Five Fun Facts About Solar PanelsAbout

The savings you can realize with solar panels are serious business, not just for pocketbook but for the planet. Not everything about solar PV systems has to be deadly serious, though. Here are five fun facts about solar panels that you may not know.

Solar energy is nothing new. Leonardo Da Vinci had sketches of solar concentrators in his notebooks in the 1400s – of course, he wasn’t planning for electricity. That took a few more centuries.

Scientists were exploring ways to use the sun to generate electricity in the 1860s. When they realized that coal and oil supplies would last far longer than the scientists at the time had predicted, interest in developing solar energy waned. Sound familiar? In 1973 and 1979, oil crises sparked interest in developing solar energy again, and solar panels were born in that era. Again, when the crisis passed, development stopped. This time around, concerns about global warming have combined with the instability in the oil-producing nations to raise concerns and the development of solar PV systems has proceeded by leaps and bounds.

The cost of making solar panels has dropped drastically over the past ten years. In 2001, it was estimated that it cost about $3.28 per watt to produce solar panels in China. In 2009, a US-based maker of solar panels achieved the Holy Grail of solar energy production – solar crystals that cost $1 or less per watt to manufacture. The thin-film solar panels were cheaper in large part because they could be produced in about 2 ½ hours.

The earth receives more energy from the sun in one hour than the entire world uses in an entire year. Is it any wonder that we’re trying to harness that energy for use in solar panels?

Solar panels aren’t just for the home. In 1999, the first solar powered plane launched in the United States. In 2010, a Swiss pilot flew a solar-powered airplane overnight, proving that the solar panels affixed to its wings could collect enough energy during the day to fly all night. And in May, 2011, the same Swiss pilot flew the plane, powered by 12,000 solar PV cells on its first international flight.

Of course, you won’t be expecting your house to take off in flight if you install solar panels on the roof, but you can expect to save a substantial amount of dosh on your electricity bill. To find out just how much money you can save with a solar PV system, contact a local solar installer and request an evaluation. That’s where you’ll get the really fun facts about solar panels.

Fun Facts About Solar Panels

As rooftops across the UK sprout shiny, flat solar panels and people throughout the country reap the benefits of lower energy costs, the planet reaps the benefits as well – solar panels produce clean energy that doesn’t pollute the air or contribute to global warming. Most people know the basic stuff about solar PV systems – that they’re made from silicon crystals and generate electricity from the sun. Anyone who has done even the most basic research also knows that most solar PV systems will pay for themselves in about 10 to 12 years. But there are also fun, obscure facts about solar panels that you can drop into your conversation here and there to impress your friends and family with how much you know about the subject. Here are just a few.

What country has the highest concentration of solar panels installed? If you guessed one of the tropical countries near the equator, you’d be wrong. The right answer is Germany, which installed its millionth grid-tied solar PV system in November, 2011. Solar panels account for about 3 percent of consumer electricity in the country, and will account for 10 percent by the year 2020.

Solar panels generate electricity even on cloudy days. In Germany, for instance, most cities average between 9 and 18 rainy days per month – hardly the climate where you’d expect solar panels to be so productive. Germany’s climate and geographical orientation is very similar to that of the UK, suggesting that solar PV installations will be as successful in the UK as in Germany.

There are credible reports that solar panels installed during the 1960s and 1970s are still operating and delivering electricity to their users. When you install a solar PV system, you’re guaranteeing yourself a source of electricity for life.

Leonardo Da Vinci had sketches of systems to use the sun’s energy in his notebooks way back in the 1400s. Solar energy has been around for a long, long time.

Installing solar panels reduces your reliance on outside sources of energy, which in turn, reduces the country’s reliance on outside sources of energy. When you install a solar PV system, you’re helping improve the energy security of the whole company.

Solar PV installation is generally a quick and painless operation. Once your home has been surveyed and a solar company has determined that you have an appropriate roof space for solar panels, your solar PV system can be installed in a few hours – or at most, over the course of a day. And you won’t even have to worry about disruption of your normal electricity. Generally, the installers only need to cut the power to your home for a few minutes to tie the new solar panels into your existing electrical system.

Want to know more about solar panels and solar PV systems? Contact a local company that installs solar panels and schedule a consultation.

Five Benefits of Solar Panels

The government has been pushing solar PV systems hard lately, but many people remain unconvinced. If you’re one of those who are still wavering on whether or not to give over your roof real estate to solar panels, it may be because you’re not fully aware of the benefits of a solar PV system. These facts about solar panels may help tip the balance in favor of installing a renewable energy system on your property.

You’ll Save Money

One of the strongest arguments in favor of solar panels is the economic one. While solar PV systems represent a significant upfront investment, you’ll start reaping the benefits in savings immediately. Solar panels generate free electricity for your use, and you’ll use that electricity before your electrical system draws on electricity from your power supplier. That means that every kilowatt hour of energy your system produces will save you the cost of a kWh on your power bill each month. Even better, your solar panels will continue to save you money on your electric bill year after year, even after you’ve recouped the initial investment – which you’ll recover far faster, thanks to the Feed-in Tariff Scheme installed by the government.

