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.