(PV) Photovoltaic solar panels are the most popular of all the alternative energy installations

"Learn about (PV) photovoltaic solar panels for your home or business with on-grid systems with an average lifespan of 30-40 years. An installation has never made such financial sense in a world of endless energy price hikes."

Photovoltaic installations

Schematics for PV solar panels installations

In a nutshell.

PV solar installations produce electricity from daylight through a process called photovoltaic streaming. "Photo" refers to light and "voltaic" to electricity. Photons are converted to electrons and streamed into your power supply or sold to the National Grid.

Photons from the sun can penetrate clouds allowing you to generate even on overcast days.

Photovoltaic (PV solar panels) arrays can be roof or ground mounted. The panels on your roof will be southern/ or East or West facing or close to at an angle of 30 degrees for the best performance.

The panels produce a DC current which an inverter fitted in the loft space changes the DC into AC. A wall mounted display unit will allow you to check on performance and usage of your system.

The science bit.

Solar panels generate due to the sun's ejected photons which hit the panels and create electrons.

Specifications:

Mono-crystalline or poly-crystalline.
Size: 1318 mm x 994 mm x 46 mm.
Weight: 6.5 kg.
1-100 KW sizing options.
Power: 180-250 Watts per panel.
Domestic & commercial on-roof or ground-mounted.

Beat the banks with a better return on your money.

Beat the energy companies who don't want you to self-generate your own electricity.

Reduce your electricity bills by up to 85% depending on your energy consumption rate and size of system.

Sell power to the National Grid at better rates than your bank, even if you use the electricity yourself.

No maintenance with a long lifespan of 30+ years. PV solar installed in the 1960s is still working today.

Contributes all year round, even in the winter months.

Questions about photovoltaic installations

Most homes are suitable with a South/South East/South West facing roof space. Your internal electric board will need to be checked for compatibility and wiring routing, but this can be done easily through our free "get a quote" service.

The UK receives 60% of the sun's radiation compared with the equator. Each square metre of the UK receives between 900 to 1,300 kWh annually from the sun's radiation each year.

The system does take a lot of roof space, but photovoltaic panel systems can be installed within your garden area using A-frames, facing south, if roof space is a problem.

A system would generate approximately 750 kWh/year per kW installed. So our basic 1.0 kW system would generate around 750 kWh per year, and a 5kW system will produce around 4500 kWh. Installing Photovoltaic technology is a terrific way of future proofing proofing' your home.

The cost of a PV solar panel installation depends on several factors, but is usually based on system sizes. A consultation appointment can be arranged to give you your options and costings.

In most cases no, but if you have a Part P electrical qualification, then it may be possible to install in a diy capacity. DIY PV solar panel kits are available.

DIY installing can work out much cheaper. However, you will not be eligible for the generous feed-in tariff schemes currently available. All eligible installations must be carried out and certified by an accredited MCS installer.

Mono-crystalline cells are considered the most efficient technology from industry experts.

Mono cells are made from a single large crystal of silicon (mono = one). Polycrystalline systems are made from melted together multiple crystals (poly = many). The poly ones are marginally less efficient because of the boundaries between crystals in each cell wafer compared to the mono cells. So for the same power output a mono panel is slightly smaller in size. Mono-crystalline systems are, therefore, the best for smaller roofs or where there is a problem with shadows that limits the useful area of the roof.

New to the market is hybrid crystalline and amorphous thin film types (such as the Sanyo Hit types). These make use of mono cells, but with either an overcoat of thin-film amorphous cells (light can pass through the thin-film to the mono/poly cell below) or in the dead space around the mono cells.

Thin film amorphous cells are much less efficient than mono-crystalline or poly-crystalline cells in strong sunlight, but they are better than them in cloudy conditions.

This varies depending on your location and local climate variations and roof orientation. For this reason, we offer a free property inspection and quotation. Once we have the correct information, we will be able to sit down with you (tea optional) and give you more accurate facts and figures based on your individual location.

Adopters of this technology, acknowledges the global price of oil and energy in general, will rise continuously over 10, 15 even 30 years from now. People inverting today will benefit from cheaper installation and product costs.

The above equation does not take into consideration any future energy price rises, within the next 30 years, which is inevitable.

"Sell power to the National Grid at better rates than your bank, even if you use the electricity yourself."

Firstly companies who do offer free solar panel installations are cashing in and taking away your entitlement to the feed-in tariff reward. There is a lot of money to be made, and they are taking that benefit away from you. Secondly, if you work during the day, then the energy savings they promise will be small. Thirdly, you will find it harder to sell your home in the future if another company contractually owns your roof for a minimum of 20 years.

Invest yourself and receive the feed-in tariffs benefits yourself, is our advice.

The generated electricity, which will obviously vary according to the level of sunlight, means the excess energy produced will be directed out to the National Grid, and you will be credited accordingly.

In this way, the deficit between generation and demand can simply be purchased from your electricity supplier as normal.

No planning permission is needed, unless you live in a listed building or conservation area.

The advantages of photovoltaic solar panels, over other micro-generation technologies, are that no maintenance is required because it is a solid state energy conversion process.

With generous, grants available, the increase in your house price after fitting and freedom from energy prices, investment in such a system has now become a real choice for homes across the UK.

This rather depends on the technology installed and the density of the cloud. In moderate cloud density, the sun's energy can still be used. With very, heavy dark, dense cloud cover, probably not. Use your solar powered calculator out on a cloudy day and it will still work.

Yes, feed-in tariffs for electric-generating systems Clean Energy Cash back Scheme will be credited to you. The system is time sensitive designed to reward the earlier takers with bigger feed-in tariff rewards.

Once this technology is installed on the roof, the internal components do not take up much space inside. Fitting usually can be done within 3-4 days, with installers being polite, clean and tidy.

This depends on your energy consumption rate. You can find this out by looking at your electricity bill and finding your annual KW consumption.

Only if you live within a conservation area, or in a listed building. It is worth contacting your local council beforehand.

A quality system will usually have a self-cleaning glass surface. However, depending on your location, they may be more prone to environmental dirt, i.e. Tree resin, urban dust or bird poo. If these are an issue, then most window cleaners can reach and clean or you may use a professional solar panel cleaning company.

The glass is coated with a microscopically thin layer of titanium dioxide. When ultra violet light falls on the glass, the layer reacts with organic matter in the dirt, breaking it down into water can carbon dioxide. The dirt takes readily to water. Thus, when the rain arrives, it spreads uniformly across the surface and the loosened dirt is washed away rather than streaking.

All our MCS solar installers are RECC scheme (Renewable Energy Consumer Code) members and work throughout England, Scotland and Wales.

In most cases, installations can be fitted within one calendar month, but can be quicker under special circumstances.