You’ll Make Money

The Feed-in Tariff Scheme provides payments to solar PV system owners for every single kWh of energy the system produces, including the energy that you use in your own home. That’s right – the government will pay you for the electricity you use as long as it’s generated by your solar panels. In addition, the government will pay you even more for any electricity that your solar system generates that you don’t use when it’s fed back into the grid.

You’ll Contribute to National Energy Security

One of the reasons that the government is so keen on micro-generation – the term for very small solar PV systems such as those for most residences – is that it provides what’s called “distributed energy production.” By distributing the solar generators over a wide area instead of putting all the power generators in one large facility, the government reduces the risk that an attack or a natural disaster will disrupt power across the nation. Every residential solar PV system is one more brick in the national energy security plan.

You’ll be Less Prone to Service Disruptions

Because you’ll be getting a portion of your electricity from your own solar generators, you’ll be less affected by power disruptions in the event of outages or cutbacks on service. That puts you ahead of the game if the power goes out. While you won’t have lights at night in that case, you will have electricity to run essential equipment, like your refrigerator, during the day.

Your Property Will be Worth More

Solar panels add value to your property. According to the latest estimates, a solar PV installation will add about 70% of its cost to the value of your home. And if you own rental property, your flats will be worth more rent on the market because your tenants can count on lower energy bills.

If you’re still not entirely convinced, contact a local solar panels installer to get more specifics about how a solar PV system can benefit you.

Five Things You Should Do Before Buying Solar Panels

A residential solar PV system provides electricity for your home in about the most economical and clean ways around. When you mount solar panels on your roof, you’ll have a source of free electricity for up to 30 years, with almost no maintenance or additional costs beyond the initial installation. To make the deal even sweeter, the government has set up a Feed-in Tariff Scheme that pays you to produce the electricity you use – and pays you even more if your solar PV system produces more electricity than you use. Before you queue up at your nearest solar installer’s door, though, there are a few things you should do to ensure you get the most out of your new solar PV system.

Do a full energy audit. Producing your own electricity is cool, but it’s silly to waste the electricity you make. Besides, you’ll still be getting some of your electricity from the grid, so it makes sense to reduce the amount of electricity you’re buying as much as you can. Figure out where you’re using electricity and how much of it is wasted so that your solar panels will be supplying electricity to a streamlined, energy efficient home.

Install a timer system to control your electricity use. Again, conservation measures pay off big, even before you install your solar panels. And since much of the electricity you use is at night when your solar panels aren’t producing electricity, putting your lights, televisions and other electronics on timers definitely helps save you money. After all, why should you pay for the telly if it’s running after you fall asleep?

Learn as much as you can about solar PV systems. Educating yourself will give you a leg up when you start taking quotes on solar systems and comparing solar panels against each other. There are, unfortunately, a lot of fast-talking salesmen out there who’d rather sell you the solar panels that profit them the most rather than the system that will serve you the best. The more you know, the better you’ll be able to protect yourself from being swindled.

Get quotes from several different solar installation companies. There’s a wide range of prices out there for very similar systems, so it pays to shop around. Do be careful about companies that are selling incredibly low-priced solar PV systems, though – sometimes you do get what you pay for.

Have your property properly evaluated by a reputable solar panels installer. About 80 percent of the properties in the UK are suited for installing a solar PV system, but only an experienced, reputable solar system installer can tell you for sure and recommend the best installation for your property.

Solar panels offer many advantages for the homeowner who decides to install them, but there are things you can do before you choose your solar PV system to make it even more advantageous. Follow these five tips and you’ll benefit even more from clean, green solar power.

Solar Panels Are an Affordable, Responsible Energy SourceAre

According to the Department of Energy and Climate Control, the average UK household spends close to £1,200 annually for the electricity to power its televisions, electric lights and other electrical gadgets. In the average UK home, the use of electricity accounts for more than 20% of their entire carbon footprint – 22% to be more precise. Solar panels can reduce both of those figures substantially, helping you save both money and the environment – but just how much effect can solar panels actually have on your wallet and your ecological shoe size?

According to a report published by the Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology, switching from to solar panels for even part of your electricity generation can have a significant effect on your carbon footprint. Scientists measure the carbon impact of various types of electricity generation in gCO2eq/kWh – that stands for grams of carbon equivalent per kilowatt hour. The figures used in the POST publication take into account the entire life cycle of the method – in the case of solar panels, the figures include the carbon cost of mining the silicon and producing the crystals, as well as an attempt at including the cost of transporting the solar panels from their point of manufacture to your home. The result?

Electricity produced by coal-fired energy plants cost the environment 1,000 gCO2eq/kWh or more. If your home uses electricity from a gas-fired plant, it’s putting out about 500 gCO2eq/kWh – that’s about half of the amount of coal. Solar panels, on the other hand, cost just about 55 gCO2eq/kWh – just over 1/20^th the carbon cost of coal-fired electricity and slightly more than 10% the cost of producing electricity with gas. That’s in the UK – solar panels in Southern Europe save even more because they can produce more electricity.

