Solar PV Electricity
Solar PV (which stands for Photovoltaic) panels use energy from the sun to make electricity. They only require daylight - not direct sunlight - to work. However, the greater the intensity of light, the more electricity is produced. If you have mains electricity, any excess that you produce can be sold back to the grid. When demand in your house is high, you can buy electricity from the grid. Where there is no mains supply, power can be stored for later use in batteries
The cost of installing Solar PV is normally several thousand pounds, but you can now get a good return on this. The government announced new 'feed-in tariffs' which apply from April 2010 and which mean you will be paid a good rate for all the electricity that your panels generate. This means that as well as generating your own low carbon electricity, you can also generate a new source of income - which will be free of income tax and can deliver a return of up to 8% on top of covering the installation costs.
Is my home suitable?
Solar is suitable in the following circumstances:
- You have 10 to 20 square metres of roof space which is not shaded by trees or other buildings
- Solar is most effective on roofs that face south, south-east or south-west. You can install on north-facing roofs, but the output will only be about 60% of a south-facing roof, and the payback reduced accordingly
- Solar panels can be installed on pitched, curved or flat roofs. The best angle is 30-40 degrees in the UK
- Roof is strong enough to hold the weight of the panels (an installer will be able to advise on this)
You do not normally need planning permission unless the building is listed or in a conservation area, but you should first check with your local authority - The further south you are the better: Cornwall receives up to 30% more solar energy than northern England.
Different types of system
The size and type of system you should use depends on your house and also whether or not you are having roof repairs done or your roof replaced
You can buy Solar PV roofing tiles that look just like normal roof tiles but generate electricity. You can incorporate them into your roof without changing its shape or style. This can be particularly suitable if you are re-roofing your home.
Otherwise, a framed system can be installed. This is made up of a number of standard solar panels that fit into a frame which is then attached to your roof. These systems are relatively unobtrusive and can be fitted on flat or sloped roofs
How much will it cost?
- The average domestic system costs between £5,000 and £8,000 per kwp to install, with most systems being between 1.5 and 3 kwp
- However from April 2010 you benefit from a 'feed-in tariff'which means you get paid for every bit of electricity you generate, with payments guaranteed for 25 years and income tax-free. The government estimates this will cover the capital cost of installation plus generate an annual return of up to 8% for you
- The wiring and components of systems should be checked every few years by a qualified technician.
- Other than that, systems connected to the national grid need little maintenance.
- As soon as your system is up and running you can start saving on your electricity bills.
- With a life span of around 25 years, a 2.5kwp system should save around 1 tonne of CO2 each year and up to £200 of your electricity bill.
What should I do next?
If you are interested in installing a system, then you should contact a reputable installer to assess your property's suitability, advise you on which system is best, give you a quote and advise you with grant funding. You can request a survey and quotation from our partner Solar Panel installer by following this link to our enquiry form.
