PV Solar Panels - Photovoltaic Solar Panels for generating Electricity
Around 47% of the energy consumption in the UK is due to domestic use. The UK government is very keen on promoting small scale generation and wants to bring down the domestic consumption of energy. PV solar panels as well as heat pumps offer a simple solution to address the energy-related issues.
About PV solar panels:
Solar energy is found in abundance and can be harnessed, stored, and used to meet all the daily requirements of a modern household and thereby save on huge electricity bills. These systems do not require direct sunlight and even work on cloudy days.
PV cells can be attached either to the walls or to the rooftops. These PV cells consist of two layers of semiconductors like silicon. As the sunlight falls on these cells, there is an electric field that is created within these layers.
If there is intense and direct sunlight, then there is more electricity that is produced. The shapes and colors of these PV cells might vary. They sometimes look like grey tiles or they might come in the form of panels or as transparent cells that can be used on glass and conservatories.
The strength is usually measured in kWp (kilowatt peak) and this is the unit to measure the amount of energy that would be generated by the PV cell when there is ample sunlight.
Benefits of installing PV solar panels:
By installing these PV solar panels each individual home can cut down their energy consumption by 40%. So there is a double saving where the electricity bills would come down, the government-backed grants are available (FIT and RHI), the surplus energy could either be sold or imported back to the national grid and there is income generated through that also.
The government rewards the adopters of clean energy through a renewable source, by way of feed in tariffs (FITs) and RHI or Renewable Heat Incentives.
As per the FITs the government will pay you 41.3p kWh on each unit of electricity that is produced with the use of these systems. This amount is paid even if the energy is consumed by the owners and gives them a guaranteed income while also saving on the huge electricity bills.
As per the RHI scheme the grant paid will be 18p per kW that is produced and this income is guaranteed as well. If you are planning to invest on the installation of the PV solar panels, this is probably the best time to do it.
By investing and installing these PV solar panels, the dependence on the other fossil fuel comes down and this clean, green technology would be the technology of the future to be able to meet the rising costs as well as rising energy consumption.
PV solar panels cost:
The cost of an average system of about 2.2 kW will be approximately £12,000 (including installation charges and 5% VAT). The solar electricity systems could cost around £4,500 to £8,000 per kW but the cost could decrease as the size of the system increases. More info on solar panels cost.