How about the savings for your wallet? When you install an approved solar PV system, you can register to receive payments for the electricity your system produces, including the electricity that you use in your own home. This Feed-In Tariff Scheme kick-starts the financial advantage of switching to solar panels by providing a guaranteed payment for every kWh of electricity your solar PV system produces for the next 25 years. Once the fee is set, it’s guaranteed to remain the same for at least 25 years even if future laws change the tariff for those who join the scheme in later years.

The tariff scheme is in addition to the savings you’re realize simply because you are replacing a portion of the electricity you buy with electricity you generate for free from the sun. Even if there were no tariff at all, you’d still be saving the cost of every kWh of electricity you’re not buying from the electricity company.

As you can see, solar panels are a good idea for both your wallet and the planet. When you install a solar PV system, you’ll see benefits that are green in more ways than one.

Why Consider Solar Panels?

The decision to install solar panels on your roof may seem like a no-brainer, especially when you count the FiTS incentive that will pay you regular income for the electricity you generate from your solar PV system. The FiTS – the Feed-in Tariff Scheme – is a payment offered by the UK government to people who install microgeneration units like solar PV systems on their property. It’s part of the push to increase the amount of renewable energy used in the nation and decrease the country’s reliance on non-renewable energy sources like coal and oil-fired energy plants. If you still haven’t decided to look into installing a solar PV system on your roof, consider these advantages and benefits.

Solar Energy Provides Free Electricity

Once you install your solar panels and set up your system, all of the electricity your system generates is free. Even better, thanks to the FiTS, you’ll actually get paid by the government for every single unit of electricity your solar panels generate for the next 25 years.

Solar Panels Last for Decades

Because they have no moving parts, solar panels last for decades. In fact, there are solar PV systems that were installed in the 1970s that are still generating electricity. You may need to replace the inverter – which changes the direct current from the solar panels into alternating current for your electrical supplies – after about 15 years, but other than that, your maintenance will mostly consist of hosing down the panels once a year or so to keep them clean.

About 80 Percent of the Homes in the UK are Suited for Solar PV Installation

All you need for a productive solar system installation is an unshaded rooftop that faces south, southeast or southwest and is pitched between 20 and 60 degrees. If your roof faces south, is unshaded most of the day and is pitched between 30 and 50 degrees, your solar panels will operate at peak efficiency.

You Don’t Give up the Security of the Electric Grid

Grid-tied solar systems – the kind that qualify for the FiTS – generate electricity during the daylight hours, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be in the dark the rest of the time. The solar PV system will be tied into the electric grid, and your electrical system will draw power from the traditional grid during the times that your solar panels don’t produce enough electricity for your needs.

You can get more information about solar panels and their benefits when you contact a local solar installer and set up a solar consultation to find out if your property is a good candidate for a solar PV system.

Which Solar Panels Should You Choose?

It might surprise you to know that solar panels come in several different types, and that each of them has benefits and drawbacks. The solar panels that you choose will make a difference in the cost, size and efficiency of the solar PV system you install. Here’s a quick overview to help you understand the differences between the different kinds of solar panels so that you can make a decision about which one is best for your home.

First, the basics. Most solar panels are made from silicon, a naturally occurring crystal that has energy conversion capabilities. The first solar cells were created in 1954, and in the 50 plus years since, there have been many advances that reduced the cost of manufacturing solar cells. Some of those advances also reduced or improved the efficiency of the solar panels made using them.

Monocrystalline Solar Panels

Monocrystalline solar panels are made from thin slices of single silicon crystals. They are both the most expensive and the most efficient type of solar panels currently available for most residential uses. Because monocrystalline solar panels are so efficient, however, you can get more power from smaller arrays of solar cells. Depending on your circumstances, that can translate to lower costs. It also translates to less weight on your roof, which could be a factor in your decision with an older home.

Polycrystalline Solar Panels

Polycrystalline solar cells are cut from silicon ingots made by melting and molding silicon, then slicing it into thin wafers. Polycrystalline cells are less expensive, but less efficient, which means that you’ll need a larger solar system to produce the same amount of energy that a smaller monocrystalline solar PV system can produce. The loss of efficiency is often a fair tradeoff for the reduction in cost, and polycrystalline solar panels are the most common type sold in  the UK.

Amorphous Solar Cells

Also known as thin film solar, amorphous solar panels use a thin film of silicon sandwiched between two layers of glass. In general, they have the potential to be highly efficient and lower the cost of producing solar energy, but they have yet to live up to that potential. Currently, amorphous solar panels are rare in the residential market. They’re heavier than either poly or mono crystalline solar panels, and less efficient than both.

When you talk to a solar installation company about installing solar panels on your roof or other outdoor area, be sure to ask them what type of solar panels they use, and ask which is the best type of solar PV system for your residence.

