Solar electricity systems capture the sun’s energy using photovoltaic (PV) cells. The cells convert the sunlight into electricity, which can be used to run household appliances and lighting.
PV panels (or modules) are attached to your roof or walls or they can be ground mounted. Each cell is made from one or two layers of semiconducting 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.
The strength of a PV cell is measured in kilowatt peak (kWp) – that’s the amount of energy the cell generates in full sunlight.
All equipment and the installation is MCS accredited which will enable you to take advantage of the feed in tariff.
The benefits of solar electricity:
- Cut your carbon footprint: solar electricity is green and doesn’t release any harmful carbon dioxide or other pollutants. A typical home PV system could save around 1200 kg of carbon dioxide per year – that’s around 30 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
- 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
- Earn tax free income from the Feed in Tariff – currently 43.3p/kWh for retrofit properties
Before considering a Solar Photovoltaic system, you should be aware of the likely costs
and have an idea of the savings and benefits. You must own the property or land where
the panels are to be installed.
Planning permission is not normally required but you should always check with your
local council. If the property is in a restricted area such as a World Heritage Site or
Conservation Area, it may not be possible to obtain permission.