Skip to content
Home » Solar Panel Information

Solar Panel Information

  • by

Solar energy is among the biggest and most efficient forms of renewable energy available in the world. We harvest the natural solar energy to create electricity to light and heat business and home. Your system could produce electricity or heat your water , while decreasing the amount of carbon dioxide you create.

Solar panels are a greener alternative to other forms of power such as central heating because they don’t emit greenhouse gases or pollute the environment during their operation. There have been numerous advancements in the development of PV modules and most recently battery storage. They are now more than ever accessible and cost-effective. Solar energy can save homeowners and companies hundreds of dollars a year on electricity costs.

Solar power is generated by individual PV cells. They join together to form solar panel systems that are made up of cells and the conductive materials. They will then convert the energy from the sun and generate electricity to be used around your home.
There are few things we can look at to help you determine if solar panels might be suitable for you.

Types of Solar Panels

The first thing to note is that the type of solar PV panel, and the choice of one, does depend on what you need it for, in addition to the area you have available and the amount of money you’re able to spend on them. Solar cells have come a long way from when they first started. They’re now much more advanced, making them not only more efficient but also more appealing to the eye. The principal varieties of solar panels on the market are:

Monocrystalline solar module: These kinds of solar panels take up less space than the polycrystalline panels but are about the same in efficiency. They are more expensive, however.

Polycrystalline solar module: the process of making these panels is much more simple. This means they are less expensive, however , they are less efficient at high temperatures, but not enough to worry about when used to power homes. They do, however, need more space, as they tend to require more of them.

The thin-film solar cell operate by using substrates as well as photovoltaic cells. They are then able to apply multiple layers of the material to form a base. There are many different types of materials that are used for these cells, and they are very easy to manufacture in masse and are cost-effective as well as more adaptable.

Amorphous silicon solar cell: these usually have several layers that are stacked in order to improve their efficiency. however, compared to other solar cells, they are less efficient.

Biohybrid solar cell: these have been developed to utilize an organic method of photosynthesis. This is done by mixing organic and non-organic material. This means almost 100% efficiency, though they produce less power in general.

There are also roof tiles which are solar. These look just like normal roofing tiles, but they can also incorporate the battery. If you own an existing property that is listed, they can typically be the best choice and they’re the most loved by those who think solar panels aren’t appealing. They’re a lot more expensive than photovoltaic PV since you’re likely to pay about PS10,000 for a typical residence with three persons.

There’s also a difference among solar panels and solar cells. Solar cells are made up of all the required components to convert sunlight into electric. The cells are connected to create the solar panel, which creates more power.

Energy storage is getting more efficient. With solar batteries becoming more well-known, the energy generated by your system during the day can be stored to use later at night or during cloudy days , when less power is generated. This is a great way to ensure your home is far more efficient in terms of energy efficiency and you can get the most from your panels.

It is a common misconception that the sun has to shine directly on the solar panel in order for it to work efficiently, as this is not true. They can still generate electricity even on cloudy days, however, they’ll perform better on sunny days in the summer months than in winter because the sun shines higher in the sky. The top panels will have the efficiency of around 22 percent. This is a very high level of performance considering the majority are about 15 percent.

The Benefits of Solar Panels

There are many benefits to producing solar power, here are few:

It’s eco-friendly: no pollutants produced while solar panels are in operation, which means with them you’re using pure energy to power your business or home while reducing your carbon footprint.
You can save money: any power you produce is free and can be used to power any device in your home or business absolutely free of charge. This will of course lower your energy bills and save you cash over the long haul. Additionally, you will be able to earn money with smart export guarantee that replaces FIT and will result in a greater return on your investment.
No planning permission: installing solar panels doesn’t require special permission. There are regulations that have to be followed , but generally it’s easy.
Its renewable: the sun will not be going out anytime soon. they even work on cloudy days, so you’ll be able to get plenty of electricity to use all year round. Include a battery storage device to keep any electricity produced by you that you do not make use of during the day. Then, make use of it at night when the sun doesn’t shine. It will decrease your carbon footprint as well.
They are efficient throughout the year. They are able to produce energy throughout the yearlong, not only when the sun shines most.

