Investing in thefuture of solartechnology

wirsol.co.uk

WIRSOL SOLAR UK LTD

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WIRSOL SOLAR UK LTD is part of the German based WIRSOL AG group,internationally recognised as experienced and professional providers of cutting-edgesolutions for Solar Photovoltaic (PV) consultation, planning, installation, maintenance,support and financing. Coordinating all of these aspects, WIRSOL is a one-stop shopfor customers, providing them with efficient solar energy production and the bestpossible financial returns.

Now in the UK, WIRSOL is bringing solarenergy within everybody’s reach, supplyingthe necessary technology and know-how tobuild a cleaner environment, one installationat a time.

Solar Photovoltaic: Therenewable energy source ofthe 21st century

What is solar photovoltaic?

Wirsol are market leaders in Solar Photovoltaicconsultation, installation and support. Financeand Feed-in Tariffs make solar an attractiveinvestment opportunity.

The sun provides enoughenergy in one hour toexceed the entire world’senergy demand for awhole year.

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The simple fact is that the sun willdeliver to the Earth’s atmosphere, inone year, the equivalent of double thetotal capacity of all of the Earth’scombined non-renewable resources(coal, oil, natural gas and uranium).In other words, if we now harness thesun’s energy in sufficient quantities,mankind will not only make a majorimpact on the planet – each one of us,in our domestic and working lives, canbenefit.

WIRSOL has become a Europeanmarket leader in realising the sun’simmense potential for carbon-freeenergy production, with its Solar PVtechnology.

Solar PV technology turns the lightfrom the sun into clean, stableelectrical power – how?

Solar PV cells convert the photonspresent in natural sunlight into electricalenergy, in essence by knocking theelectrons into a higher state of energy,and thereby creating electricity.

A PV cell is made up of two layers ofsemi-conductors, one as positive andone as negative, which are mostcommonly made of silicon. The energyfrom the absorbed sunlight istransferred to the semiconductor; thisprocess frees the electrons, allowingthem to jump from one layer to theother, which in turn creates a smallelectrical current.

This Direct Current (DC) is then fed intoan inverter which transforms thecurrent into Alternating Current (AC) foruse in all standard electrical systems,whether for industrial purposes or inyour home.

Not only is the sun’s energy free, itallows man to engage in energyproduction without the need for movingparts, without creating any noise orpollution, and causing no harm to theenvironment.

Wirsol are market leaders in photovoltaic consultationthrough to installation and support.

Finance and Feed-in-Tarrifs make solar technology asensible investment opportunity.

Solar in the UK

Photovoltaics: the driving forcetowards an ecologically soundfuture.

Companies, institutions and individuals nowinvesting in Solar PV energy create a win-winsituation, for themselves and theenvironment.

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The UK is not ‘too dark’ for SolarPV energy.

The UK has similar solar conditions toGermany, which is now by far thelargest global Solar PV market. Morethan enough sunlight falls on the UK togenerate substantial amounts ofenergy.

At WIRSOL, our research shows thatSolar PV will be one of the key driversin meeting the UK Government’scommitment and EU target – that 20percent of all our nation’s electricitymust come from renewable sources, by2020. In Britain, there is some catchingup to do.

This was why the Governmentintroduced the Feed-in Tariff schemefor Solar PV in April 2010, known as theFiT scheme.

Electricity generated excess to those premises’ needs can be ‘exported’ to the national grid, at apresent Government fixed rate of 3 pence per unit, paid in addition to the ‘FiT’ Solar PV generationpayments. These index-linked payments are guaranteed for 25 years.

* Rates are correct for the period from April 2010 to 31 March 2012.

Feed-in Tariffs (FiT’s) are index-linkedpayments, paid to the owner of theSolar PV installation by the premises’existing electricity supplier. Revenuecomes from every kilowatt/hour unit(kWh) of electricity generated by theSolar PV system. Whether theelectricity generated is used at thatsource, or is ‘exported’, the generationpayment is made.

The revenue generated from the FiTpayments, depends upon the scale ofthe system installed.

Some examples of the different ratesare shown here:

Scale of system Type of installation Rate/kWh Tarrif lifetime

≤ 4kWp Domestic (retrofit) 41.3 pence 25 years≤ 4kWp Domestic (new build) 36.1 pence 25 years> 4 –10kWp Small commercial 36.1 pence 25 years> 10 –100kWp Large commercial 31.4 pence 25 years> 100kWp – 5 MWp Very large commercial 29.3 pence 25 years

More than enough sunlight fallsover the UK to generatesubstantial amounts ofrenewable energy.

Four ways to workwith WIRSOL

WIRSOL is committed to thelong-term success of SolarPV technology in the UK.

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Whether Commercial or Residentialpremises WIRSOL have threedistinct purchasing options:

• Buy a WIRSOL Solar PV systemoutright, create your own power andenjoy the benefits of the Feed-inTariff payments.

• Let WIRSOL’s financial partnerswork with you to set out the mostsuitable financing scheme.

• Enjoy free installation of a completeSolar PV system, by workingtogether with WIRSOL. Under thisscheme, you benefit from freeelectricity, whilst WIRSOL owns andoperates the system for 25 years.

Commercial and InstitutionalServing business, industry, theeducation and health sectors with solarsystems which provide your ownsource of energy, reduce your carbonfootprint, improve your greencredentials and above all, provide asteady return over 25 years from yoursolar investment.

Residential‘Earn money by turning your house intoa personal power plant’ is an attractiveproposition for almost every homeowner. A reduction in your existinghome energy bills, with a simple yetradical solution, and all with a fixedreturn as part of a Government-backedscheme, is a very attractive option foranyone with a suitable property.

