Is It Still Worthwhile Installing Solar Panels?

Solar energy is one of the largest and most efficient kinds of renewable energy in the world. We tap into the natural power of the sun’s rays for electricity to heat and light business and home. The system you choose to use can produce electricity or heat your water while lessening the amount of carbon dioxide that you emit.

Solar panels are an environmentally friendly alternative to other sources of power for central heating, for instance because they don’t emit greenhouse gases or pollute our environment during their operation. There have been many advances throughout the years in the technology behind PV modules and more recently battery storage. They are now more than ever accessible and cost-effective. Solar energy can save homeowners and businesses hundreds of pounds a year on electric expenses.

Solar power is generated by solar cells that are individually charged. These are joined together to form the solar panel systems , which are comprised of cells and conductors. They then convert solar energy to generate electricity for the use of your home.
There are a few aspects we can examine to help you decide whether installing solar panels might be the right option for your needs.

Different types of solar panel installation

First, the kind of solar PV panels and the one you select is contingent on what you’ll need it for in addition to the space you have and the amount of money you have to invest in them. Solar cells have made significant progress from when they first started. They’re now much more sophisticated, which makes them not only better-performing but more visually appealing too. The main types of solar panels that are available are:

Monocrystalline solar panel: these kinds of solar panels take less space than polycrystalline panels but have the same in efficiency. They may be more expensive but.

Polycrystalline solar module: the manufacturing process is much simpler. This means they are less expensive, however they’re a bit less efficient in higher temperatures, but not enough to worry about when used for residential use. They do, however, require more space since you will require more of them.

Solar cells made of thin film operate by using substrates and photovoltaic cells . They then apply various layers of the substance to form a base. There are various types of materials that are used, they are simple to produce en masse and are also cheaper as well as more adaptable.

Amorphous silicon solar cell These typically come with several layers which are stacked in order to improve their efficiency. but, in comparison to other types , they are not as efficient.

Biohybrid solar cell: these are made to make use of a more natural method of photosynthesis by combining organic with non-organic material. This means almost 100% efficiency, but they do produce less power overall.

There is also the option of buying solar-powered roof tiles. They are similar to normal roofing tiles but incorporate a battery. If you have an listed house, these could typically be the better choice and are the most popular amongst those who feel solar panels don’t appear appealing. The tiles are considerably higher priced than photovoltaic PV because you’re likely to pay about PS10,000 for a typical property with three people.

There’s also a distinct difference between solar panels and solar cells. Solar cells are made up of all the essential components required for converting sunlight into electricity. The cells are connected to form a solar panel that produces more electricity.

Storage of energy is becoming more efficient. Solar batteries are becoming more well-known, the energy your system generates during the day is stored for use at night or on cloudy days , when less power is generated. This is a good way to ensure that your home’s significantly more energy efficient and get the most out of your solar panels.

It is a popular misconception that the sun has to shine directly on solar panels in order to work effectively, but this is not the case. It is possible to generate electricity even on cloudy days, but they’ll be more efficient when it is sunny in summer than winter as the sun is higher in the sky. The most efficient panels have an efficiency of 22%. This is quite high efficiency , as the average is 15%.

Solar Panels’ Benefits

There are many benefits in generating solar electricity. here are some of the most notable:

It’s green: no emissions of pollutants when solar panels are in operation, which means with them, you’re making use of pure energy to run your home or your business while reducing your carbon footprint.
Reduce your expenses: any energy you generate is free of charge and can be used to power any device in your business or home at no cost. This will certainly lower your energy bills and save you cash over the long haul. Additionally, you will be able to earn money with this Smart Export guarantee that is replacing FIT, meaning a quicker return on your investment.
No planning permission: installing solar panels doesn’t require special permission. There are rules that must be adhered to but mostly it’s simple.
It’s renewable. The sun won’t be running out anytime soon. they’re even able to work on cloudy days, so there’s plenty of electricity to use throughout the year. Install a battery storage device to store any electricity you produce that you don’t utilize during the day, and make use of it in the evening when the sun doesn’t shine. It can reduce your carbon footprint and also add value.
Efficient all year: they can generate energy throughout the yearround, not just during the times when the sun is shining most.

