Solar Panels UK . Solar Installers . Water
Heating Solar Panels Installations . PV Electric Solar Panels . Solar
UK . Evacuated Solar Tubes
The need for renewable energy and solar panels in particular, has come to the forefront in recent years. This has been driven not by global warming as first predicted, but by the end of cheap energy, not just in the UK, but in the whole of Europe. More and more people are getting wise to this, and are investing in solar panel technology for their homes. Solar panels are proven to be the most beneficial of all renewable's, requiring no planning permission to install.
The latest solar panels, which perform best, in the UK climate...
'New' evacuated solar tubes
'Latest' solar panels for the UK climate
Solar energy technology has evolved...
NEW improved evacuated tubes - The
latest and most efficient (by up to 40%) hot water heating solar panels (evacuated solar tubes), use solar
radiation to heat your water, generally for washing, bathing, or swimming
pools. Commonly known as solar collectors, solar thermal or thermal solar,
these are a popular and affordable option for households across the UK.
Very simply, 'direct' evacuated tubes solar
panels use your existing hot water tank and keep an abundent supply
of hot water during the daylight hours.
This technology, not only prolongs the life
of your boiler, but means your family can do it's bit for the environment,
safe in the knowledge that your solar
hot water is 100% carbon free. This latest in solar thermal technology
and the most efficient system on the market today...
DIY
solar panel kits are also available >> 
Evacuated tubes solar panels >>
Price and suitability >>
PV solar panels
'On-grid' means selling your surplus energy
SELL your surplus power back to the National Grid...
Photovoltaic solar - The latest electric PV solar panels, also known as photovoltaic
solar panels. This type of solar contributes
towards your energy needs for your home. The average UK household consumes
approx 4000 kWh per year. An on-grid connected PV
solar panel system can produce from 1500 kWh - 4500 kWh per year, depending
on the size system installed.
Although more expensive than solar thermal,
PV solar is becoming a fashionable household accessory. It would be worth
finding out your annual electricity consumption rate first, but pv
solar running alongside basic energy conservation measures (such as low
energy lightbulbs etc), can make a great way of reducing your households energy consumption and bills...
PV electric solar panels >>
Price and suitability >>
Why solar panels?
1. Be the first
You don't have to be mental to be environmental, but
you will definitely beam, showing your neighbours you are smarter and
greener, buying solar panels for the UK climate.
2. House prices
Adding solar panels to your property is the same as adding
a conservatory, a large possible increase in your property price is possible.
3. Selling your home
In a century with ‘Energy Assessment Certificates’,
homes with solar already installed will be snapped up, quicker, than
those without.
4. Britain’s energy crisis
Did you know, 80% of British electric and gas supplies
will come from Russia, leaving a national security
threat bigger than the cold war. Our politicians will have no choice but
to give in to Russia’s political demands in the 21st century.
5. Climate Change bill
The 'Climate Change Bill' has seen the introduction of
'greener incentives' and 'greener taxation' starting with 'Energy Efficiency
Assessments' for selling your property.
6. Why not wind?
People in built up or sub-urban areas will not get
planing permission to install. You need a very large wind turbine to
make a dent in the average domestic energy bill. Most domestic
houses are unsuitable for wind turbines.
7. Improved solar technology
Latest solar panels have improved vastly over the last few years.
Specially designed for the UK climate.
Harnessing the power of the sun has never been so easy. Solar panels are fast becoming a mainstream and viable option. Learn
about solar energy and solar radiation for the UK climate.
8. UK energy pricing
May I quote “British Gas Managing Director
- Mark Clare, said "the industry had no choice but to pass
on the large increase in wholesale gas prices to the consumer".
Mr Clare said "The wholesale price forecasts for 2006 are something
like 50 percent higher than a few months ago. "FORWARD MARKET PRICES
ARE PRETTY UGLY FOR EARLY NEXT YEAR AND BEYOND".
"All suppliers are going to have to put prices up in 2009, that’s
inevitable". He added "higher gas prices means higher electricity
prices too, because Gas fuels 40 percent of the UK's power stations".
Energy price fixing by UK energy companies
Read the small print on your contract. Price fixing is subject to
governmental price changes, here or abroad, so if Russia decides to
up its price, up goes your price, fixed or not.
