The popularity of solar panels is growing exponentially – over one million roofs across the UK are now covered with solar panels. The sun is driving a shift towards green energy, and your home is able to be a part of it.
Why would solar energy be beneficial to you? Let’s look at the main benefits and drawbacks of changing towards solar power.
Benefits of solar panels
Save energy costs by reducing your bills.
The power of solar-generated electricity can cut a huge amount off your monthly energy costs. On average an 3.5 Kilowatt (kW) solar panels costs £7,860 but it will save you around 608 per year, based the location you’re within the UK.
The amount you save on energy bills will be based on two aspects:
How much electricity do the solar panels generate – To boost the amount of solar-generated electricity, buy solar panels with high efficiency, or even add more panels to your roof
What percentage of this power is actually used – You can purchase a solar battery for storing the energy generated by your panels during the day when you’re not at home, and it’s accessible to you at night (when the sun isn’t out)
Make money from energy you don’t need.
For the majority of homes in UK solar panels produce an enormous amount of solar energy, homeowners aren’t sure how to use the power – and that’s the place where the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is available.
The SEG requires electricity providers that are licensed to offer rates for small-scale, low-carbon generators. e.g. houses that have solar panels. The solar energy that isn’t utilized is returned towards National Grid. National Grid, and the household pays for it.
Shrink your carbon footprint
The main motive solar panels can be beneficial for the environment comes down to their carbon-free technology. In fact, the typical household solar system that is installed across the UK can save around 1.3 or 1.6 tonnes of carbon dioxide that enters into the air each year.
In the midst of “climate emergency” klaxons, it’s high time to ditch those dingy fossil fuels.
Pay attention to the silence
These silicon-soaked sheets produce power however they aren’t keen to talk about it.
Because the solar panel doesn’t have any movement elements in a solar panel, they’re completely silent, quite different from the noise of various kinds of generators that are small in size.
You will be less dependent on the grid.
Are you feeling shackled to the grid? Solar panels could be the answer. In essence, the more energy you produce and the lower your energy consumption, the less you have to buy energy from firms.
Although the typical solar PV system will not allow you to be completely independent (you’re likely to have to purchase electric power from the grid in the evenings) the addition of one or two solar batteries will give you the ability to achieve self-sufficiency. It allows you to keep any excess energy in reserve to use on a rainy day (or cloudy day or night actually).
If you’re looking to stay away from making use of the grid while on the move it’s possible to purchase flexible solar panels to go on off-grid travels.
You can easily scale it up
The truth is that solar panels are scalable. That means that you can easily include more panels in an existing system as opposed to having remove it to build a new one.
Similar to batteries that store solar energy. A lot of solar battery models are similar to LEGO bricks in their ability to be built in towers or arranged in a row.
Maintain your home in a low-maintenance state.
Solar panels are incredibly independent, meaning that they do not require constant monitoring.
To make the most from your panel, it is essential to ensure that they are clean and free of obstructions. But, because these panels with smooth surfaces are placed in an angle it is likely that the majority of dirt and other debris can slide off easily. Regular rainfall can also help keep the panels clean.
The most solar panel have a warranties of 25 years and can be used for up to 40 years, so they’ll be there for the duration of time.
Look into financial support
The cost of these expensive products could strain your budget however, there are a myriad of plans by the government that could come to your rescue:
The Smart Export Guarantee (SEG) is a alternative to the Feed-in Tariff. The SEG permits low-carbon electricity consumers to receive payments for excess energy they sell and return to grid
It is the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) is a great incentive for homeowners who want at investing in solar-powered panels. This RHI will encourage homeowners to make investments in sustainable heating technology by assisting them in paying for it, by making monthly payments over a seven year time frame.
Discover the various types of solar
Solar energy is a solution for all needs regardless of whether you’re looking for renewable power or a sustainable method to warm your home.
There are two kinds of solar energy you can use at home including solar thermal, and solar PV. The solar PV panels suck up sun’s energy and convert it into electricity. On the other hand, solar thermal panels convert the sun’s energy into heat that can be used for water usage in the household.
Solar panels have disadvantages.
They cost money.
A typical 3-4kW solar PV system could cost you approximately £7,860. Not exactly an affordable purchase, but the solar panel is becoming more affordable.
The price of panels has dropped by around 70% in the last decade, and the trend is expected to continue since solar power is becoming more popular. If you’re looking for the complete information, read our comprehensive guide to the cost of solar panels.
They’re influenced by the weather
It’s a given solar panels Cheshire are best during the shining summer months, rather than winter’s dark, gloomy days. If the sky is free of clouds and sunlight beams down upon your roof your solar panels will be in their best form.
If there’s one thing that Brits can be sure of, it’s that our weather isn’t an extremely reliable. Therefore, during the dark days and cold winter nights you’ll be more dependent on the grid, however, that doesn’t mean the solar panels will cease working completely.
Actually sunlight isn’t the vital component in solar power, though it can certainly help. All solar panels require is light.
They will require the correct roof
The ideal roof will be facing southwards at a 30 to 45 degree angle, but the east and west-facing solar panels work as well. It is important to ensure that your roof isn’t shady. the sun’s rays as well.
If your roof isn’t meeting the required criteria it could be a challenge to install a successful solar power system.
There’s plenty that you could do in order to optimize the conditions on your roof, for example purchasing high-efficiency solar panels (if you’re in a tight space) and cutting back trees (to lessen shading) and utilizing tilted racks (to ensure that your panels are perfectly angled).
They can take up lots of space
Solar panels are surprisingly large components, with an average of about 2m2 for each panel. And the greater the amount of electricity you wish to produce, the more panels you’ll have to set up. The bigger the roof is, the more efficient.
If you’re being squeezed for space it is possible to choose top-quality, high-efficiency models. While more costly there are a few high-efficiency panels will do the same thing as the majority of regular panels.
They contain harmful substances
Like many electronic products solar panels are made up of compounds which can be harmful when released into the environment. This is why it’s important to purchase from reputable companies and to ensure that they are recycled at the conclusion of their lives (which could be more than 40 years) they are properly recycled.
A study in Nature Energy showed that the global environmental impact caused by the production of solar panels is greatly outweighed with the benefits to our environment associated with making use of these panels. Just 4% of the power generated by solar panels can be offset with the power needed to make it, making solar energy one of the greenest sources of renewable energy.
It is expensive to relocate
As a trusted family member The panels you have installed will be around for the long haul. So, if you’re thinking about the installation of solar panels on your property, be sure that you’re committed to living in the property for a significant amount of time.
These panels are large items of equipment, and they’ll be costly for transporting from place to the next location, not to mention the expense of having them replaced.
Long-term return on investment (ROI)
We calculated that by 2023, it’ll require the homeowners 12.9 years to reach a point where they’ve made a profit with their solar panels and with annual savings of as much as 54% off electric costs.
Although it’s a long way off the return on investment is better than in the past.
What’s do we do next?
Solar energy is a choice that has advantages that are far more beneficial than the negatives. While the initial investment can be quite a bit but you’ll be able to look at having a home that is outfitted with sparkling solar panels, slashing your expenses year-on-year as well as reducing the carbon footprint of your home.
Our most recent National Home Energy Survey also showed the fact that 65 percent of homeowners would be likely to purchase homes equipped with solar panels.
Sounds appealing? Contact our team of experts today…