WholesaleFor PV installers across the UK,WIRSOL’s years of in-depth industryexpertise, buying power, technicalskills, training capability and marketknow-how mean that regionalinstallation companies in the PV sectorcan be assured of quality of equipmentand consultancy, as well as affordabilityand great service.

InvestorsA Government backed scheme with afixed level of return in a fast-growingindustry which is as strategically vitalas energy is clearly attractive tofinancial institutions, private andcorporate investors of all types – solarpower provides a certainty of return inuncertain times.

WIRSOL UK is organised to servefour distinct segments of thenation’s Solar PV market.

A risk free, financially stable andecologically sensibleinvestment, where your moneyis working for both you and acleaner environment at thesame time.

A modern Wirsol solar installation will not only protect yourroof, it should last as long as the roof itself.

Large or small, the options for solar investment can betailored to suit you.

Quality as standard

Market leading credentialsand a commitment toquality.

Our accreditation to the MCS schemeensures our UK customers are getting thebest possible micro-generation products andservices.

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WIRSOL installations offer REALassurance. WIRSOL are proudmembers of the REAL assurancescheme as we take customerconfidence and satisfaction seriously;that’s why we have installed over 4,000solar installations to date.

Being a member of the RenewableEnergy Association’s REAL assurancescheme ensures that the specification,installation and maintenance ofWIRSOL’s Solar PV systems are of thestandard of quality to ensure completecustomer confidence and satisfaction.

Our many years of experience inGermany and across Europe, plus ouraccreditation to the MCS scheme,ensures our UK customers are gettingthe best possible Solar PV products,services, consultation and installation.

As in so many industries, WIRSOL’sGerman origins mean that we takequality very seriously. A WIRSOL SolarPV installation should provide cleanelectricity for over 25 years, with little tono maintenance.

How? Because we only use the highestquality components in our solarsystems and we painstakingly preparethe whole Solar PV process to ensurethat all aspects of your installation willperform to their maximum, from thefinance to the energy.

MCS AccreditationIn the UK, the solar industry forms partof the wider alternative energy industry.The national standard which governssuch ‘micro-generation schemes’, is anindependent certification scheme(Micro-generation Certification Scheme– ‘MCS’) that evaluates solar productsand installers against rigorousstandards, to ensure every UKcustomer gets the best possibleproducts and services.

All WIRSOL products and all ournationwide installers are MCS certified.We aim to ensure that all our customersreceive the highest quality solarinstallation possible, right first time.

Frequently askedquestions

A guide to understandingand using Solar PV inBritain.

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What maintenance does asystem require?Very little, a WIRSOL solar installationhas no moving parts and the angle ofpanel installation means that they areself-cleaning, the surface neatlywashed clean when it rains. However,WIRSOL recommends an AnnualService scheme which provides athorough maintenance check of everyelement of your system, for greaterpeace of mind – please ask yourinstaller.

Does the manufacture of PVsolar cells use up more energythan they can generate? No. Producing solar cells is indeedrelatively energy-intensive, now with thenewest generation of panels, the‘energy payback time’, the time it takesfor a PV installation to generate asmuch energy as was needed tomanufacture the parts in thatinstallation in the first place, is nowbrought down to approximately 2years. Your present power sourcecomes from a power plant fired by afuel which can never attain energypayback – they have to constantlyconsume new fuel.

And finally, PV’s green credentials arecompleted by the fact that the‘modules’ are fully recyclable, soavoiding any permanent pollution.

What happens at night?At night, solar systems do not produceany electricity. You just simply accesselectricity at the cheaper rate from thenational grid just as you did before theWIRSOL system was installed.

Do I still need to be connectedup to the national grid? Yes. Not only to feed electricity youhave generated into the national grid,but also because we recommend thatyour property remains connected to thenational grid to use it when required.

What is the difference betweensolar thermal and solar electric(photovoltaic)? WIRSOL leads the way in Solar PVsystems – these convert the sun’senergy into electricity. Solar thermal isan older technology that uses the sun'sradiance to warm fluid as it passesthrough a type of radiator, to then heatwater or be distributed as warmth intothe property.

Do solar panels work in cloudyconditions?Yes, your system will generateelectricity even when it’s cloudy, even ifthe efficiency of the system will belower than on a bright clear day.

Can solar panels be recycled?WIRSOL are members of the PV cyclescheme, which takes the panels andequipment away at the end of theirlifespan and recycles them in anapproved environmentally responsiblemanner. More details about the schemecan be found at www.PVcycle.org.

A tailor made solar energysolution provides a risk- free,profitable investment as well asa personal contribution topollution and carbon reduction,and to joining the energyrevolution.

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Call us on 01832 737 470 or emailinfo@wirsol.co.uk

or alternatively you can find further details on our website at

wirsol.co.uk

WIRSOL SOLAR UK isharnessing the power of the sunto generate free, clean electricity.

To find out more or arrange forone of our team to survey thesuitability of your premises, justcontact us as shown below.

WIRSOL SOLAR AG (Headquarters)

Bruchsaler Str. 22

68753 Waghäusel-Kirrlach | Deutschland

T +49 (0) 72 54 9578 - 0

F +49 (0) 72 54 9578 - 900

E info@wirsol.com

www.wirsol.com

WIRSOL SOLAR UK LTD

Colpmans Farm

Islip | Kettering | Northampton NN14 3LT | UK

T +44 (0)1832 737 470

F +44 (0)1832 730 738

E info@wirsol.co.uk

www.wirsol.co.uk

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