October 13, 2024 Making the Switch to Greener Heating
How to ensure your green budget is safe from unscrupulous installers
For people hoping to exploit others, a crisis is the perfect environment. Fear and panic rush people into swift decisions, often applying less scrutiny than they ought to.
Harking back to the pandemic, there is a long list of controversies around the awarding of government contracts for personal protective equipment, Covid testing equipment, and behavioural research. Allegedly, people with few to no qualifications to supply the relevant goods or services were nodded through a dramatically curtailed procurement process, seemingly on the strength of their relationships with government figures.
If that was the case, the urgency of the situation would have been a major factor. If the authorities felt that they couldn’t afford to spend time on the normal procurement process and that every day was crucial, then they could have rushed into whatever decision seemed to deliver the fastest solution.
We need to beware that the climate crisis does not cause businesses to behave in the same way when it comes to renewables.
If businesses feel that they have no time to lose in getting their green power set up, or the government starts to panic that the 2050 net zero deadline is fast approaching, then the conditions could be ripe for unscrupulous suppliers to exploit hurried legislation or procurement.
Lessons from the Renewable Heat Incentive
The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), paid businesses for generating their own heat with renewable technology. Up to 10.44p/kWhr was available for hot water, and up to 9.09p/kWhr was available for heat.
Understandably, many businesses were very keen to take part, and there was a rush to install technology like biomass boilers so that those businesses could benefit from the subsidies for as long as possible. There was also a rush when tariffs were due to drop, and when the scheme was soon to close for new applications, to the point they supply struggled to keep up with demand.
In that environment, businesses that were desperate to obtain an RHI-eligible heating system were more willing to relax their standards or overlook a lack of expertise in their installers, as long as they could start claiming RHI payments.
The result was a lot of poor-quality installations by unscrupulous installers looking to profit from a frenzied market. Ultimately, it may have done serious damage to the progress towards net zero, simply by tarnishing the reputation of biomass in the eyes of many businesses and of some in government.
As 2050 approaches and the government fears that it may not meet its legal commitment to net zero, there may be a similar scenario for all renewables. However, even without such heightened circumstances, there are ‘cowboys’ ready to try their luck.
How to tell if your prospective solar installer is expert and professional
The benefits of Solar PV for business are significant. A guaranteed ROI, cheap (eventually free) electricity, and independence from a volatile power grid are motivating enough, even without taking into account the PR boost of a very visible commitment to the environment.
Businesses should beware, however, of letting enthusiasm cloud their judgement, and rushing into a relationship with installers who care more about the sale than about the project.
So, how can you tell if you are talking to a dedicated and qualified solar PV professional? Here are three questions to ask.
Do they insist on a survey?
You cannot complete a safe and effective solar installation without a survey. Every rooftop is different, and some cannot take a solar installation at all. In order to create an optimally power-generating solar array, in the most cost-effective way, a survey is fundamental. Do not trust an installer who wants to get started urgently. A serious installer will not begin work until they have completed a survey.
Can they talk to you about solar power optimisation?
You should be armed with questions about the best way to use solar power and how to maximise it. Experts will be comfortable discussing battery storage, time shifting (changing usage patterns according to energy generation levels), and how to repurpose surplus energy.
Do they have an accreditation?
A very efficient way to assess if a solar installer is legitimate is to check their accreditation. If you are not familiar with accrediting bodies, then it is easy to research the bodies that they claim membership of. For example, members of the Innasol Installer Network undergo rigorous training to uphold our legacy of design-led solutions and the highest quality technology.
If you are curious about installing commercial solar PV at your business, you can see what a bespoke solar PV system will look like at your company.
All you need to do is fill out a free, short and no-obligation questionnaire – and we will help you understand if solar PV is right for you.
Just get in touch on 01621 892613.
