PV Solar Panels

Global warming across the world is spurring many people to turn to greener and cleaner ways of powering and heating their homes, and one of the most accessible methods of moving closer to that goal is with the installation of solar panels.

Solar panels will convert daylight into an electricity source, and don’t even require direct sunlight to function (although the stronger the light, the more efficiently electricity is produced). That electricity can be used to supplement or even replace the energy you would usually require from the National Grid. They can be combined with storage batteries, like Tesla’s Powerwall too, so you can essentially save the electricity to be used at a later time, like during the night or when there is a power outage.

People with solar panels are also eligible to be on something called a Smart Export Guarantee tariff (SEG) which will pay you for any energy you generate that is fed back into the Grid. The UK Government requires energy companies with 150,000+ customers to provide either an SEG tariff or an alternative method of compensating consumers for the renewable energy they provide. So not only are you saving money by using your renewable energy and relying less on the Grid, but you’re also saving even more when you factor in the payments you receive for providing that renewable energy to the Grid.

So, what should you consider before making the move to solar power?

Well, solar panels work at their absolute best when installed on a south-facing roof that is free of any shade that might be caused by trees, chimneys, or other buildings and will need roughly around 20m2 of roof space. There are systems that can work around these constraints, including panels that use something called ‘optimisers’ to lessen the negative effect that shading can have on effectiveness.

If you have a flat roof, you will likely need additional equipment to effectively angle the panels otherwise your panels will be less efficient and can also end up degrading over time due to a lack of water drainage.

It’s also worth looking at your household energy usage and establishing how many panels you might need to be useful. A sole-person household will likely need less panels in their system than a six-person household, but you’ll need to factor in how your lifestyle affects your energy consumption as well.

If you’re interested in solar panels and would like to know more about them and whether they might be right for you, then Brightech is happy to help.

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