Let's talk about Solar Panels
Solar Panels have been around for years but more and more Homeowners are choosing to install them as they’re becoming more affordable and doing our bit for the environment is in the forefront of most of our minds.
Solar Panels are also known as photovoltaic systems (PV systems) and they take advantage of one of nature’s most powerful yet free resources: the energy produced by the sun. Solar Panels use semiconductor technology to convert energy from sunlight into electricity that can power your household.
Switching to renewable solar energy is great for the environment and another interesting upside is that they will bring your bills down as well which is always a bonus!
As mentioned previously the price of buying solar panels has decreased over the years, as much as 80% over the last decade and they continue to become cheaper to install as time goes on. This is mainly down to new technologies being found to make them more cost efficient. They are forever growing in popularity which also often makes things cheaper as more people opt for an idea.
Nearly 12,000 panels are installed each year according to national government statistics. Benefits are strong if you decide to install them, they don’t just reduce your energy bills but they can also help you earn money from surplus electricity generated. Also as of April 2022 VAT on energy efficient measures was scrapped by the UK government.
The benefits are astounding, they work all year round generating clean, emission-free electricity to power your home. They also have a long life span of around 25 years and will increase the market value of your property.
You can also earn money from solar grants. This is where you sell surplus electricity that has been generated by your panels back to the national grid.
Reducing your carbon footprint is obviously a huge win too. Solar Panel powered homes help to eliminate domestic harmful emissions.
How do Solar Panels work?
There are two types of Solar Panel, Photovoltaic panels that produce energy and Solar thermal panels that are used for heating purposes.
Solar photovoltaic panels
The Photovoltaic (PV) systems are possibly the most commonly used solar panels in the UK. The solar cells are made from semiconductors, usually silicon and these absorb the sunlight converting it directly into electricity.
The Solar Cells are connected electrically and then put together into a frame – this is what makes up the solar panel. If you connect many solar panels together, they form something called a Solar Array. The final part is adding the cables, inverter and brackets, once this has been completed a solar panel system is born!
They then need to attach the electrical conductors to the positive and negative terminals to form an electrical circuit. The Electrons can then be caught in the form of an electrical current (electricity). Along with the cell’s voltage, the current will then define the power/wattage that the solar cell can produce. This is how the solar panel takes the sunlight and converts it into electricity.
What is a Grid Connected System and what is the difference from a Stand alone PV System?
The Grid Connected systems use the local utility grid to make sure you never run out of electricity. If the solar panel system you are using generates excess electricity (more than you’re using each day), the remaining energy can be exported back to the national grid. If you end up using more than what has been generated by the solar panels you can also use the grid’s supply.
The other type is a Stand alone PV system – these are not connected to the grid. They use a solar battery system. The batteries hold onto the electricity made from your panels. These are generally used in areas that can’t be connected to the grid and they are more expensive as the batteries are pricey.
Solar batteries, similar to the rechargeable batteries you use for things in the home store the electric generated by the panel and you can use these in the evenings when the solar panels are not generating any electricity. These can be used even if you are connected up to the grid or not.
The cost of a Solar battery storage system is not on the cheap side, they range from around £1200-£6000 depending on the size. Due to advancements in technology new ideas and solutions are being thought of all of the time – so as we move forward to the future costs may come down.
What is a Solar Thermal Collector?
These use sunlight to heat up water in a cylinder that stores water. This can then be used to heat your home. Solar thermal panels are mounted to the roof much like an Electric Solar PV Panel. Their appearance is different, they have multiple pipes that heat up the water rather than cells.
Both solar thermal and thermodynamic panels can be used for space heating, but most commonly they provide the domestic hot water (DHW) needs of a household.
Are solar panels efficient in the UK, it’s not like we have the best of weather?
The great British weather doesn’t deter a Solar Panel from being efficient. Obviously they will be more efficient on a really sunny day but they don’t need direct sunlight, they will produce a good amount of electricity on one of our much loved cloudy days and throughout the winter.
In all honesty, efficient solar panels are very suited to cooler temperatures. The Panels can overheat in hot countries so the UK is actually a really excellent place for them. For effective use in the Winter you must prepare and maintain them. Also it’s important to get a fully qualified person to fit them as the angling of the panels will also affect the efficiency of the system you have in place.
Solar panel usage is efficient in snowy climates!!
Have you ever heard of the albedo effect? Neither had I until recently, well I didn’t know it had a fancy name. It’s a phenomenon that causes solar panels to be hugely effective even in snowy climates. The bright white colour of the Snow reflects the sunlight, so more electricity can be produced. It’s the same reason those that enjoy Winter Sports get sunburnt when skiing.
If you live in this environment you will need to ensure that your panels are constantly cleared of snow as this would reduce their efficiency. They can’t be covered by anything.
Are solar panels really worth the investment?
A 4kW solar panel system has an output of 3,400 kWh per year and costs around £6000 to purchase. If you consider the average annual electricity consumption of a household is around 2,900 kWh, installing solar panels should cover 117% of your electricity demands if you have absolutely perfect conditions. All of this will depend on the sunshine and energy usage. Also remember that you can earn money for surplus energy that you can send into the grid, so in conclusion I think they’re definitely worth a punt!