costs
3. Reduce the CO2 emissions of your home or business
4. Support the planet's sustainable energy future
5. Low whole life cost of your system
6. Earn money by selling excess electricity back to your Utility Company
7. Long life product with 25 year performance warranty on the modules
8. Potentially add value to your home/business premises
9. Integrate within your Corporate Social Responsibility programme (business)
10. Daylight not sunlight is what counts, produce electricity even on cloudy days

Grants

Historically installing the various microgeneration technologies have been considered both expensive and also complicated to arrange.

Today installing solar PV from Sharp has never been easier.

With over 40 years experience in solar power and with our modules manufactured here in the UK, Sharp have invested heavily to ensure you can be part of the solution.

As well as manufacturing more environmental products with reduced power consumption, Sharp are working with our business partners and Government to help solar power to become more assessable to the UK citizen or business.

The Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) – through the Energy Saving Trust (EST) – provides grants to householders of up to £2,500 per property towards the cost of installation solar photovoltaics through the Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP) Phase 1.

To be eligible to receive a grant, applicants must undertake certain energy efficiency measures, choose a certified installer and a certified product (such as Sharp PV modules) and have spoken to their local authority about planning requirements before applying for a grant.

Residential applicants are encouraged to apply online at www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk where possible as this provides an instant decision over whether a grant application has been successful or not.

BERR – through the Building Research Establishment (BRE) – also provides grants of up to £1 million per site for the installation of microgeneration technologies in public sector buildings (including schools, housing associations and hospitals) and charitable bodies through the LCBP Phase 2.

To be eligible to receive a grant, applicants must again use a certified microgeneration product (such as Sharp PV modules), supplied and installed by one of the framework suppliers as shown on the website.

Further details on the framework suppliers and how to apply for a grant can be found at www.lowcarbonbuildingsphase2.org.uk.

Accreditation

To support this grant programme, the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) sponsored by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform was launched in May 07 in its development phase. The new scheme builds on the previous Clear Skies product and installer certification scheme.

MCS evaluates products and installers against robust criteria for each of the microgeneration technologies, providing greater protection for consumers and ensuring that Government's grants and wider measures support effective and reliable installations.

The installer scheme has over 320 registered companies and as part of the development process, the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR) made notification in respect of the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (Products) to the European Commission, under the Technical Standards Directive (98/34/EC). The Commission's assessment of the scheme is currently ongoing.

Sharp are currently applying under the new guidelines and await the assessment from the European Commission but continue to be listed as approved products for grant applications under the previous Clear Skies scheme.

By looking at this page you are already one step closer to owning your own electricity with the economic and environmental benefits attached.

Click here to contact one of Sharp’s accredited installers and investigate installing your own PV system further.