Solar Power

From the 1st April 2010, Feed-in-Tariffs (FITs) became available adding benefit for the homeowner when installing renewable energy sources, energy companies are obliged to pay householders a regular tariff for their production of renewable electricity such as electricity produced from a photovoltaic (PV) array.
Solar Power Duffield
Solar PV should be installed by an MCS (Micro generation Certification Scheme) certified installer to benefit from the government feed in tariff.

Producing FREE electricity direct from the sun
Solar PV systems utilise the sun’s free potential energy and use photovoltaic (PV) cell technology and turn the sunlight into useable electricity, this in-turn can be used in a domestic capacity to run any electrical systems such as lighting and regular household appliances.
One of the main benefits to the UK renewable market is that you do not need direct sunlight to generate energy; PV systems have the capacity to produce some electricity even in overcast conditions.
Photovoltaic panels (PV Cells) can be attached to the wail or positioned on the roof depending on the best angle required for achieving the greatest energy return.
The cells are made up of double or single layers of semiconducting material which create electric fields when sunlight is applied, the more sunlight hitting the material the more electricity (measured in kWp is produced, therefore increased financial savings.

Key Benefits
Generate an income from the governments Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) each kilowatt of electricity produced will be rewarded regardless of whether you use it yourself, or sell it back to the grid.
Reduce your electricity bill, the sun’s energy is a free and renewable source, this means that when you have covered all the installation costs of the technology; your electricity bills will be reduced.
Reduction in your carbon footprint solar energy systems does not discharge any carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere.
It is also estimated that most solar PV systems installed onto typical residential properties could save around 1tonne of CO2 per annum. (Source: Energy Saving Trust).

SO HOW DO SOLAR PANELS WORK?
Solar panels collect solar radiation from the sun then actively convert that energy into electricity.
The Solar panels themselves are comprised of several individual solar cells; the solar cells function similarly to large semiconductors and utilize a large-area p-n junction diode.
When these solar cells are exposed to sunlight, the p-n junction diodes convert the energy from sunlight into usable electrical energy.
The energy generated from photons striking the surface of the solar panel allows electrons to be knocked out of their orbits and released, electric fields in the solar cells pull these free electrons in a directional current, from this metal contacts in the solar cell can generate electricity.
The more solar cells there are in a solar panel and the higher the quality of these solar cells, the more total electrical output the solar panel will produce.
The conversion of sunlight to usable electrical energy is known as the Photovoltaic Effect.
There are no moving parts in a solar panel.

SOLAR INSOLATION AND SOLAR PANEL EFFICIENCY
Solar Insolation is a measure of how much solar radiation a given solar panel or surface receives. The greater the insolation, the more solar energy can be converted to electricity by the solar panel.
Other factors that affect the output of solar panels are weather conditions, shade caused by obstructions to direct sunlight, and the angle and position at which the solar panel is installed.
Ideally Solar panels function the best when placed in direct sunlight, are south facing, at an angle of 30 degrees, away from any large obstructions that might cast shade, and in areas with high regional solar insolation ratings.
Their efficiency can be optimized by using dynamic mounts that follow the position of the sun in the sky these rotate the solar panel enabling it to get the maximum amount of direct exposure during the day as possible.

From the 1st April 2010, Feed-in-Tariffs (FITs) became available adding benefit for the homeowner when installing renewable energy sources, energy companies are obliged to pay householders a regular tariff for their production of renewable electricity such as electricity produced from a photovoltaic (PV) array.
Solar Power Dudley
Solar PV should be installed by an MCS (Micro generation Certification Scheme) certified installer to benefit from the government feed in tariff.

Producing FREE electricity direct from the sun
Solar PV systems utilise the sun’s free potential energy and use photovoltaic (PV) cell technology and turn the sunlight into useable electricity, this in-turn can be used in a domestic capacity to run any electrical systems such as lighting and regular household appliances.
One of the main benefits to the UK renewable market is that you do not need direct sunlight to generate energy; PV systems have the capacity to produce some electricity even in overcast conditions.
Photovoltaic panels (PV Cells) can be attached to the wail or positioned on the roof depending on the best angle required for achieving the greatest energy return.
The cells are made up of double or single layers of semiconducting material which create electric fields when sunlight is applied, the more sunlight hitting the material the more electricity (measured in kWp is produced, therefore increased financial savings.

Key Benefits
Generate an income from the governments Feed-in-Tariff (FIT) each kilowatt of electricity produced will be rewarded regardless of whether you use it yourself, or sell it back to the grid.
Reduce your electricity bill, the sun’s energy is a free and renewable source, this means that when you have covered all the installation costs of the technology; your electricity bills will be reduced.
Reduction in your carbon footprint solar energy systems does not discharge any carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere.
It is also estimated that most solar PV systems installed onto typical residential properties could save around 1tonne of CO2 per annum. (Source: Energy Saving Trust).

SO HOW DO SOLAR PANELS WORK?
Solar panels collect solar radiation from the sun then actively convert that energy into electricity.
The Solar panels themselves are comprised of several individual solar cells; the solar cells function similarly to large semiconductors and utilize a large-area p-n junction diode.
When these solar cells are exposed to sunlight, the p-n junction diodes convert the energy from sunlight into usable electrical energy.
The energy generated from photons striking the surface of the solar panel allows electrons to be knocked out of their orbits and released, electric fields in the solar cells pull these free electrons in a directional current, from this metal contacts in the solar cell can generate electricity.
The more solar cells there are in a solar panel and the higher the quality of these solar cells, the more total electrical output the solar panel will produce.
The conversion of sunlight to usable electrical energy is known as the Photovoltaic Effect.
There are no moving parts in a solar panel.

SOLAR INSOLATION AND SOLAR PANEL EFFICIENCY
Solar Insolation is a measure of how much solar radiation a given solar panel or surface receives. The greater the insolation, the more solar energy can be converted to electricity by the solar panel.
Other factors that affect the output of solar panels are weather conditions, shade caused by obstructions to direct sunlight, and the angle and position at which the solar panel is installed.
Ideally Solar panels function the best when placed in direct sunlight, are south facing, at an angle of 30 degrees, away from any large obstructions that might cast shade, and in areas with high regional solar insolation ratings.
Their efficiency can be optimized by using dynamic mounts that follow the position of the sun in the sky these rotate the solar panel enabling it to get the maximum amount of direct exposure during the day as possible.