Are there any disadvantages?

Yes, there could be some, the main one being the cost. There is initially a high expense to install them, although this has decreased considerably over time in the past and continues to decrease. They are now less expensive and simpler to manufacture, which means the cost of buying them has significantly lowered. In addition the savings you can make on energy bills will eventually outweigh the initial expense.

Another thing to take into consideration is dependence on sunlight. They perform best in sunny conditions, however, they can be effective on cloudy days. They aren’t able to function at night , therefore some energy from the grid will need to be used at specific time periods. The best way to maximize the efficiency of these devices is to use batteries to store power available for use during the evening.

The long-term benefit of solar panels is greater than the initial cost since it could save you money.

Since solar panels do not have moving parts, very little maintenance and service is required. In contrast to boilers, your solar panels should work efficiently without the need for yearly maintenance. There is enough rainfall in the UK so that you don’t often have for cleaning. If you suspect that your solar panels aren’t producing enough power, there are a few checks you could do or you can simply contact a certified installer to maintain your solar panel system. The warranty for solar panels varies, according to the manufacturer and model you go for. The majority of the time, the panels themselves will be covered for 10-25 years. Solar panels tend to last for 25-30 years – that’s at least 25 years of lower costs for energy! And, even better solar panels won’t go out of service after a long time. However, inverters might need to be replaced every 10-20 years.

Find an installer locally

Welcome to the biggest database of UK renewable energy-related companies.

Always make sure to know what’s appropriate for your home before you make the investment. Consider the location and which way your roof’s face is. If you live in the UK south is ideal since your panels will get sunshine throughout the day. Also look at your roof. What size is it? How many panels do you need? Are they able to fit? Make sure that they aren’t overshadowed by things like huge trees. It is important to get high-quality estimates that take all these aspects into consideration.

In approximation Yearly System output

The Feed-In Tariff scheme that was launched in April 2010 closed for new customers at the end of March 2019. Existing customers remain to be paid. In the Feed-In Tariff scheme there were two types of payments: an “generation tariff” and the “export tariff”.

The “generation tariff” was paid for all electricity that a household generated. Rates were set by government, and depended on the size of your solar PV system and when you signed up to the scheme. In the beginning, the rates were much higher – certain customers paid more than 50p per kilowatt-hour, but were cut over the years and fell to around 4p for new customers in March 2019. Once you had found a rate that you liked, it was locked for the length of your contract, which is typically for 20 to 25 years. These payments reduced the overall time needed to back your initial investment. The government eliminated it FIT this year because of the prices of solar panels reducing and also being more affordable.

“Export Tariff “export tariff” paid homeowners for the excess energy they exported to the national grid. Rates were set by the federal government for the entire contract duration and were in line with the electricity market rate. It was 3.82p/kWh until August 2012 and the rate was 5.38p until the Feed-In Tariff program ended. In the Feed-In Tariff all households were given the same price that was 50% of all the energy generated by the solar panels. The actual amount of electricity exported to the grid was not calculated and therefore everyone was paid the same amount regardless of the amount of energy they exported.This is changing slightly in 2019 and is called the generation rate tariff. The supplier you choose to work with agrees on a price to compensate you for the energy you generate. It is important to say that the rate is subject to vary each year with new projects and it will also change based on inflation. The amount of payments will be the same as what you would receive from FIT as well. They will paid to you for a period of 20 years or more likely, for as long as the system generates enough energy.

Though the Feed-In tariff has been canceled, some of the excess electricity generated by your solar power will eventually go back to the grid. Since under the current law, it would violate the law to not be paid for it. A new system has been devised. This is the point where it is that the Smart Export Guarantee comes in to help.

“Rent a Roof” schemes no longer exist due to the government’s decision to scrap the FIT.

There’s also Renewable heat incentives (RHI). This is a possibility to use to pay for solar thermal systems that can warm your hot water. The payments are made up to seven years and based on the amount of the heat generated by your system. If you own a residence situated in England, Scotland or Wales you can apply for the grant on the government’s website.

