WHERE TO STORE THEM

S Berrow says it’s preferable to install your inverter and batteries in the garage so they’re out of the way and you’re not disturbed by the hum that they omit.

The cabling usually runs inside your roof, but occasionally the installation site might not be connected to the home, which will then require trenching at an additional cost. S Battery banks do take up space, depending on the type you buy. Rack-mounted batteries require roughly a square metre of floor space for each cabinet, which can house around four battery modules. Wall-mounted batteries installed on a wall next to your inverter take up far less space. S Solar panels are typically installed on roofs for maximum exposure to the sun. Ground installations are possible but this is usually only done on large plots of land. It’s possible to do installations on all types of roofs except thatched roofs because of fire-safety reasons.

Homes that don’t have north-facing roofs, which get maximum daily sun, can still benefit from installing a solar power kit. The solar panel array can be split with one being installed on the east-facing side, to capture morning sun, and another on the west-facing side for the afternoon rays.

Installation can take between one and five days, depending on how many solar panels are needed.