About Solar Energy

How does solar power work?

Solar panels are currently predominantly made from an element called Silicon which is extracted from sand. One half of the silicon is doped with Boron making it positive and the other half is doped with Phosphorus making it negative.

When light falls onto the solar panels electrons can be knocked loose from the atoms in the silicon. If an electrical circuit is formed by connecting electrical conductors to the positive and negative terminals an electrical current can flow.

(reference http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2002/solarcells.htm).

How does it all work in my home?

It could not be any simpler…..

• You have an array of solar panels fitted on your roof.
• An inverter is connected to the panels.
• The output from the converter is connected to the input from your electricity supplier.
• Meter to measure your generated electricity (optional)

Of course there are finer details beyond this and that’s why you will need a qualified designer and installer. For example the panels need to be south facing and at an optimum angle in order to achieve maximum performance.

The electricity generated by the solar panels is DC (Direct Current) and will need to be converted to AC (Alternating Current) before it can be connected to your grid. The device which does the conversion is the inverter.

Most electricity suppliers will now buy your excess electricity although at varying rates. In some countries your get paid more for your generated energy than you pay the electricity supplier for their electricity as an incentive to encourage more renewable generation.

Benefits

The benefits are numerous……

• PV is a reliable, renewable, non-polluting energy source. Each KWp can save approx. 455kg of carbon dioxide emissions per year, adding up to 11 tonnes over a system’s lifetime (Energy Saving Trust).
• Generate your own electricity from the free and inexhaustible energy from the sun, as well as reducing your energy bills.
• PV systems never needs refuelling, have no moving parts, emit no pollution, are silent, and require minimal maintenance
• Sell excess electricity back to your provider.
• It is a good selling point and can increase the value of your house.

Costs and Savings

The cost of a PV system depends on the size of your system. The factors that decide the size of your system include the amount of suitable roof space, your budget and how much electricity you use per annum.

The average UK house consumes 3,300 units of electricity (kWh) a year (Energy Saving Trust). A typical PV system would be a 2kWp system which would produce approx. 1600kWh per year, roughly half of the yearly consumption.

Solar roof tiles are currently more expensive but could be good option of you are re-roofing or ifs its new build as some of the cost of a new roof will be offset.

Grid connected systems require very little maintenance other than perhaps wiping clean the face of the solar panels occasionally.

At solar energy home we provide with solar energy products including PV Modules, inverters, mounting structures and solar cables which helps to generate solar energy in the form of electricity and heat. We provide both residential solar energy installation and commercial solar energy installation and Wholesale solar energy.