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Media LibraryAre Solar Panels the Right Solution for Your Home?
Solar panels take advantage of one of nature’s most powerful yet free resources: the energy produced by the sun. Solar panels, also known as photovoltaic systems (PV systems), use semiconductor technology to convert energy from sunlight into electricity that can power your household.
But, are they the right solution for your home?
On average, more than 4,000 solar panels are installed in the UK each month. The growing popularity of solar panels means that the prices have gone down by 60% over the past decade. The prices of solar panels have steadily decreased over the last years, as new technologies have been discovered to make solar energy components more cost-efficient. On top of that, solar panels do not merely help to reduce your energy bills, but they can also help you earn money from surplus electricity generated.
So, the 3 key benefits of solar panels are:
Electricity all year round – Solar panels generate clean, emission-free electricity to power your home all year round, while their long life span of more than 25 years makes them a long-term good investment.
Increase the market value of your property & earn money from solar grants – Selling surplus electricity generated by your solar panels is another advantage that solar panels offer. You will not simply earn money from SEG, but also increase the market value of your house.
Reduce your carbon footprint – A solar-powered home reduces the carbon footprint and helps to eliminate domestic harmful emissions.
Solar Photovoltaic Panels
Photovoltaic (PV) systems are commonly used solar panel systems in the UK. Photovoltaic systems convert sunlight directly into electricity.
Solar cells are made of semiconductors, such as silicon, which absorb the sunlight and convert it into electricity.
Solar cells are connected electrically and packed together in a frame, commonly known as a solar panel. When you connect multiple solar panels together, they form a solar array. And, finally, when you add the cabling, brackets, inverter, and so forth, the entire system forms your solar panel system.
The electrical conductors are attached to positive and negative terminals, thus forming an electrical circuit. From there, the electrons can be captured in the form of an electric current (electricity). This current, together with the cell’s voltage (which is a result of its built-in electric field or fields), defines the power (or wattage) that the solar cell can produce, and is how solar panels convert sunlight into electricity.
Grid-Connected vs. Stand-Alone PV Systems
Grid-connected systems make use of the local utility grid to ensure you are never without electricity. If your domestic solar panel system generates more electricity than your household requires in a day, this surplus energy can be exported back to the national grid. On the other hand, if you need more electricity than your solar panels have generated, the grid can supply this.
Stand-alone PV systems are not connected to the grid, but instead charge a solar battery system. These batteries store the electricity generated by your panels. To operate your appliances, the stored electricity from these batteries will be used. Stand-alone systems are used in areas that cannot be connected to a grid, and are typically more expensive than grid-connected systems because solar batteries are still quite costly.
Solar Battery Storage Systems
Solar batteries store electricity generated by solar power and let you to use it during the evenings when your solar panels are not generating electricity. You can make use of solar batteries whether you are connected to the grid or not.
Solar battery storage system costs are not low, ranging from £1,200 to £6,000, depending on the size and capacity. However, technological advancements are leading to new solutions year after year, and may likely lead to a reduction in solar battery prices.
Solar Thermal Collectors
Solar thermal panels use sunlight to heat up water that is stored in a cylinder, which can then be used for your home heating needs. Solar thermal panels are roof-mounted, just like solar PV panels, but look slightly different, as instead of cells they have multiple pipes that heat up water. A related technology is thermodynamic panels, which extract heat from the ambient air.
Both solar thermal and thermodynamic panels can be used for space heating, but most commonly they provide the domestic hot water (DHW) needs of households.
4 Main Factors Affecting Solar Panel Efficiency
You’ll want to maximise your solar panel efficiency to get the most out of your solar investment and to cut your expenditure on utility bills. Key factors to consider are location, angling, direction, roof suitability, size of the solar panel system, and correct maintenance.
How Many Solar Panels Do You Need?
A 4kW solar panel system would require approximately 16 solar panels with a 250W power output, while a 5kW system comprises 20 solar panels.
How many solar panels you need to power your home depends on a few factors:
Your current electricity consumption
Your energy goals (how much of the consumption you plan to cover)
Your roof capacity
The number of sunshine hours in your area
As these factors differ from home to home, so it is important to assess each household uniquely.
How Many Solar Panels Do You Need?
A 4kW solar panel system would require approximately 16 solar panels with a 250W power output, while a 5kW system comprises 20 solar panels.
How many solar panels you need to power your home depends on a few factors:
Your current electricity consumption
Your energy goals (how much of the consumption you plan to cover)
Your roof capacity
The number of sunshine hours in your area
As these factors differ from home to home, so it is important to assess each household uniquely.
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost?
The average domestic solar panel system costs £5,000 to £10,000. The total cost of solar panels depends on how many panels you need for your home, which in turn is dependent on your energy consumption.
Generally, the more expensive the system, the more electricity it can generate — and therefore, the more savings it can bring.
A small house with 1-3 residents can sufficiently cover their electricity costs with a 3kW solar panel system, which costs £5,000-£6,000. With that system, you can save £160 per year on your electricity bill thanks to the free energy produced by your panels. What’s more, with SEG payments you can even earn £75 per year.
A household with a family of 3-4 people would commonly have a 4kW system installed, which has a price range of approximately £6,000-£8,000. In this scenario, you can save approximately £270 on your electricity bill annually, and can even earn £100 per year on top of that.
For larger homes that house 4+ people, a 6kW solar panel system would be required. This can be anything from £8,000 and upwards. With a 6kW system, you can save a whopping £430 on your electricity bills every year, and earn £151 from SEG payments additionally
Nonetheless, you are not limited to these three choices only. The system size is determined by the number of panels and the wattage of each panel; as a result, you can customise the system size according to your needs, e.g. have a 3.5kW solar panel.
If you are installing commercial solar panels then the sizing will be vastly different, and this will be reflected in the cost.
Most Common Solar Panel Systems
1kW solar panel systems
2kW solar panel systems
3kW solar panel systems
4kW solar panel systems
5kW solar panel systems
6kW solar panel systems
12kW solar panel systems
Do Solar Panels Increase the Value of Your Home?
Solar panels can increase the value of your home as they make your house more energy-efficient. This is one of the home improvements that make your home more attractive to potential buyers, as the new owners can enjoy the same benefits of reduced electricity bills.
Naturally, the size of the solar panel system will affect just how much the value will increase, and bear in mind that different families will have different energy expenditure habits. That means that one system may be adequate for some families and inadequate for others.
For some buyers, solar panels are not a valuable addition to a home, so it does depend on personal preference…
Advantages of Solar Panels
Pros
Cheaper electricity bills
Earn money back
Reduce your carbon footprint
Year-round efficiency
Low maintenanc
I ndependent from the grid
Disadvantages of Solar Panels;
Cons
High initial costs
Dependent on sunlight
Source: greenmatch
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