Who we are
Integre Solar UK Ltd is a small, local installer based in Mole Valley, serving Surrey and West Sussex. We focus on delivering high-quality Solar PV, Battery Storage and associated technologies at competitive prices. With over 7 years’ experience and more than a thousand properties surveyed, our Managing Director, Steve Mander, personally oversees every project from initial consultation to installation. This depth of experience means we can design a system that’s genuinely tailored to your property, lifestyle and budget, considering all the variables that make the difference between a solar installation that simply works and one that truly delivers.
As our name suggests, integrity is at the heart of everything we do. We’ve seen too many homeowners left disappointed by generic systems that weren’t designed with their needs in mind. That’s why we take the time to understand exactly what you want from your investment, whether that’s maximising savings, powering an electric vehicle, or achieving a particular aesthetic. We only install quality products, fitted by experienced professionals who work to the highest standards, and we provide ongoing support long after your system is up and running.
How Solar PV (PhotoVoltaic) Works
Solar PV denotes Solar PhotoVoltaic, which converts sunlight to electricity, to distinguish this technology from Solar Thermal systems, which channel heat energy from the sun directly into your hot-water system.
Solar PV systems work by converting sunlight directly into electricity using a semiconductor material, typically silicon. This process is called the photovoltaic effect, in which light photons excite electrons in the silicon, causing them to flow and create an electric current. The resultant electricity is in the form of direct current (DC) which is converted to alternating current (AC) by an inverter. Alternating current is the type of electricity used in your home and by the National Grid.
Testimonials
Why Choose Integre Solar
If you would rather use a national or multi-national firm, we are not for you. We are a small, local installer, intent on accelerating the growth of local Solar PV, Battery Storage and associated technology installations primarily in Surrey and West Sussex.
As such, we can focus on a bespoke system for you, featuring high quality product expertly installed at an affordable price, as we do not have the overheads of a large corporation.
We only use specific sub-contractors, carefully vetted by the Principal. These sub-contractors share our company values of integrity and commitment to quality. They are of supervisory standard and have shown a willingness to go the extra mile when it comes to quality of installation and meeting customers’ needs.
Each installation is personally designed and administered by the Principal, Steve Mander, who has surveyed many different types of properties for Solar PV over the past 7 years. He will also be on site during installation.
Of course, we are fully qualified so hold MCS Certification and have membership of RECC (Renewable Energy Consumer Code) which we are fully committed to.
We genuinely care about our customers and their needs, so will always leave the decision to invest in Solar PV with you – we firmly believe in your personal agency and are opposed to pressure sales, in any form.
And finally … we’re a friendly bunch, so we are confident you will enjoy working with us on your project! We want to make your journey into the world of free energy a gratifying and positive one.
Solar PV & Associated Technologies – Myths and Motivators
Generally, a Solar PV installation, plus home-storage battery and perhaps a hot-water optimiser, should yield 10-25% savings, on initial investment, per annum (on average, over a 25 year period). This means, worst case scenario, you should get all your money back within 10 years then continue to save up to 70% of your electricity bill per annum. Best case scenario would be return on investment within around 5 years with substantial savings thereafter.
The predictive survey tools we use are strictly regulated by MCS (Microgeneration Certification Scheme). They take into account system degradation and equipment longevity. Whilst no-one can accurately predict future energy pricing, we do not think they are decreasing significantly any time soon. It is our view that not many investments yield this level of stability and return.
Additionally, solar panels and home-storage batteries have significantly improved in efficiencies, aesthetics, general sophistication and price-point over the past 15 years to make an installation much more attractive and within reach of millions more UK households.
System benefits also include the ability to take advantage of variable tariffs. This is because electricity macro-generation is difficult to “switch off”. For example, wind turbines continue to supply power day and night. Therefore, a constant supply of electricity is generated 24/7. Much of that generated at night is wasted, so some energy companies provide cheap night-tariffs when general use is very low. If you have a home-storage battery, it can be programmed to charge-up at night, on cheap electricity then release it in the daytime, thus saving you over 70% per kWh. This works particularly well in winter, when your panels are not generating to the same level as the rest of the year.
Then there are Feed-in Tariffs. All on-grid customers will feed some generated electricity back into the National Grid when their solar panels are producing more electricity than can be used or stored by the household. You get paid for that electricity, which adds to your savings.
In addition, our government is encouraging the adoption of electric vehicles. We also install car charging points so, if you have an EV, Solar PV will provide you with free fuel. This substantially increases your savings / returns. Of course, the cost of your installed system adds to that of your property anyway, so its value is retained from day one
Whilst it is true that China dominates this space, there are extremely competitive UK and European alternatives.
For example, GivEnergy is an innovative UK company providing high quality Inverters, Batteries and All-in one systems. All GivEnergy software is designed, built and controlled here in the UK. Their products are very competitive particularly in providing great value for money.
This statement might have been true 15 years ago, but now studies have shown that a high-quality Solar Panel installation increases the value of a property by far more than its original cost. This is due in large part to the recent substantial increases in energy pricing. It is also where long product warranties show their true value.