Five Factors That Affect Your Savings with Solar Panels

If you’re like many others across the UK, you’ve probably considered installing solar panels on your roof. After all, solar energy is cleaner and greener, it’s renewable, it’s good for the planet and it can save you money. What’s not to love about it?

While saving money may not be your primary motivation, it’s certainly a nice little extra to choosing solar PV for your power. If you want to maximize the amount of money – and energy – you save with solar panels, these five factors can have a major effect on your solar energy savings.

Energy Efficiency

Before you even install solar panels, do an energy audit of your home. This is especially important if you use electricity for heating and cooling your house. Add insulation where it’s needed, plug up drafts and put your lamps on timers to reduce your energy usage. After all, you might as well make the best use of the energy your solar PV system produces.

Direction and Orientation

The direction your solar panels face will affect how much energy they produce, and the more energy they produce, the more money you’ll save. Your best option is a south-facing roof, which gets the most direct sunlight year round in the UK, but solar panels will still get enough sunlight with an east or west orientation, or anything in between.

Angle

Solar panels are most productive when they are set at a 30 to 50 degree angle, though they’ll still produce energy anywhere in the 20 to 60 degree range. If your roof’s pitch is greater or lesser than that, a frame built onto the roof may still make it possible for you to use solar PV panels to generate electricity.

Shade

One of the most important factors in choosing where to place your solar panels is shade – or, to be more specific, the absence thereof. If there are other structures, trees or even geographic land forms that cast a shadow over your roof through part of the day, it will reduce the amount of electricity your solar installation will produce. Trees are, of course, the easiest problem to solve – have an arborist in to trim or remove them.

Size

Don’t ever let anyone tell you that size doesn’t matter. When it comes to solar panels, size is a major factor in the amount of energy your system produces, and thus, to the amount of money you’ll save using solar panels. The more surface area you can expose to the sun, the more energy your solar PV system can produce. That, of course, is also modified by the type of solar panels you choose – monocrystalline panels produce more electricity than the same size mutlicrystalline panels, for example.

If you’re considering installing solar panels on your home, a local solar system installer can help you decide if your home is a suitable candidate for solar PV electricity.

The Lowdown on Photovoltaic Solar Panels

Confused about photovoltaic solar panels? Here are a few facts and tips about solar pv panels that can help dispel the confusion.

What Are Solar PV Panels?

Photovoltaic solar panels use the sun’s light and heat to generate electricity, which can then be transformed into household current to power your household appliances and lights. Solar pv panels generate clean energy from a renewable source, effectively reducing the emission of greenhouse gases while simultaneously cutting your electricity bill.

Where Can You Use Solar PV Systems?

Generally, people install solar systems on a roof or wall that faces within 90 degrees of south – that is, south, southeast or southwest. A southward-facing surface receives the direct sunlight needed to generate electricity. A roof that receives sunlight throughout the day will generate the most electricity, but even roofs and walls that are shadowed part of the day will generate some electricity.

The Costs of Solar Electricity

A PV solar system is somewhat more expensive than a solar heating system, but the savings from using solar electricity are also significantly more than the savings realized by installing a solar heating system. Depending on the size and type of solar pv panels you’re having installed on your property, it will cost between £8,000 and £14,000, though that amount can be offset by various grants. The typical 2kWp home solar system can save you up to £200 per year, according to the Energy Saving Trust, and supply up to 40% of the electricity you use in your home.

Government Incentives for Solar PV Panels

Because the government is committed to reducing the UK’s reliance on coal and carbon forms of energy, it has developed a feed-in tariff system to provide an incentive for property owners to install solar panels for electricity. Your solar PV system will qualify for payments for every kilowatt hour of electricity generated by your system, even the electricity you use in your own home. The amount of the payment is set at the time your solar panel installation is certified, and is guaranteed to remain at or above that rate for 25 years. Between the energy savings you’ll realize and the payments from the feed-in tariff scheme, most energy experts estimate that homeowners can recoup the cost of installing solar panels within the first 8 to 12 years.

Installing Solar Panels is an Investment In Your Future

Installing solar panels is good for the environment, of that there’s no doubt, but for most people, altruistic motives are not enough incentive to make such a big – and relatively expensive – change. There are, however, other excellent reasons for choosing to install solar PV panels on your property. In fact, installing solar panels in the UK is an investment that can pay off for you in lower electricity bills and guaranteed, tax-free income.

How Solar Panels Help Secure an Energy Future

Unlike some countries, the UK doesn’t have large swaths of land on which to install solar panels and solar plants. That doesn’t mean, however, that solar energy production doesn’t work for the UK. In fact, the Department of Energy and Climate Change estimates that up to 80 percent of UK homes have the potential to generate electricity from solar panels – a scheme that offers a number of advantages for both the country and individual homeowners

Solar panels installed on individual homes are more secure than large solar installations. It’s a simple fact of life – and one that’s well worth noting in today’s world. A large solar plant generating electricity for thousands of homes is a tempting target for terrorists. Homes that rely solely on energy generated by a central power plant are at risk of losing electricity from any type of disaster – man-made or otherwise – that knocks a power generator offline. The solution to that is called “distributed energy production,” which translates into lots of renewable energy installations – solar panels and wind turbines, generally – scattered around the country. When the entire country is not reliant on centralized power generation for its electricity, everyone is more secure and less prone to power outages.