Do you have any disadvantages?

Yes, there are certain ones, with the primary one being the cost. There is initially a high cost to solar panel installation, although this has decreased a amount over time as well as continuing to decline. They are less expensive and easier to manufacture and the price of purchasing they have significantly decreased. Furthermore, the savings you make on energy costs will eventually surpass the initial cost.

Another thing to take into consideration is your dependence on sunlight. They are most effective when they are in light, but they also work well on sunny days. They can’t work at night and therefore, some electricity from the grid will need to be used during certain periods. The best way to increase the effectiveness of your system is to utilize batteries that store energy ready to use during the evening.

The long-term benefit of solar power is more than the initial investment because it will save you money.

Since solar panels do not have moving parts, very little maintenance and service is required. Unlike a boiler, your solar panels will function efficiently without requiring a regular service. There is enough rainfall in the UK so that you don’t necessarily need the cleaning of your solar panels. If you feel that your solar panels are not producing enough energy, then there are checks you can conduct or contact a certified installer to repair your solar panel. Solar panel warranties vary, according to the manufacturer and model you select. Generally, you’ll find that the panels themselves will be protected for 10 to 25 years. Solar panels tend to last for 25-30 years – that’s at least 25 years of lower energy bills! And, even better they won’t quit working after a period of time. However, inverters are likely to have to be replaced after 10/20 years.

Find an installer locally

Welcome to the biggest listing of UK renewable energy companies

Make sure you know what’s suitable for your home before you make an investment. Consider the where you live and the direction your roof will face. The UK south is ideal as your panels will be receiving sunlight all day. Also look at your roof. How big is it? How many panels will you require? Do they fit? Be sure that they’re not shaded too much by things such as large trees. It is vital to obtain excellent quality estimates that take all of the above factors into consideration.

The “generation tariff” is the price you pay for the electric power that a household produced. The rates were set by government, and depended depending on the power output of the solar PV system you had and when you signed up to the scheme. The initial rates were much higher ; there were some who paid over 50p for a kilowatt hour, however rates were cut over the years and dropped to 4p for customers who had just signed up by March 2019. Once you had agreed to a rate, it was fixed for the life of your contract. Typically, it was 20 or 25 years. These payments reduced the overall time it took to get back the investment you made at the beginning. The government has eliminated this year the FIT this year because of solar panel prices decreasing and becoming much more affordable.

“Export tariff” or “export tariff” paid homeowners for the excess energy they transferred to the national grid. The rates were set by the authorities for the duration of the contract duration, and were similar to the electricity market rate. It was 3.82p/kWh up to August 2012 and then 5.38p until the Feed-In Tariff scheme was ended. In the Feed-In Tariff all households were paid the same rate which was 50% of generated energy by solar panels. The amount of energy exported to the grid was not calculated, so everyone got this regardless of how much energy they exported.This was changed slightly in 2019 and is now referred to as production rate tax. Your provider agrees to a certain rate to pay you for the energy generated. It is vital to remember that the rate may be adjusted each year to reflect new projects and will fluctuate depending on the rate of inflation. The payments will be like what you would receive from FIT that will also be made to you for 20 years and perhaps longer until the system is generating enough energy.

While the Feed-In Tariff has been terminated, some of the excess power generated by solar panels will ultimately be returned to the grid and as under current legislation it would be illegal not to be compensated for this. an entirely new system has been devised. The Smart Export Guarantee is one of the ways in which the Smart Export Guarantee comes in to help.

“Rent a roofing” schemes have been discontinued due to the government’s decision to scrap the FIT.

Additionally, there is the renewable heat incentive (RHI). It is available to pay for solar thermal systems that can warm the hot water in your home. The payments are made up to 7 years , and is based on the amount the heat generated by your system. If you own your own home located in England, Scotland or Wales you can apply through the government website.

