Alertme launches online solar energy tool

Alertme, a company that sells consumer energy monitoring devices, has released a new online tool.

Alertme Virtual Solar has been designed to help people estimate how effective Solar PV roof panels could be in helping them reduce their electricity bills as well as earning money by exporting surplus energy to the electricity grid.

Using Met Office location-based data people type in their postcode or area and the tool calculates the potential electricity generated per year and works out the savings and earnings based on the UK Government’s Feed In Tariffs (FIT).

The results can then be further customised by roof size and direction, assuming the roof is not obscured by taller buildings or trees.

For example, a medium-sized semi-detached house in East Dulwich, south east London could make annual savings of up to £1,093 and generate up to 2,266kWh (kilowatt hours) of energy.

Jody Haskayne from Alertme said: “Solar panels can be a significant up-front investment, so it’s important to understand if it will be viable for you and it’s also important to know which technologies qualify for the Government FIT incentives to ensure you can maximise your investment.

“If it is viable, not only can you get free energy, hence reducing your electricity bills, but you can also earn money on all the electricity you generate, whether or not you use it."