In addition, every installation of solar panels reduces the country’s reliance on outside sources of energy. While the startup costs – the cost of the solar PV panels and solar installation costs – can be high, those who install solar PV systems for their homes will realize significant savings each and every month. DECC estimates that the average household can save up to 40 percent on their electricity bill over the course of a year.

To sweeten the deal, the government has devised the Feed-in Tariff Scheme, which pays homeowners for every unit of electricity generated by their solar panels, even the energy they use themselves. When you install a solar PV system, you’ll not only benefit from free electricity from the sun, you’ll get paid to generate that electricity. In addition, if you produce more electricity than you use, you can feed the excess back into the grid and be paid an additional amount for that electricity.

The Feed-in tariff is set at the time you install your solar panels and is guaranteed for 25 years – and as long as you live in your home rather than let it as a landlord, the income is tax-free.

In short, between the electricity savings and the amount be paid for the electricity generated by the installed solar panels, DECC estimates that the average homeowner will recover the entire cost of their solar PV installation within 10 to 11 years. The expected life of a solar panel installation is 20 to 25 years, which means that for half of its useful life, the savings and income are pure profit. Now that’s an investment.

Four Things You Should Know About Solar Panels

Solar energy is one of the most common and best known forms of renewable, green energy. Most people recognize solar panels on sight, and have a basic understanding of how they produce energy from the sun. Here are four facts about solar panels that may surprise you.

Solar Panels are Only one Part of a Home Solar System

Of course, they’re the most visible part, since they have to be outdoors where they can collect sunlight from which they produce electricity. In addition to the solar panels, a solar pv system also includes wiring, support structure, a charge controller and an inverter. Some solar systems also include a batter to store energy for later use.

The Typical Home Solar System Only Takes About a Day to Install

That’s it. If you decide to install solar panels on your roof, you’ll usually be using your new solar electricity before the end of the day. Of course, the time it takes to install varies depending on your property and the size of the system, but the typical 1 kilowatt home system, consisting of 10 to 12 panels can be up and running in less than 8 hours.

A 1 Kilowatt System Will Generate Between 750 and 1,600 Kilowatt Hours of Electricity a Year

A larger system will generate more electricity. In a sunny climate – one that gets about 5.5 hours of sunlight daily – you can figure on 1,600 kWh for each kilowatt your system is rated for. In cloudier areas – about 2.5 hours of sunshine daily – you’ll get closer to 750 kilowatt hours per year.

A Solar PV System With a Battery Backup can Provide Electricity 24/7

People often assume that their solar panels will only provide electricity during daylight on sunny days. In fact, while the panels produce the maximum amount of electricity when they get direct sunlight, today’s solar systems will generate electricity even when it’s overcast. Systems with a battery backup can store excess electricity to power things at night. Grid-tied systems – which are sort of hybrids between full solar and the electricity you get from your energy supplier – usually don’t include batteries. Instead, they feed excess energy back into the grid so that others can use it. In return, the current electrical system is in place for the times that your solar panels don’t produce quite enough electricity for your needs.

You can Get Paid to Generate Electricity for Your Own Use

The feed in tariff scheme devised by the Department of Energy and Climate Change pays you for every kilowatt hour of electricity your solar panels generate, even those that you consume. The current base tariff is 43p per kilowatt hour for solar energy that you use yourself. If you produce excess energy, you get the 43p plus an additional 3p per kWh.

And keep in mind that every kWh your solar panels generate is 1 kWh you’re not buying from your power supplier. While the up-front cost of installing solar panels is a hefty investment, most people will recover their investment in energy savings within 6 to 7 years. After that, your energy savings from using solar panels is pure profit.

Installing Solar Panels on Your Roof

You’ve probably heard that going green with solar power can cut your energy costs while being kinder to the planet, but you may be wondering about what – besides the solar panels on your roof – going solar actually involves. Many people have questions and assumptions about solar power and how it would work in their own homes, but don’t want to ask for fear of sounding silly. If you don’t understand how solar panels could power your home in the typical UK climate, you’re not alone. These simple answers may answer the common questions that you have about solar panels and the logistics of solar power.

What Does a Solar Energy System Consist of?

The solar panels are the major and most obvious component of a solar pv system. They’re most often mounted on your roof, though there are other arrangements possible if you don’t have a suitable roof to hold them. In addition to the panels, you’ll need an inverter, which transforms the power fed from the panels to the type of electricity you can use in your home. If you chose a grid-tied system rather than an off-grid solar system, you’ll also have an electricity meter to measure the amount of energy your solar panels generate in addition to the meter that measures the amount of electricity you draw from you power supplier.