9. Climate change and Britain
We have all felt it get warmer and dryer, mild winters
and early spring times. So if predictions are correct, over the coming
years, you will be seeing a lot of the sunshine
10. Global warming
Bored of hearing about global warming? Did we say domestic
solar panels save money on your energy bills?
The most common solar panels questions
1. Can solar panels run my central heating?
No, because solar is most effective in summer. Solar thermal keeps your hot water tank topped with hot water only.
2. Is my roof suitable for solar panels?
In most cases yes, but this will be determined at the solar survey stage. South facing is ideal, but south/east and south/west are great too.
3. There are lots of solar systems on the market, which is best?
In a 2001 DTI report, evacuated tubes were singled out as the most efficient systems. Since then, this solar panel technology has greatly improved because it now heats 'directly' rather than anti freeze 'indirectly'. This gives even better efficiency in 2007 for our UK climate.
PV Solar Panels are electric generating solar panels, although these are more expensive than solar thermal, they can help reduce your electric consumption and sell back to the national grid.
4. 'Direct' or 'indirect' solar?
Traditional style UK solar panel systems usually heat up an antifreeze mixture to prevent freezing in the UK climate (indirect). Today we can get greater efficiency out of solar panels by heating water '(directly), by making them freeze tolerent using a special drainback system.
5. Can I install evacuated tubes myself?
Yes, if you are competant in plumbing, because DIY solar panels kits are now available. We do not recommend novices installing though.
6. Can I generate electricity using solar instead?
Yes, this is done using PV solar panels. Although more expensive, they can produce a portion of your electricity usage, but not all in most domestic cases. Any excess produced is sold back to the National Grid.
7. Do I need planning permission?
No, unless you live in a listed building.
8. Why install these solar panels?
Simply put, we only showcase and install the latest solar panel technology. There are still some UK solar companies who offer their customers outdated or inefficient technology for the UK climate. Learn more about solar energy in the UK >>
Solar energy and solar panels
Solar energy is a general term for the electro-magnetic radiation emitted by the sun. We can capture and convert solar radiation into useful forms of energy, such as heat and electricity, using the latest solar panel technologies. The technical feasibility and economical operation of these technologies at a specific location depends on the available solar radiation, which in the UK, is 60% of that of the equator. More than enough!
Solar radiation and solar energy
Our planet is round, and the sun strikes the surface at different angles ranging from 0º (just above the horizon) to 90º (directly overhead). When the sun's radiation or solar rays are vertical, and our planets surface gets all the energy possible.
The Earth revolves around the sun in an elliptical orbit and is closer to the sun during some parts of the year. When the sun is closer to the Earth, our planets surface receives a little more solar energy or solar radiation exposure. Earth is nearer the sun when it's summer in the southern hemisphere and winter in the northern hemispheres. The more slanted the sun's radiation or solar rays are, the further they travel through our the upper and lower atmospheres, becoming more scattered and diffuse. Because the Earth is a globe, the north and south polar regions never get a full high sun, and because of the tilted axis of spin, these areas receive no sun at all during part of the solar or annual year.
The tilt in the Earth's axis of spin is a more significant factor in determining the amount of solar radiation hitting the Earth at any particular part. Tilting results in longer days in the northern hemisphere from our spring equinox to the fall equinox and longer days in the southern hemisphere during the other part of the annual calenders. Days and nights are both 12 hours long on the equinoxes, which occur each year on or around March 23 and September 22.
Solar energy and solar radiation in the UK
The UK, which lies in the middle latitudes, receives more solar energy in the summer not only because days are longer, but also because the sun is nearly overhead giving greater amounts of radiation exposure. Solar rays are far more slanted during the short days of the winter months.
Rotation of the Earth is responsible for hourly variations in sunlight and solar radiation. In the early morning and late afternoon, the sun is lower in the sky. Its rays travel further through the atmosphere than at midday when the sun is at its highest point. On a clear day, the greatest amount of solar energy reaching a solar panel collector is around midday. This is called the solar bulge, commonly known as high noon.
With solar panels, solar energy can be collected, harnessed and used.
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