Frequently Asked Questions

Solar panel prices have heavily decreased in recent years as a result of the growing volume of solar panels produced around the world. A full solar panel system varies in price depending on the size of the system.

For a regular house, installation costs about SEK 15-16 / kW (incl. VAT). By installing 30 solar panels (corresponding to a roof area of approx. 50 sqm) with a power of 320W per panel would costs 16 * 30 * 320 = 144 000 SEK.

Try our solar calculator to see your price

You can do a simple calculation of how much money you can save, since consumed electricity can be multiplied by the price per kilowatt hour.

Example:

A 3000 W system with production of 1000 kWh / kW gives a production of 3 x 1000 = 3000 kWh. With an electricity price of SEK 1.2 per kilowatt hour. This equals a saving of 3000 x 1.2 = SEK 3600

If electricity is not used but is placed on the electricity grid, the bill becomes a bit more complicated. At present, the network owner is obliged to buy the electricity that is supplied at Norpool's spot price, which varies somewhat depending on supply and demand, but usually is around SEK 0.30 to 0.40 per kilowatt-hour. Also, as a producer of renewable energy, you are entitled to apply for and sell electricity certificates and can additionally be entitled to a tax reduction of SEK 0.60 per kWh. You can apply for electricity certificates at the Swedish Energy Agency and, depending on the variable price, this gives an additional SEK 0.10 per kilowatt-hour input.

How much electricity you get from the system depends on a variety of circumstances and therefore a clear answer can rarely be given.

Generally, between 17-20% of the incoming solar energy is converted into electricity. It is usually stated how much electricity, i.e. the number of kilowatt-hours, produced per installed kW. This figure usually ranges from 800 - 1100 kWh / kW, mainly due to the annual solar radiation and the direction and inclination of the panels. Factors affecting annual production:

• Solar radiation - The average solar radiation in Sweden is estimated at 1060 kWh / m² per year.
• Direction of the panels - Preferably facing south.
• Slope of the panels - The optimal slope of the panels varies slightly with the seasons. In Sweden, an angle of between 35-50 degrees is recommended during the summer months when the panels generate the most electricity.
• Shade - Shadows from surrounding objects limit the power of the systems.
• Temperature - The solar panels have a higher power at lower temperatures. This is one reason why solar panels are so efficient in Sweden, despite our northern location, because the panels do not get as hot as they would in warmer countries.
• Snow cover - If the panels are snow covered, they produce a limited amount of electricity. This may bring down the annual production somewhat, but with a good slope on the panels, the snow should slide off by itself.
• Dirt - If the panels are covered in leaves, pollen, dirt etc. it will reduces their efficiency. In Sweden, however, we have such clean air that it’s a minor problem and rain and snowmelt provide natural cleaning.

Simply put, the following formula can be used to calculate production:

Installed power (kW) * Number of standard solar hours / year (kWh / m²) * Power depending on location and orientation (%) * Power loss in cables and inverters (%) = Annual production

Example:

A system of 10kW with installed power 1000kWh / m² in solar radiation, 90% power depending on location and orientation and 3% power loss in cables and inverters. 10kW * 1000kWh / m² * 0.9 * 0.97 = 8730 kWh / year

Our systems are connected to the electricity grid. As a micro-producer, this means that the electricity that is not used is automatically added to the electricity grid and can thus be consumed by e.g. your neighbors. Before the electricity is discharged on the mains, it passes the electricity meter in your house, which measures how much you supply on the grid. If your electricity meter is unable to measure outgoing electricity, the network owner is obliged to replace it without charge when installing your solar panels. However, in order to sell electricity, your total electricity consumption (during a year) must exceed the amount you sell to the grid.

When installing solar panels, your network owner is obliged to switch your electricity meter (free of charge) to one that can measure electricity in both directions. Just as your electricity trading company reads the electricity meter to know how much electricity you have purchased, the company also reads how much electricity you have used. The electricity they buy from you according to the terms of the subscription and information on how much you have put on the grid will therefore be on your invoices from the electricity company.

