What is Solar Photovoltaic’s PV?
Electricity made by the sun – Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels convert sunlight directly into electricity that can be used for normal household consumption. Each solar PV panel contains cells made of two or more thin layers of semi-conducting material, most commonly silicon. When a cell is exposed to light, electrical charges are generated and this is then fed into your home’s electricity supply.
Photovoltaic Panels have been used for over 40 years to convert energy from the sun into electricity. Solar Photovoltaics (PV) are a non-polluting source of energy that is increasingly being recognised as a major renewable technology for the future.
Tapping into a free, natural energy resource makes perfect sense in our current climate of dwindling oil reserves, rising fuel costs and global warming. Solar technology generates silent, pollution-free power and has become the most common source of renewable energy in the world. The most common is to fit photovoltaic panels to your building whilst staying connected to the mains electricity grid. The electricity your produce in the daytime is either used by yourself, or sent back into the electricity grid and brought by an electricity company. This system allows you to sell any excess electricity that you produce, and buy in electricity when, at night or on dark days, your panels do not produce enough for your use, for this system, you will need an inverter and a two way meter.
Main advantages of installing Solar PV
- Generates free electricity without producing CO2
- Our standard installation package could deliver up to 50% of your electricity requirements.
- You can profit substantially from the free electricity that you generate via the government subsidy feed in tariff (FIT)
- Can be intergrated in or mounted on , an existing building structure
- Could help save up to 1 tonne of CO2 per year
- Fully installed electricity generation system
Most commercial systems have a 25 year guarantee as standard, and have an excellent track record for reliability. Domestic installations normally have a 2 kilowatt system installed and costs will vary depending on the type and size of system you install.
- Export Tariffs: You are only paid for the electricity that is exported back to the electricity network (you are not paid for any electricity you use).
- Generation Tariffs: You are paid for all the electricity that your system has generated even if you use it in your own home.
- Income from Generation Tariff ( 2125 x 41.3p) = £877.62
- Income from Electricity Sales ( 1062 x 3p) = £31.86
- Savings on avoided Electricity Purchases (1062 x 13p) = £138.00
- Total Annual Income + Savings = £1047.48
On your investment, you could get back approximately 10 to 12% per year, and factoring in rising electricity prices at 6% and inflation at 3%, your installation could pay for itself in less than 10 years.
Over 25 years, the duration over which the tariff is guaranteed, we estimate you could earn a profit of £35,759 based on this example, which will give you a healthy profit on your original outlay.
An added bonus to installing a Solar PV system is the life span, which is considerably longer than the guaranteed tariff term, so your property should comfortably continue benefiting from free electricity for many years after the 25 year guarantee expires.
In addition your property value will increase having already invested in the new technology. Current surveys suggest between 5 and 9% with most people willing to pay up to £10,000 more for properties with renewable energy installed.
Maintenance and how does it work?
Solar PV systems have long very long life spans, no moving parts, make no noise and require virtually no maintenance.