What’s the Difference Between a Grid-Tied Solar System and an Off-Grid One?

There are two main types of solar systems for generating electricity. An off-grid system is completely separate from the grid that supplies electricity from your supplier. In most cases, it is the sole supply of electricity for the building it supplies. A grid-tied system is more common, especially among homeowners who want to take advantage of the feed in tariff scheme that pays you for the electricity your solar panels generate.

With a grid-tied system, your home remains connected to the electrical grid and draws power from it when your solar panels don’t supply enough to meet your needs. In general, grid-tied systems don’t store energy – they generate it for your immediate use. If the solar panels generate more energy than you can use immediately, the excess is fed back into the grid, and you’ll be paid an additional few pence for every excess kilowatt hour your solar system produces. That’s in addition to the base tariff amount you receive for every kWh of energy your system produces, whether it supplies your power needs or is fed back into the grid.

If you have more questions about whether your home is a good candidate for solar panels, call a local solar installation company and ask. They’re used to questions and will be more than happy to help you make a decision about whether or not solar pv is a good choice for your home.

Solar Panels Save On Your Energy CostsYour

If the thought of helping save the planet isn’t enough to motivate you to install a solar PV system on your property, the lure of lower energy prices may be enough to do the trick. When you choose to supplement your electricity usage with solar panels, you can save a hefty amount on your monthly electricity bill – and there’s even a good possibility that you’ll generate enough electricity to sell some back to the electric company and make a little money on the side.

How You Save with Solar Panels

A solar PV installation can save you money in several different ways, thanks to the feed in tariff scheme started by the Department of Energy and Climate Change. The scheme provides subsidies for every kilowatt hour of electricity that your solar panels generate, and an additional payment for each kilowatt hour that your system sends to the electrical grid.

In order to take full advantage of the FITS, your system needs to be a grid-connected solar system – which is, in most cases, the best option for most UK homeowners. With a grid-connected system, your home remains connected to the traditional electric grid. When you use electricity in your home, you’ll draw first from the energy generated by your solar panels. If your electricity use exceeds the amount of power generated by your solar system, you’ll draw it from the traditional grid. If the electricity generated by your solar PV system exceeds the amount of electricity you use in your home, the excess is fed into the grid and distributed to other users.

A meter installed in your home will measure your electricity use and generation. For each kilowatt hour your solar panels generate – whether you use it or feed it to the grid – you’ll receive the feed-in tariff from your electricity supplier. For each kilowatt hour of electricity you send back to the grid, you’ll receive the base tariff plus an additional tariff of a few pence. As of November 2011, the amounts of the tariffs are 43.3p for the base, and an additional 3p for the excess.

The tariff you receive is an addition to the savings you’ll realize by reducing the amount of electricity you have to buy from your electrical supplier. If, for example, you’re currently paying about 15p per kWh for your electricity, for each kWh your solar panels generate and you use, you’ll save the 15p, and receive an additional 43.3p – a total of 58.3p off on your electric bill for the electricity you use in your own home.

Of course, the amount of money you’ll actually save depends upon the amount of electricity you use and the amount of electricity generated by your solar panels. A local solar company can give you a better idea of how much electricity you can expect your solar PV installation to produce.

The Best Locations for Solar Panels

Renewable energy is no longer a glimmer of a future dream. It is a reality, here and today – but some places are better equipped for one type of renewable energy or another. Whether you choose solar panels, wind turbines or another form of renewable energy depends a great deal upon the location and configuration of your property. Solar panels, for example, are best suited for south-facing roofs that get direct sunlight at the right angle, while water generators or wind turbines might be a better fit in other circumstances. If you’re considering a renewable energy system in the UK, your property may be best suited for a solar PV system if it has the following characteristics.

Your home could be an excellent candidate for solar panels if:

You have a roof surface that faces south, southeast or southwest. Homes with roofs that are oriented in a generally southern direction are like to receive enough sunlight to generate electricity through solar PV panels throughout the year.

You live in an unlisted building. If you live in a property that’s listed with the council, you’ll need to get planning permission from the council. In most cases, most councils will allow the installation of solar panels. If you live in an unlisted building, you won’t require planning permission to install a solar PV system on your roof.

Your roof slants at an angle of 20 to 50 degrees. Solar panels must be set at the best angle to catch direct sunlight, and the angle varies depending upon your exact location. If your roof slants at the proper angle, the solar panels can be installed directly on your roof. In many cases, if the roof is flat or doesn’t slant enough, the solar company can install the solar panels on an A-frame that will put them at the proper angle.

Your home isn’t overshadowed by other structures over which you have no control. In order to generate enough electricity to be worth your while, the solar panels on your roof needs to get direct sunlight for a good part of the day. If your roof is overshadowed by nearby buildings or geographical features that block the sunlight, another renewable energy option may be a better choice for you.

Of course, you can find out if your property is a good fit for a solar PV installation by booking a consultation with a local company that installs solar panels. An expert consultation will be able to give you a firm solar quote and tell you exactly how suitable your property is for a solar panel installation.