Smart Export Guarantee

This Smart Export guarantee is good news for anyone hoping to earn back your investment on the initial investment. Following the announcement by the government of the revisions to FIT and new projects, they were left in doubt but now the government has plans to ensure the future of the solar industry.

So, what exactly is what is the Smart Export Guarantee? Final proposals of the Smart Export Guarantee were released by the government on Monday, 10th June 2019. The Smart Export Guarantee requires medium-sized to large electricity supply companies including SSE, EDF Energy, British Gas, npower, EON UK and ScottishPower (those that have more than 150,000 customers who are electricity consumers) to provide an a Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). Smaller providers can participate on a voluntary basis. Some suppliers are already beginning to offer SEGs. However, all of them must to offer you conditions of payment for solar power, wind power & the other exports of renewable energy by the 1st of January, 2020 at the date of the.

This is good news for solar panel owners since the program will in the end be market-driven instead of subventioned. In the past , the Feed in Tariff offered a fixed rate, which was determined by the government. Now, instead of a subsidy it will be the minimum rate. Once the new system has been implemented, it’s likely that there will be a competition among energy providers to offer better tariffs in order to gain your loyalty.

In order to benefit from the new Export Guarantee scheme you need to install an MCS certified installation. The most important thing is that anyone who had installed solar panels in the period between the expiration of Feed in Tariff and the launch for the new program will become eligible to participate in the new scheme.

The Solar Trade Association has been advocating for households to be compensated at the market’s fair price for the energy they contribute to the power grid, as all others generators do. There are two options to determine fair pricing. One is via wholesale prices. This is the price that the market purchases power from for sale to you – in 2018 , this was around 6p/kWh. The other is the “System Sell Price’ that the government referred to as a fair price during the SEG consultation. This is the cost that larger generators are paid to compensate for excess power when they generate more power than they previously agreed to generate. The annual average System Sell Price last year was very similar (5.4p/kWh) in comparison to previous FIT export tariff of 5.2p/kWh.

This is an extremely positive opportunity for those contemplating installing solar panels, but who has been putting off due to the demise of fees in Tariff. While prices have fallen significantly over the past decade, but the new scheme will also become more flexible than the current tariff. With solar costs dropping by over more than 80% since 2008 it was the right moment to examine the method by which the payments were paid. Households and businesses installing new solar panels will be guaranteed payment for power provided back to the grid in order to allow the energy systems to be smarter of the future. This could be significant improvement to the current Feed-in-Tariffs scheme.

The Smart Export Guarantee will see electricity providers paying low-scale energy companies for excess power from businesses and homes which are then returned to the grid of energy. The new scheme could create the market for a new type of market, which will encourage suppliers to bid competitively for the electricity they need, ensuring exporters the most competitive price while providing the local grid with more sustainable, clean energy, allowing more choice and control for solar householders in the purchase and sale of their electricity.

In the present, the government is obligated to electricity supply companies to buy electricity at a cost that is higher than zero. The good news is the power sector is changing rapidly and there are numerous suppliers who want to embrace intelligent energy in order to provide the most efficient and low-carbon power system, and they’re seeking customers who would like to be part of. Companies early to uptake the new system include, Octopus who are offering both variable and permanent SEGs Bulb who are offering members who generate their own electricity to pay for any electricity they generate and sell to the grid (This is only for solar-only customers, storage-only or solar and storage co-located) as well as EON which will pay the first 500 solar customers 5.24p for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) in energy that is exported back to the grid based on the assumption that 50percent of the energy generated is exported.

The more complicated new system may take time to establish, but there are still savings to be made , which will grow as all of the major energy companies get together and begin to compete against one another.

Many people ask if it is possible to fit or even create an own solar system. It is feasible to do so and is a much cheaper option. There are a few points to think about:

To benefit from the newly proposed export Guarantee scheme, you must possess an MCS certified installation.This is to be done by an experienced engineer to make sure that the safety requirements are met. It might be challenging for someone to perform this on a system they didn’t put in themselves. Also, there could be issues if you wish to sell your home.