Solar panel & Battery storage
PV panels, also known as solar panels, capture the sun's energy and convert it into electricity. The electricity produced by PV panels is mostly used to power household appliances and equipment.
How Can a Solar Panel Power Your Home or Business?
The most typical solar panel system is the on-grid system, which, as the name suggests, is connected to the national grid. This means you can use electricity from the grid when the solar panels are not working at night.
Moreover, if your solar energy system produces more electricity than you need, Smart electricity clocks allow you to store the electricity you produce in the grid and use it later.
The second type of solar panel system is the off-grid system, which is not connected to the grid. In this case, you can have electricity when it gets dark by adding a solar battery to the system.
This system can be really useful in remote areas where there is no alternative to other electricity sources. Today, thousands of people power their homes and businesses with the help of solar panels.
If you want to switch to renewable energy and invest in solar panels for your home in Uk (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), all you have to do is get a quote for four or more panels from us. Fill in the contact form and we will get back to you. It's free, after our discovery you can evaluate our offer and we will be happy to have you become our customer.
How Do Solar Panels Work?
In solar panels, PV stands for "photovoltaic" because the panels are made up of small photovoltaic cells connected to each other. PV cells are made of semiconductor material – the most commonly used is silicon.
PV cells are usually very small, but they can be very efficient when combined to form solar panels and solar panels. An electric field is created when the sun shines on the cells.
The stronger the sun, the more electrical energy is produced. However, cells do not need direct sunlight to function and can still generate electricity on a cloudy day.
PV panels are available in a variety of shapes and sizes and can be easily mounted on top of an existing roof with solar mounting materials.
An alternative to solar panels, which take up less roof space but are more expensive, is to use solar roof tiles.
What are the Benefits of Using Solar Panels?
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Cut your electricity bills: sunlight is free, so once you've paid for the initial installation your electricity costs will be reduced.
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Get paid for the electricity you generate: tariffs pay you for the electricity you generate when exporting that electricity back to the grid.
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Sell electricity back to the grid: if your system is producing more electricity than you need, or when you can't use it, you can sell the surplus back to the grid.
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Cut your carbon footprint: solar electricity is green, renewables energy and doesn't release any harmful carbon dioxide or other pollutants. A typical home solar PV system could save over a tonne of carbon dioxide per year – that's more than 30 tonnes over its lifetime.
Maintenance and Cleaning of PV Panels
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Solar panel cleaning is quite simple: it just needs to be kept clean and not in the shade of trees, respectively. If dust or snow becomes a problem, they should be rinsed with warm water. If you don't want to do it yourself, you can always contact a window cleaning company and they will do the job.
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PV panels are likely to last 25-30 years or more, but the solar panel and solar inverter need to be replaced after ten to fifteen years. However, it's always good to play it safe and check with your installer to find out what the specific maintenance requirements are for your system and the insurance involved.
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There are many solar panel phenomena pointing to it as an excellent source of renewable energy, and there are many reasons why you should start enjoying the benefits it brings. In addition to reducing carbon emissions, you will also reduce your electricity bills. What's more, solar panels are easy to maintain and last a long time.
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If you want to take the next step and invest in solar energy today, normelectric.co.uk are happy to assist you. By filling out the contact form above, you can get up to four customized quotes from suppliers near you. This service takes only a few seconds, is free and non-binding!
Do you have enough space ?
Space is a key consideration. The average system size is around 4.2kWp and this will typically take up around 25m2 roof area.
An unshaded, South facing roof is ideal for maximum electrical output. East or West facing roofs could still be considered, but North facing roofs are not recommended. A system facing East or West will yield around 15-20% less energy than one facing directly South.
Shaded roofs
Any nearby buildings, trees or chimneys could shade your roof and have a negative impact on the performance of your system.
Finding an unshaded spot is best, however sometimes shading is unavoidable. Some solar PV systems can minimise the impact of shading using ‘optimisers’. If you don’t have shading, the use of optimisers is not necessary or beneficial, other than the increased monitoring opportunities they offer – they won’t generate more energy.
Do I need permission to install a solar PV system?
Solar PV panels are considered ‘permitted developments’ and often don’t require planning permission. However, exceptions apply and it’s best to check with your local planning office for guidance. If you live in a listed building, conservation area or national park, additional restrictions may apply.
If you’re planning to install a solar PV system in your home, you must register it with your Distribution Network Operator (DNO). The DNO is the company responsible for bringing electricity to your home. Usually, your installer will register the device for you.
The UK Government has advice on how to register your new energy device in England, Scotland and Wales.
Solar energy calculator
Use the solar energy calculator for an idea as to the benefits you may see from installing a solar photovoltaic (PV) system.
This tool gives estimates based on information you provide, and a number of assumptions to indicate potential benefits. This is to help you decide whether a PV system is for you.
Use of the tool and its outputs is not a guarantee that you will see the exact same fuel bill savings from the installation of your planned system.
This tool estimates potential payments from the Smart Export Guarantee, which was introduced on 1 January 2020 and requires energy suppliers to pay customers for the electricity they export to the grid. There are a range of tariffs available for this and in some cases participation requires metering.
Deals may also be time limited or have other conditions which you should consider carefully in order to make the best choice for you.
The Solar Energy UK website lists current deals available.