Generate cheap, green electricity from sunlight
Solar electricity systems capture the sun’s energy using photovoltaic (PV)
cells. The cells convert the sunlight into electricity, which can be used to
run household appliances and lighting.
See how Solar electricity systems work in practice
PV cells don’t need direct sunlight to work – you can still generate some
electricity on a cloudy day.
- How do photovoltaic (PV)
cells work? - The benefits of solar
electricity - Is solar electricity
suitable for my home? - Making the most of solar
electricity - Costs, savings and
maintenance - Find out more
See how solar electricity can work along side a heat pump
See how solar electricity can work along side solar hot water
How do photovoltaic (PV) cells work?
PV cells are panels you can attach to your roof or walls. Each cell is made
from one or two layers of semiconducting material, usually silicon. When light
shines on the cell it creates an electric field across the layers. The stronger
the sunshine, the more electricity is produced.
PV cells come in a variety of shapes and colours, from grey "solar
tiles" that look like roof tiles to panels and transparent cells that you
can use on conservatories and glass.
The strength of a PV cell is measured in kilowatt peak (kWp) – that’s the
amount of energy the cell generates in full sunlight.
The benefits of solar electricity
- Cut your carbon
footprint: solar electricity is green, renewables
energy and doesn’t release any harmful carbon
dioxide or other pollutants. A typical home PV system could save around
1200 kg of carbon dioxide per year – that’s around 30 tonnes over its
lifetime.
- Cut your
electricity bills: sunlight is free, so once you’ve paid for the
initial installation your electricity costs will be greatly reduced. A
typical home PV system can produce around 40% of the electricity a
household uses in a year.
- Sell electricity
back to the Grid: if your system is producing more electricity
than you need, or when you can’t use it, someone else can use it – and you
could make a bit of money.
- Store electricity
for a cloudy day: if your home isn’t connected to the national
grid you can store excess electricity in batteries to use when you need
it.
Is solar electricity suitable for my home?
Solar panels are not light and your roof must be strong enough
To tell if solar electricity is right for you, there are a few key questions
to consider:
- Do you have a sunny
place to put it? You’ll need a roof or wall that faces within 90
degrees of south, and isn’t overshadowed by trees or buildings. If
the surface is in shadow for parts of the day, your system will generate
less energy.
- Is your roof strong
enough? Solar panels are not light and the roof must be strong
enough to take their weight, especially if the panel is placed on top of
existing tiles. If in doubt, ask a construction expert or an installer.
- Do you need
planning permission? In England and Scotland, you don’t need
planning permission for most home solar electricity systems, as long as
they’re below a certain size – but you should check with your local
planning officer if your home is a listed building, or is in a
conservation area or World Heritage Site.
In Wales and Northern Ireland, you still need to get
planning permission before installing a solar electricity system – though the
legislation may soon change. To find out how to apply for permission, contact
you local authority.
Making the most of solar electricity
To make electricity you produce go further:
- Invest in energy efficient appliances.
- Use energy when the sun is
out – do you laundry during the day to take advantage of the free
electricity
Cost, savings and maintenance
Costs for installing a solar electricity system vary a lot
- an average system costs between £8,000 and £14,000, depending on its size and
type.
In general:
- the more electricity the
system can generate, the more it costs but the more it could save - solar tiles cost more than
conventional panels - panels built into a roof
are more expensive than those that sit on top but, - if you need major roof
repairs, PV tiles can offset the cost of roof tiles
Savings can be considerable – almost 1 tonne of CO2 a
year, and around £200 off your electricity bill*. A 2 kWp
system could provide around 40% of a household’s yearly electricity needs.
Maintenance is generally small – you’ll need to keep the
panels relatively clean and make sure trees don’t begin to overshadow them.
Selling your own electricity
You can make money on the excess electricity you give back to the Grid.
From 1st April 2010 you could be eligible to receive cash for each unit of
electricity you generate using this technology.
The Energy Saving Trust Solar PV Certification Scheme closed down on the
31st March 2007. Certification for products and installers within the low
carbon buildings programme is now provided through the Microgeneration Certification Scheme