Smart Export Guarantee

It is great news if you’re hoping to recover your money from the start of your investment. After the government announced the changes to the FIT, new projects were thrown into uncertainty, but the government now has an agenda for the future of the solar industry.

So, what is the Smart Export Guarantee? Final plans to implement the Smart Export Guarantee were published from the government Monday, 10th June 2019. It requires large to medium-sized electric supply companies like SSE, EDF Energy, British Gas, npower, EON UK and ScottishPower (those with more than 150,000 electricity customers) to provide a Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). Smaller suppliers can do so on a voluntary basis. Suppliers have already begun to offer SEGs, but all qualified suppliers must to give you terms for payment for solar power, wind power & any other energy from renewable sources by January 1st, 2020, at the date of the.

This is good news for solar panel users, since the program will naturally become marketised, rather than being subsidised. In the past the Feed in Tariff offered a fixed rate determined by government. Instead of a subsidy, the new guarantee will be a minimum rate. Once the new system is started to work, it’s probable that there will be competition between energy suppliers to offer better prices in order to win your trust.

To benefit from the new Export Guarantee scheme, you must have an MCS certified installation. In addition, anyone who installed solar panels in the period between the expiration in the Feed in Tariff and the beginning of the new scheme will be eligible for the new scheme.

The Solar Trade Association has been arguing for households to be compensated at a fair market rate for the power they supply to our electricity system in the same way that others generators do. There are two ways to determine fair pricing. One is by wholesale prices that is the cost that the market purchases electricity from to sell to you. In the year 2018 the average was around 6p/kWh. The other is called the System Sell Price’ that was mentioned by the government as a fair price during the SEG consultation. It is the amount that larger generators get in exchange for surplus power when they produce more power than they previously agreed to produce. The average annual System Sell Price in the last year was quite similar (5.4p/kWh) to the prior FIT export tariff of 5.2p/kWh.

This is a very positive opportunity for anyone who is considering installing solar panels, but putting off the decision due to the removal to fee in Tariff. In addition to the fact that prices have dropped significantly in the last 10 years and the new system could eventually be more expansive than the current tariff. The cost of solar being down by as much as 80% since 2008, it was moment to examine the method by which the payments were made. Households and businesses installing new solar panels will receive guaranteed a payment for energy that is delivered back to the grid , to enable the smart energy systems of the future. This can only be an important upgrade to the Feed-in Tariffs scheme.

The Smart Export Guarantee will see electricity providers pay new tiny-scale electricity producers surplus power from businesses and homes being put back into the grid of energy. The new plan could result in a whole new market, inducing suppliers to compete on this electricity, providing exporters the highest price and supplying the grid with more sustainable, green energy, unlocking greater choice and control for solar households over buying or selling electricity.

The government currently has not yet obligated electric companies to purchase power at a cost that is higher than zero. The good news is that the power sector is evolving quickly and there are numerous suppliers who are looking to adopt smart energy to deliver an even more efficient, green power system and they’re looking for customers who want to participate. The first companies to adopt the new system include Octopus that offer Flexible and Fixed SEGs Bulb who are offering members who generate their own electricity to pay for the electricity they generate and then export to the grid (This is for solar-only customers as well as storage-only customers, or solar and storage co-located) as well as EON who are paying the first 500 new solar customers 5.24p per kilowatt-hour (kWh) or energy that is exported back to grid power on the assumption that half of the generation is exported.

The more complicated new system is expected to take time to get established however there are savings to be made that will grow as the major energy companies join together and compete against each other.

There is a lot of questions about whether it is possible to put in or even construct an own solar system. And yes, it is feasible to do so and it’s the most affordable option. There are some points to think about:

To benefit from the new Export Guarantee scheme, you need to possess an MCS certified installation.This has to be completed by a certified engineer to make sure that safety standards are met. It can be difficult to convince someone else to do this for a system that they didn’t install themselves. Additionally, there may be issues when you plan to sell your property.