If you have solar panels installed with a 15 year product warranty and you are selling your property 10 years in, a prospective buyer could view the installation as a liability, with only 5 years’ warranty remaining. Conversely, given a 25 year product warranty, the new buyer has 15 years’ peace of mind. Any panels we install should last in excess of 40 years and this is where low degradation rates come in. All solar panels degrade over time but a high-quality module should retain around 88% of its original capacity at 30 years, then continue to degrade at the same linear rate subsequently.
Bear in mind too that a property offering approximately 70% savings on future electricity bills should be more attractive than one that does not.
There can be a misconception that unless your property has a south-facing roof, it will not be suitable for solar panel installation. In fact, most properties have roofs that make the Solar PV proposition financially attractive. Say, for example, your roofline runs North to South, we may propose installing panels on both roofs, giving you generation from the East-facing roof in the morning and the West-facing one in the afternoon / evening. To find out if your roof works for Solar PV, give us a call for a free off/on-site survey and quote.
We installed on one customer’s roof set at 115 degrees off south, twinned with a 9.5kW capacity battery and hot water optimiser. The family owns an EV that sits in the drive during the day. They have calculated they are saving over £250 per month! In any event, a survey and comprehensive quote, including predictive savings, is free through us.
Birds nesting under panels can be an issue, particularly pigeons. However, there are a number of products available that stop this. One such system is SolaSkirt. The barrier provided is black sheet aluminium, therefore impenetrable by birds and will last as long as your system does. This product is manufactured in the UK and we would suggest it as a standard addition to suitable installations over one-storey, since nesting pigeons have become more of an issue in recent years – they’re learning fast! If the aesthetics of SolaSkirt are not to your liking, there are other options that are inconspicuous but remain good deterrents.
We may be biased but we think they enhance the look of a roof! It is the case that old-style solar panels, with unpainted aluminium frames and mounting systems look awful.
However, modern panels and installation superstructures are generally black, with a sleek, modern look to them.
We generally use “back contact” panels that look amazing, twinned with all-black mounting systems. Most of our customers are pleasantly surprised by the look of our installations.
Should you be re-roofing, perhaps an “in-roof” system would work for you. The panels in this case are flush with the roof, taking the place of expensive new roof tiles and providing an integrated look.
Even so, there remains a strong financial case to invest in Solar PV.
The individual can choose to lead by example. The more adopters, the more mainstream Solar PV will become. In Germany, 38% of households have Solar PV on their roofs. Here in the UK that figure is around 5% and Germany has significantly less sunlight than we do! In any event the financial benefits remain compelling.
Individual product warranties hold regardless of the status of your installer, hence their importance. In addition, through us, you will have an independent insurance of 5 years’ duration, covering you for any installation failure, irrespective of installation company used. Please note that we independently provide our own 10 year workmanship warranty.
This area is important so please be vigilant. Many installers only post 1-2 year insurance and/or workmanship warranties, which reduces their risk of future outlay for remedial work, but increases yours in the unlikely event of an issue. Also, offering long insurance and workmanship warranties indicates confidence in the installation’s reliability / longevity.
We focus on quality of panel and their installation. This is because scaffolding is required for access to most roofs and there is also a significant labour cost to re-installation. Therefore, as a customer, you want to avoid the necessity of replacement. This means your modules should be durable, reliable and keep generating at a high level. The extra cost of a high-quality panel is negligible compared to the benefit afforded, since high quality modules are available at surprisingly competitive prices and much of total system cost is the labour involved in access and installation.
There can be a misconception that panel efficiency and degradation figures are not particularly important – they are. Not all panels are equal. Investing in inferior modules can easily cost you more than the price of the initial installation, over the lifetime of the system.
It is also important to be aware of the difference between product and performance warranty. A manufacturer may post a 30-year performance warranty but only a 15-year product warranty. If a manufacturer does not have confidence in the longevity of their product, neither should you. Solar PV is a medium/long-term investment.
A Solar PV and Battery Storage System can be a “Fit and Forget” proposition. These systems are remarkably reliable, automated and self-sufficient. However, the majority of owners cannot help looking at the app to see how much electricity / revenue is being generated / saved.
There can be a concern that the panels need cleaning, but what if they’re on a 2 or 3 storey roof? Because the panels are pitched at angle, they are automatically cleaned by the effects of rain, frost and snow.
In the unlikely event of any issue, just call us and we will resolve it quickly. Within the warranty period, this is a free service.
Currently, local grants are available for energy-saving improvements, including solar panels. These are arranged through local councils and generally apply to households with incomes of £36,000 or less and/or those on certain benefits. If interested, the link is https://www.gov.uk/apply-warm-homes-local-grant
Please note Integre Solar UK Ltd is not involved in this scheme.
Generally, investment in residential solar is limited to property owners. There is finance available for homeowners to invest in Solar PV, but current interest rates, typically 10-15% APR, severely bite into predicted savings on energy bills. This excludes payment of the capital sum. In the current market Integre does not recommend taking out finance to pay for an installation.
