Please click on a question below for the answer:
- Why install solar?
- How can solar panels work in the UK?
- Why solar, not wind?
- Is there enough sunshine in the UK for solar energy?
- What is the science behind solar panel technology?
- Can solar panels can add value to my property?
- Will solar panels replace my energy bills fully?
- Do I need planning permission?
- What temperatures can I expect from a solar hot water?
- Is there any ongoing maintenance needed?
- Will PV solar produce all my electric needs?
- What happens to the electricity I produce but do not use?
- How much energy can PV and Solar Hot Water panels produce?
- Can I get grant funding?
Why install solar?
More and more people are getting wise to solar power and installing domestic solar panels because:
1. Free energy, which means free electricity, heating and hot water.
2. Increase in property value.
3. Improving solar technology means that new solar panels are more efficient at extracting power from the sun.
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How can solar panels work in the UK?
The UK receives 60% of the solar energy compared with the equator. Each square metre of the UK receives between 900 – 1200kwh of solar radiation each year. By installing Photovoltaic (Solar Electric) and Solar thermal (Solar Hot Water) this means that your Electricity and Hot Water bills can be greatly reduced per year and also reduce your carbon emissions.
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Why solar, not wind?
Wind is great on larger scale installations or on coastal areas or wind swept hills, but your average urban location means performance and efficiency is low. You need a larger wind turbine to make a sizeable dent in the average domestic energy bill. This has been confirmed by government testing. Urban locations do not have the correct wind speeds and turbine vibration problems could lead to structural building damage.
"The likely output of a micro-wind turbine on a house in a large city such as Birmingham would be less than 150kWh a year; 2% of the energy consumption of an average house".
This is where Solar comes in.
The panels can naturally integrate themselves into Domestic, Commercial, Industrial and Public buildings in urban and agricultural areas. They don't stand out like a wind turbine and normally are council planning friendly.
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Is there enough sunshine in the UK for solar energy?
YES THERE IS.
Compared to the equator, the UK receives approximately 60% of the energy received there, ample to operate an efficient solar panel system if you have a south facing roof, even in the north of Scotland.
10 years from now, the UK will import 75% of its gas.
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What is the science behind solar panel technology?
In a nutshell when solar radiation/solar energy enters the earth's atmosphere, it does so as a short wave. When these short waves hit something, be it a person, building or solar panels, then the short wave converts to long-wave. This process expels energy and this energy produces heat. That heat is then captured by the solar panel and then is transferred into the building.
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Can solar panels can add value to my property?
Yes, your solar installation will increase your property value. In today's climate of high energy pricing more and more people are investing in solar energy whether it be domestic, industrial, commercial or public buildings.
Local housing associations across the UK have been investing in solar for a number of years, this passes the benefit of cheaper bills to their tenants.
A survey carried out by MORI found people are willing to pay more for a home built to high environmental standards. Estate agents are now de-valuing homes for sale with poor 'Energy Assessments' results, due to the HIPS reports.
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Will solar panels replace my energy bills fully?
This all depends on the type of system is installed; a stand-alone system not connected to the National Grid PV (Solar Electric) system will generate all its own power, these systems are mainly used in agricultural situations such as stables etc. A domestic or industrial/commercial PV system will help to greatly reduce the cost of electric bills. A Solar Thermal (Solar Hot Water) system will produce a substantial amount of solar hot water.
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Do I need planning permission?
In most cases planning permission is not normally required. From 6 April 2008 planning permission will not be required for solar panels, unless you live in a listed building or a building of historical interest.
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What temperatures can I expect from a solar hot water?
On sunny days, your hot water temperature can reach 75C. (45C is hot enough for bathing) But this is dependent on your microclimate and geographical position within the UK and solar panel system you choose. On cloudy days this will still reduce the need to use your boiler, thus extending your boiler life too.
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Is there any ongoing maintenance needed?
The system is kept clean by weathering, just like a normal roof window. A periodic check is recommended to test the PH level of the solar fluid solution and connections, just as you would on your domestic central heating system but other than that the system can be fitted and left to run.
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Will PV solar produce all my electric needs?
This depends on you energy consumption rate and the type and size of system installed for instance a 1KW PV system can give you 850KW hours per year. Using this type of technology reduces electricity bills and helps to reduce your carbon footprint. The government has announced that there will be a payback initiative on electricity generated from your PV (Solar Electric) system from April 2010.
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What happens to the electricity I produce but do not use?
When PV (Solar Electric) is producing electricity, and you are not using it, it will then automatically feed the electricity back out into the National Grid.
A Government Pay back Initiative in April 2010 is being launched. This will pay you for the electric you have produced and have not used.
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How much energy can PV and Solar Hot Water panels produce?
Each case is different, but a PV system installation would generate approximately 850kWh/year per KWp installed. So a typical 2-kWp system would generate around 1700 kWh per year. A hot water solar panel at Peak can produce up to 2KW output this is similar to an immersion heater, or 1,500kWh to 2,000kWh annually.
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Can I get grant funding?
Grant funding can be available if certain criteria are adhered to such as the correct depth of loft insulation, low energy lighting, cavity wall insulation etc. Also the government have announced that in April 2010 a pay back initiative “You get paid” for PV (Solar Electric) you have produced will come into effect.
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