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What is Solar Photo Voltaic's?
PV cells are panels you can attach to your roof or walls. Each cell is made from one or two layers of semi conducting material, usually silicon. When light shines on the cell it creates an electric field across the layers. The stronger the sunshine, the more electricity is produced.
PV cells come in a variety of shapes and colour's, from grey "solar tiles" that look like roof tiles to panels and transparent cells that you can use on conservatories and glass.
The strength of a PV cell is measured in kilowatt peak (kWp). That's the amount of energy the cell generates in full sunlight.
What are the benefits of Solar Photo Voltaic's?
- Cut your carbon footprint: solar electricity is green, renewable energy and does not release any harmful carbon dioxide (CO2) or other pollutants. A typical home PV system could save around 1tonne of CO2 per year - that's around 25 tonnes over its lifetime.
- Cut your electricity bills: sunlight is free, so once you've paid for the initial installation your electricity costs will be greatly reduced. A typical home PV system can produce around 40% of the electricity a household uses in a year.
- Sell Electricity back to the Grid: Every unit of electricity that you produce from your installation will earn you money, even if you use it yourself! You will also receive an additional sum for any energy that is produced and exported.
- Store electricity for a cloudy day: if your home isn't connected to the national grid you can store excess electricity in batteries to use when you need it.
Is solar electricity suitable for my home?
To tell if solar electricity is right for you, there are a few key questions to consider:
- Do you have a sunny place to put it? You'll need a roof or wall that faces within 90 degrees of south, and isn't overshadowed by trees or buildings. If the surface is in shadow for parts of the day, your system will generate less energy.
- Is your roof strong enough? Solar panels are not light and the roof must be strong enough to take their weight, especially if the panel is placed on top of existing tiles. If in doubt, ask a construction expert or an installer.
- Do you need planning permission? In England, Wales Scotland and Northern Ireland, you don't need planning permission for most home solar electricity systems, as long as they're below a certain size - but you should check with your local planning officer, especially if your home is a listed building, or is in a conservation area or World Heritage Site.
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