PV Solar Electricity
Solar panels are also known as photovoltaic (PV) systems.
They are made up of photovoltaic cells within panels that, in simple terms, produce electricity when exposed to sunlight. The sunlight doesn’t have to be direct, energy will be generated on cloudy days too. When light falls on the cell a voltage is created across the layers of semi-conducting material within them, sending an electrical current to flow in a connected circuit.
Receive a FREE QUOTE by completing the form below.
Domestic systems are usually mounted on south facing roof tops, pitching the panels towards the sun helps with the efficiency so even flat roof properties can take advantage of the savings that can be achieved. They are usually placed in an array
A typical system can generate 3,000 kW hours of electricity a year which is about three quarters of a households needs and will save over one tonne of carbon every year.
Advantages of Photovoltaic Solar Panels Include:
Sunlight is free meaning a reduction in your energy bills will be seen as electricity costs are reduced.
- Feed-in Tariffs mean you can be paid for the electricity generated and can generate an income of around £645 a year (based on a generation tariff of 15.44p/kWh)
- The cells need little maintenance if installed correctly as there are no moving parts and often have the advantage of being cleaned by rain to ensure optimal performance.
- This technology is an eligible measure under the Government’s Green Deal, a loan available for energy-efficient improvements to your home
- Costs have fallen significantly over the last few years due to the technology becoming more widely used
- Lowest environmental impact of all renewable technologies
- No additional space is required due to most PV systems being installed on the roofs of homes
Between 2000 and 2010 the growth of installations of PV systems was very large, with this trend set to continue it is predicted the cost of installations will continue to decrease.