Top Tips About PV Solar Panels in the UK

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by: johnwilliams
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Date: Wed, 2 Feb 2011 Time: 9:19 PM
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In a nutshell, PV Solar Panels convert the energy from the sun into electricity, which will give your home the ability to generate free electricity plus make extra money selling it back to the national grid.

Solar panels work using the scientific photovoltaic (PV) effect, which creates an electric current in a material when it's exposed to light. The photovoltaic cells are arranged in panels and attached to your roof or walls to capture solar energy. The strength of a PV cell is measured in kilowatt peak (kWp), which is the amount of energy each cell generates in sunlight.

PV Solar Panels can offer an 8% return of investment on your money, are tax-free, and index linked (meaning any money you earn selling it back to the national grid will keep pace with inflation fluctuations). This is done through the government initiative introduced in April last year called the Feed-in-Tariff or Clean Energy Cashback Scheme. It guarantees the UK public tax-free income for the energy they produce - effectively allowing you to reduce your CO2 emissions or carbon footprint plus earn payment from your electricity supplier for each unit your solar panels generate.

According to the UK's Department of Energy and Climate Change, a typical household that installs a well-positioned 2.5 Kilowatt (KW) PV Solar system could save ?140 per year on its electricity bill.

The following guide will give you some of the top facts you need to know when considering buying PV Solar Panels for your home.


Weather Conditions

Even though the UK is not exactly famous for its sunshine, your solar panels will generate electricity even in cloudy weather.


Longevity & Maintenance

Solar panels will last for approximately 30 years - they lose about 0.5% of their efficiency each year. The only maintenance you will have to do in this time is to rinse them down a few times each summer to remove dust (which would reduce their effectiveness in absorbing solar energy). No need to worry about climbing onto your roof - you can rinse them off from the ground using a nozzle on your hose. Apart from this, the inverter, which converts the direct current from the panels to the electric current used in your home, will generally need to be replaced after about 15 years.


Positioning

You should place a solar system where it can get as much sunlight as possible - be mindful about any trees or buildings that might block the sun from reaching your roof, also considering how much your neighbours trees will grow over the next 30 years. When you choose a supplier for your PV Solar panels, they will help you to choose the best location when they arrive for the installation.


Your Projected Energy Needs

In deciding just how much you want to invest in a PV Solar Panel system, it's important to understand the electricity needs of your home. If your family is set to expand over the next few years then you would need to take this into account, as with if the size of your family will decline because your children are due to fly the nest. Thus, you will best base the solar system you need on your planned energy use, not on your current one. Also, to be savvy, first look into the ways you can conserve electricity in your home before finalising how much your household consumes.


Added Value

While homeowners usually buy a solar panel system for their own purposes over an extended period of time, consider the fact that if you decide to sell your property, it will add value for potential buyers.


Conclusion

In the current economic climate, everyone is feeling the pinch when it comes to the energy expenses required to run a home. PV Solar Panels can save you a tidy sum year in electricity savings, not to mention the added income you can generate through the Feed-in-Tariff, so they are well worth the initial outlay. For more information, see my previous guide titled 'Easy Guide to Solar Panel Electricity for Your Home'.

About the Author

John D Williams: expert on energy saving measures and PV Solar Panels.