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.