In order to know how much electricity your system generates overall, you can easily read your inverter or using smart services in your mobile device. If you want to be able to see the information directly in your mobile or desktop and see how much you sell to the grid, a separate "smart meter" must be installed. The smart meter is not included in the standard packages, but can be selected as an additional product.

We connect our facilities to three-phase.

Yes, to ensure your safety when purchasing solar panels, we only work with large and well-known suppliers with the highest quality products. Should something against all presumption not work properly, all our products have long warranty periods. The product guarantees on the various parts are as follows:

• Solar panels 10 years
• Optimizer 25 years
• Inverter (from SolarEdge) 12 years
• Inverter (from Fronius) 5 years
• Mounting system 10 years

In addition, there is a 25-year 80 percent power guarantee on the solar panels and we provide a 5-year guarantee on the work issued.

Solar panels are sensitive to shadows because solar panels in a traditional plant are connected in series. There, the weakest link always restricts all other solar panels in that loop. To avoid this sensitivity, we use so-called “smart solar panels” in most of our installations where the units are connected in parallel and thus do not limit each other. If you have shade on the roof, you can still get a good production with a well-dimensioned system.

Solar collectors convert the sun's energy into hot water, while solar panels convert the energy into electricity. We at Svea Solar have chosen to focus only on solar panels. A major advantage of solar panels is that it can be combined with other energy sources, such as geothermal heat. Similar solutions are more difficult with solar collectors.

In appearance, it is quite easy to distinguish between these different types of panels since polycrystalline solar panels are often blue-speckled while monocrystalline are generally black. The difference from a technical point of view is that the polycrystalline solar panel consists of several crystals while the monocrystalline consists of only one crystal. The production of monocrystalline is somewhat more advanced and the price of these panels is therefore usually slightly higher. However, the higher price is generally offset by a higher efficiency against the polycrystalline panels.

Read more about different types of solar panels

This is an issue that is important to us at Svea Solar and which we see is crucial for a healthy solar panel market in Sweden. The answer is no, anyone should not install solar panels. As soon as a solar panel is hit by sunlight, it starts producing electricity. When the solar panels are connected together, high voltages arise which is dangerous to work with without proper training. Therefore, solar panel in Sweden must be installed by trained personnel and by a company that has official electrical degrees amongst its employees. This is something that many of today's installers do not have, which means that their installations are not covered by insurance and thus they are not installed correctly. All companies installing solar panels must have a self-inspection program registered with the Swedish Electric Safety Authority. You as a customer can check this by visiting the Swedish Electricity Safety Agency website and clicking on ”Check the electricity provider”.

Yes, we offer both type 1 and type 2 chargers. As of 2018, the type 2 charger is European standard.

Yes they are! You can easily, control and monitor everything via our app.

It depends, but usually a charging station costs about SEK 14,000 and SEK 20,000. Please request a quote and we will gladly help you customize a solution that fits your needs.

Luckily, the government has allocated funds to support the expansion of solar panels. The grant covers a maximum of 20% of the investment cost for companies and individuals, and you are able to apply as long as the government allocated money lasts. There is already a queue of applications and therefore one cannot expect to be able to receive a grant the year they apply (depending on which county you live in). The conditions for the grant are as follows:

• The grant applies to all types of grid connected solar panel systems
• The grant is for a maximum of 20% of the installation (both material and work) for companies and the application must be submitted before ordering the plant
• The grant is for a maximum of 20% of the installation (both material and work) for private individuals and the application can be submitted up to 6 months after the installation is completed.
• A maximum of SEK 1.2 million is paid per system and property
• The grant is for a maximum of 20% of the installation (both material and work) for private individuals and the application can be submitted up to 6 months after the installation is completed.

Read more about solar panel grants