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How Solar Panels Save Energy
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As concerns about protecting the environment continue to increase, more of us have installed solar panels on our homes to generate our own electricity.
Solar panels, or photovoltaics (PV), capture the sun’s energy with photovoltaic cells and then convert it into electricity.
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Fortunately, for those of us living in the UK, the cells don’t need direct sunlight to work – they can still work on a cloudy day, although less electricity will be generated.
That said, the Met Office recently reported that April 2020 was likely to be the sunniest April on record, with the solar industry reporting its highest ever production of electricity in the UK at 12.30pm on 20 April.
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Solar PV cells are nested between layers of semi-conducting material, usually silicon. When light shines on them, electrons are knocked loose, and this creates a flow of electricity.
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To ensure that solar panels are exposed to as much light as possible, it is best to have them placed on a south-facing roof, although east- and west-facing roofs are also suitable.
Solar panels should be placed at an angle of between 10 and 50 degrees, with the optimal angle being between 30 and 40 degrees. You must also make sure that there are no buildings or trees nearby that could shade the panels.
Most solar panels are placed on roofs, but it is also possible to have them placed on walls or the ground, or have solar tiles placed. However, be aware that solar tile systems are less cost-effective and typically cost about twice as much as a panel system.
If solar panels are installed, an inverter will also be installed to convert the electricity generated from a direct current (DC) to an alternating current (AC), which is used by most household appliances.
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The biggest advantage of installing solar panels is that you will save on electricity costs. If your solar panels are large enough, you may be able to produce enough electricity for your entire home.
Another benefit is that you will reduce your carbon footprint. The Energy Saving Trust says a typical home solar PV system can save around 1.3 to 1.6 tonnes of carbon per year, depending on where in the UK you live.
If your solar panels are installed properly, your system should smoothly switch between using the electricity your solar panels have generated to using energy from the National Grid if the panels are not generating enough. You will not notice any difference in your electricity supply.
You can use your solar panels in addition to a normal energy tariff, and it is not necessary to tell your energy company. You will simply use less electricity from the Grid, and therefore pay lower bills. But you should shop around to make sure your rate is competitive (along with your guest rate).
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How much you pay to install solar panels will depend on the size of your roof and the type of system you choose. Installing solar panels isn’t cheap, but costs have come down over the years and for some people, it’s a small price to pay for the environmental benefits it brings.
According to online service Green Match, one of the most common choices is a 4kW solar panel system that consists of 16 panels and requires approximately 29 square meters of roof space. This should generate enough energy for a family (three to four people), although you may still need to use energy from the Grid.
Costs for a system of this size are between £6,000 and £8,000, but in return you can save around £270 on your annual electricity bill.
A cheaper option is a 3kW solar panel system which consists of 12 solar panels and requires about 22 square meters of roof space. Costs come in at between £5,000 and £6,000, but savings are also lower at around £160 per year.
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Depending on the size of your solar panel system and any money you make by exporting excess energy back to the National Grid (more on this below), you can expect to pay back the cost of the solar panel installation after 15 to 25 years. to get, according to Green Match.
Although larger systems are more expensive, they generate more energy and can save you more in the long run. Therefore, a 5kW solar panel could pay for itself after 15 to 20 years, a 4kW system would last 16 to 22 years, and a 3kW system would last 21 to 25 years.
The government’s feed-in tariff (FiT) scheme closed to new applicants on 31 March 2019. However, households who installed a solar panel system before this date and successfully applied for the scheme can still benefit.
The scheme offers cash payments to households that generate their own energy through solar panels and other renewable technology.
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Those who do not qualify for the feed-in tariff can apply for the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) scheme which was launched at the beginning of 2020. The scheme allows you to be paid for any excess renewable energy you produce export back to the National Grid.
All licensed energy suppliers with 150,000 or more customers must provide at least one Smart Export Guarantee tariff, while smaller suppliers can offer a tariff voluntarily.
You are eligible for the SEG scheme if you generate electricity through solar PV panels such as one of the following:
Your installation will need to be 5MW capacity or less, or 50MW for micro combined heat and power. It must also be certified under the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) or equivalent.
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In addition, you must have a meter installed that can provide half-hourly readings, so that your supplier knows how much electricity you are exporting.
By signing up for a SEG tariff, you will be paid for any excess electricity you generate that is fed back into the National Grid. However, unlike feed-in tariffs, you don’t get paid for all the electricity you produce, so payments are likely to be lower.
Energy suppliers can decide the rate they pay, the length of the contract, and whether rates are fixed or variable. Fixed SEG tariffs pay a fixed rate per kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity exported over the length of the contract.
A variable rate will have fluctuating prices depending on market demand (but prices cannot fall below zero). It therefore pays to shop around and compare what is on offer.
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Please note that you cannot receive both a feed-in tariff and SEG payments, but you can opt out of the feed-in tariff scheme if you prefer to receive SEG payments.
If you’re thinking about installing solar panels, you need to consider whether your roof is suitable, including whether it’s big enough and how much sunlight it gets.
You should also think about what size solar panel system you need. It is important to ensure that the size is large enough to cover the energy needs of your home, but also that you do not end up with a large surplus.
You can also think about installing a solar battery or energy storage system that will store the electricity your solar panels generate. This allows you to generate electricity during the day to use at night, which helps you become more self-sufficient and reduce the amount of electricity you use from the Grid.
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Although you don’t normally need planning permission to install solar PV panels, it’s also wise to check with your local authority in case there are any restrictions – for example if you live in a listed building or
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