How Feed In Tariffs for Solar Panels Work

If you choose to install solar panels on your property, you can benefit from the Feed In Tariff scheme created by the government to increase the use of renewable energy sources. In a nutshell, when you put solar PV panels on your home – either on your rooftop or in a standalone installation, you can cut your energy costs and receive payments for the electricity you generate. This simple explanation can help you understand how you can benefit from choosing to use renewable energy from the sun to help power your home.

Three Ways to Benefit from Solar Panels

There are three ways you can benefit when you install solar panels on your property and register for the feed in tariff (FIT) scheme. Essentially, you will be paid for each unit of energy generated by your solar PV panels, as well as save money on your energy bill each month.

Generation Tariff

For every unit of electricity you generate – measured in kilowatt hours, or kWh – your energy supplier will pay you a rate that is set and published by the government. The tariff levels are guaranteed for up to 25 years, and are linked to an index to ensure that they keep pace with inflation. You’ll be paid that rate whether you use the energy generated by your solar panels or export them to the energy grid.

Export Tariff

In addition, you’ll get an additional tariff from your energy supplier for each kWh you export back to the electricity grid. The current export tariff is 3.1p/kWh, over and above the generation tariff. Eventually, solar PV systems will include a smart meters that will measure the amount of energy you export. Until smart meters are available and installed, the export tariff will apply to 50% of the energy you generate.

Savings on Your Energy Bill

Finally, you’ll see a reduction on your energy bill because you’ll be importing less electricity from your energy supplier. Every kWh your solar panels generate is a kWh you don’t have to pay for. The amount of your savings will depend upon the amount of energy you typically use and the amount your solar installation generates.

Typical Energy Savings with Solar PV Systems

The Energy Saving Trust estimates that the typical domestic solar electricity system (2.9kWp) could give you a total savings of £1,190 annually. The breakdown includes £1,060 from the Generation Tariff, £40 annually from the Export Tariff and £90 energy savings.

Your energy savings will vary, depending upon your energy use and the amount of energy your solar panels generate. A local solar panel installation company can give you more information and help you estimate how much you could save if you choose to install solar PV panels on your property.

Should You Install Solar Panels on Your Rooftop?

Have you considered the idea of installing solar panels on your rooftop? With the push by the government to reduce the UK’s reliance on carbon-based energy, chances are that you’ve seen adverts inviting property owners to invest in solar energy and a secure energy future whenever you turn on the telly. If you’ve briefly considered the thought, but not looked further into the benefits and possibilities of solar pv for your home, these points may push you to explore your options further.

Rooftop Solar Panels can Reduce Your Energy Costs

The most common type of solar pv installation in use is a grid-connected installation, where the energy produced by your rooftop solar panels supply electricity to your home when it’s available. When solar energy is not available, you’ll draw energy from the power grid. This scheme reduces your energy costs because the energy produced by your solar panels replaces electricity you’d otherwise have to buy. The more electrical power your solar panels produce, the less you have to buy from the utility company and the more you’re energy costs are reduced.

Feed-in Tariffs can Reduce Your Energy Costs Even Further

With grid-connected solar panels, the electricity produced by your own system is available immediately for your use. If your system produces more energy than you can use, however, it can’t be stored for later. Instead, your solar system feeds excess electricity back into the grid where it can be used by others. This reduces the amount of electricity that must be produced by a coal-fired or carbon-based plant, and, because the electric company will pay you for every kilowatt hour of electricity your system feeds back into the grid, your energy bill will be reduced even further. It’s even possible that the electric company will end up paying you instead of taking your money.

You’ll Never be Without Power, Even on Cloudy Days

Because the solar panels and energy collection system are connected to the power grid, you won’t end up without power even during extended cloudy periods when your solar installation doesn’t produce enough energy for your use. And because your solar panels produce electricity independent of the electrical grid, you don’t have to worry about losing power if the grid goes down temporarily.

If you’re interested in learning more about solar pv installation and the advantages of installing solar panels on your roof, you can book a consultation with a local company that installs residential and commercial solar systems in your locale.

Are Solar Panels a Good Green Investment for Your Business?

Would your business benefit from adding solar panels and solar energy production to your current energy profile? Installing solar panels for your business energy needs could help you increase your bottom line by reducing your monthly energy costs. Solar energy systems also offer other advantages for the business owner, but are they worth the expense? In many cases, the answer is an unequivocal yes. If your business building meets certain requirements, an investment in a solar energy system may be one of the best investments you can make.

Investing in Solar Panels for Business

If you own business or commercial property, your investment in solar energy could pay off quite handsomely in very real terms. If you choose a solar system with an output of over 50kWp, your energy provider may pay you 19.2p for each unit of electricity your solar panels produce. In addition, you’ll get an additional 3.1p for each unity of energy that your solar panels feed back into the grid. The Feed-in Tariff is guaranteed for 25 years, and is written to rise with the cost of living. The estimated return on investment for your solar panels is about 14% -- a pretty generous ROI for an investment that also benefits you in other ways.

