Efficiency of a photovoltaic solar power plant
The best direction for a photovoltaic power plant is facing south, inclined at an angle of 30° to the horizontal. Nevertheless, very little efficiency is lost if it faces south-east or south-west at an angle of between 20 and 50 degrees.The best regions for installing such a plant are those where there is the most sun and not necessarily the hottest. Indeed, the modules lose some of their efficiency due to heat.
Warranties
There are two types of warranty for the equipment: the efficiency warranty and the product warranty.The modules are guaranteed for an efficiency of 80% over an average of 20 years, and the product is guaranteed for between 2 and 5 years.
All the other components are guaranteed for between 2 and 5 years under the product warranty. Both the modules and inverters are designed to withstand extreme weather conditions.
Sustainability
MaintenanceA photovoltaic facility does not require a lot of maintenance. All the same, you are advised to call a technician out twice a year, to check the electrical connections, check the colour of the cells (if a cell is black, it means it is in bad condition), and inspect the attachments.
Purchase contract
The EDF-connection contract is established once and for all.
The purchase contract is signed for a period of 20 years at a guaranteed price which is indexed to the cost of living. In the event of moving house, changing owner or changing operator, the contract can be terminated or transferred to the new operator for the remaining period of the previous 20-year contract.
Safety and insurance
A photovoltaic power plant is fitted with all the components needed for protection against voltage surges, lightning and network by-pass in the event of EDF cutting the power on the low voltage network.The power plant's operator therefore needs public liability insurance to cover the electrical risks. As regards the owner, the power plant must be included in the building's insurance policy for the risks of fire and theft. Public liability insurance must sometimes be contracted, for example, to cover the risk of the facility falling if it is installed on a roof in a public area.