In addition to the actual return, your solar panels will reduce the cost of electricity and lower your reliance on fossil fuels to operate your machinery, lights and office equipment. A solar system produces free electricity which replaces the power you currently purchase from the electric company. Those energy prices are also guaranteed to rise in the future as fossil fuels become more expensive to source and deliver.

Solar panels also provide other, less tangible benefits. Every unit of electricity that you produce reduces your carbon footprint and helps you reach your company’s renewable energy goals. If you rent commercial or industrial space, a solar energy system is a major selling point among businesses which are growing more socially conscious year upon year.

Even if you don’t let your space out to other businesses, your business image will benefit from your support and embrace of solar energy and technology. Today’s consumer is increasingly conscious of energy concerns, and is far more likely to choose to do business with a company that has committed to reducing its own carbon footprint. And by reducing your carbon footprint, you’re helping your customers reduce theirs as well – another selling point for your services or products.

Finally, a solar energy system will increase the value of your property when it’s time to sell or count up your assets.

To find out if your business or commercial property is a good fit for solar panels, contact a local solar company to come out and do an evaluation. Once you have a firm solar quote, you can evaluate the pros and cons of installing solar panels on your building and make a decision based on the facts.

Things to Know About Solar Panels

Solar panels offer a way for homeowners to generate their own electricity, cutting their electric bills and often, returning excess electricity to the grid for others to use. In addition to the personal benefits homeowners receive from installing solar panels on their homes, there are wider benefits. If you’re considering a solar PV system for your home, these are some things you should know about solar energy.

The Benefits of Solar Panels

Save money on your utility bills. Sunlight is free, and so is the energy produced from it. Once your solar panels are installed, you’ll see a significant reduction in your monthly electricity bills because the solar PV system is producing all or part of the energy that your home uses. In fact, a typical home solar system produces 50% of the electricity used by a household in a year. It generally takes only a few years to recover the initial costs of installing solar panels.

Reduce your carbon footprint. Installing solar panels is a good way to reduce your impact on the environment. Solar is a green, renewable energy that releases on carbon dioxide or any other pollutants. You’ll save over 1 tonne of CO2 per year with a typical home solar PV setup.

Store excess energy or feed it back to pay it forward. Depending on the type of solar panel installation you choose, you can store any excess energy you produce in a battery for use when your solar panels are producing less electricity, or you can feed your excess electricity back into the grid so that someone else can use it. The electric company will even pay you for your excess so you can make a little cash on the side.

Are Solar Panels Right for Your Home?

Some buildings or properties are a better fit for solar panels than others. The most important factor is how much sun can reach your solar panels. Generally, if you have a roof that faces within 90 degrees of south and is not shadowed by trees or other structures, your building has an optimal location for placing solar panels. Even if you don’t have exactly those conditions, though, you may still benefit from a solar energy system.

Other factors may affect your decision to install solar panels for your home. Those factors include the strength of your roof and the planning permissions you may have to get. Your best source of information about solar panels is a professional solar panel installer. Contact a solar company to evaluate your property and give you a solar quote.

Considerations About Solar Panels for Your Home

Solar panels can help you cut your energy costs, increase the value of your property and benefit the environment at the same time – and there’s never been a better time to go green with solar energy. The UK government has committed to generating at least 20 percent of energy consumed from renewable sources, including solar energy, by 2020. In order to make this happen, the government has instituted feed-in tariffs and subsidies that make solar panel installation more cost effective than ever.

Why Solar Panels for Your Home or Business?

While the technology for solar energy is always evolving, the use of solar panels for home and business electricity production is definitely proven technology. The cost to install solar panels on your building has decreased significantly at the same time that government support has increased. When you choose an on-grid solar energy system, any electricity generated in excess of what you use gets fed back into the grid – and the electricity provider will pay you for that electricity at a rate supported by a feed-in tariff. Thanks to the lowered cost, higher efficiency and increased government support, you could very well see a positive return on your investment in just a few years.

Are Solar Panels Right for You?

The most important factor in determining if your home is a good fit for solar panels is your roof. The ideal roof for a solar energy system is a south-facing roof with no obstructions or shade, angled at 15 to 45 degrees. Those aren’t absolutes, however. Sometimes an east-west roof with no obstruction – or even an unobstructed clearing for a ground-mounted system – can deliver enough sun exposure to make a significant difference in your electricity use and production.

The most important thing in determining if your home or business building will work with a solar energy system is the amount of shading or obstruction that prevents light from falling on your roof. Keep in mind, though, that the technology has improved considerably and continues to improve. Today’s solar PV panels produce energy from daylight, even when it’s not direct sunlight.

If you’re unsure whether your building is a good fit for solar panels, there are many local solar panel installers who will be happy to come out to look over your property, evaluate its possibilities and give you a solar quote to help you determine whether installing a solar energy system is right for you.