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How solar panels works.

When solar panels first became available they were expensive and many people saw them as some sort of gimmick or perhaps only applicable to serious environmentalists with serious money, times have changed.

Solar power is probably the cleanest, most viable form of renewable energy available today. Solar panels convert light into electricity using arrays of solar cells (also called photovoltaic cells).

Solar panels are fast becoming an alternative energy source for UK homes. Solar panels themselves generally last over 20 years, and require little maintenance.

Solar panels are an effective, dependable way of transforming sunlight into electrical energy.

Solar panels heat-up a fluid, which circulates through the solar panel and then through a heat exchanger within your hot water cylinder heat is transferred to the cold water inside the cylinder.

Solar panels for generating electricity are much more complicated. Solar panels are wired together into a PV array, and the electricity they produce is fed through an inverter that changes the direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC), making it suitable for homes and business, and compatible with the electric grid.

In the UK Many people assume that installing a solar powered heating or power system is prohibitively expensive, not true. If you are considering having Solar Panels or a Solar Hot Water system installed it is advised to choose a reputable experienced solar panel installer.

The first step in installing Solar Panels in your own home finding a reputable supplier, although there are a number of firms out there who claim unrivalled expertise in this field many do not have the experience or indeed the professional acumen to provide the complete service, so always check what accreditations and experience they have in installing solar panels.

Solar panels that utilize single crystalline solar cells offer among the highest efficiencies available on today's commercial market often known as 4th generation solar panels and are excellent for UK’s often cloudy weather. A key factor in the effective use of solar electricity is proper placement of the solar panels. Be sure that the solar panels will not be shaded by shadows from tree branches, chimneys, other structures, etc. To make sure that you get the most out of your investment, you must place and position your home solar panels where they will be the most effective. This can greatly affect how well the home solar panels work. A south-facing roof is best for home solar panels – it will get the most sunlight overall. Of course, if you have home solar panels with tilts that can be adjusted, this is even better – as you can change the tilt throughout the year to make them most effective.

It would be worth finding out your annual electricity consumption rate first, but solar panels running alongside basic energy conservation measures, can make a great way of reducing your energy consumption.

Many people are now choosing to convert from traditional energy providers to solar panels due to the economical and cost effective form of energy production. Incorporating solar panels into your home can reduce your CO2 emissions by 400kg per year as water heating accounts for around 40% of household emissions, thus significantly reducing your carbon footprint. Additional indirect savings of solar panels include saving money because your boiler is used less. While they can sometimes cost a pretty penny upfront, home solar panels often pay off in the end. To conclude, the message is clear, if you have a requirement for any sort of solar panels or solar heating system of any size for any purpose it really does pay to consult the experts.

10 great reasons for installing Solar Panels at home.

Everyday day there are many stories about 'going green' and cutting CO2 emissions. One of the most talked about ‘green energies’ is solar energy. The easiest way to cut your fuels bills is by installing a solar power kit in your home.Here are 10 reasons why solar energy is a great option.

Solar – Grants

1. Solar grants are available from the UK government. Providing you meet certain criteria. Homeowners can claim up to £2500 per property towards the costs of installing solar panels for heating and electricity, which can be up to 50% of your installation costs.

Solar – low maintenance

2. Solar panel systems require very little maintenance over their life. Although an annual check by a professional is recommended. Most homeowners can expect to do very little maintenance for their solar panels over their lifetime.

Solar – free fuel!

3. Unlike oil and gas, sunlight is free. With the costs of energy rising dramatically, over the years. The sun will be around showering us with its wonderful energy for another 5 billion years! Using solar panels to generate your heat and electricity, with the knowledge that your fuel source is infinite and free.

Solar – Reliable system

4. As solar panels have no moving parts, they are therefore not likely to break down. The process that makes them work can be done day after day without major changes in efficiency. They also improve the availability of energy if you are in area prone to blackouts.

Solar – long term resource

5. Solar panels are built to last and are often sold with 20+ year’s warranty. Can you think of anything that comes with even a 10 year warranty? Solar panels are designed to endure all kinds of weather and climatic changes.

Solar – noise pollution

6. Solar panels make no noise and therefore won’t disturb your neighbours.

Solar – safe system

7. Solar panels are very safe and produce at such a low amperage that electrocution is extremely rare. Solar panels also produce power without fuel combustion, which is a very dangerous and polluting process.

Solar – Independent system

8. Knowing that you can produce your own energy with solar panels is very satisfying. And knowing that you are saving money, which you can use on improving your life.

Solar – Low pollution

9. The process of producing solar panels and producing solar energy is a low pollution process. Solar panels make up for the energy used to produce them within 3 years, and then produce energy for decades. Almost the entire solar panel array is recyclable, so when their life is over they can be broken down and recycled.

Solar – Going green

10. Besides the feeling of saving money, knowing that knowing that you are DOING SOMETHING to help save the planet.<

Which solar panel is right for you?

There are two different types of solar panels - one produces heat and the other produces electricity, each having its own working mechanism.

The first type of solar panel takes the sun’s thermal energy to heat water or oil through thermal collectors. Plastic piping and coils are usually used in these panels, and the sun heats the liquid that runs through the coils to pass on energy. These solar panels are generally used to heat swimming pools, spas, Jacuzzi, and hot tubs at home or work. When coupled with a hot water flooring systems and your hot water tank, they can also be used to heat the interiors of buildings and provide hot water. Once you have installed this type of solar panel at home, you can reduce your reliance on additional heating sources. Bear in mind, though, that a motorized pump is often required to help the flow of the liquid in the system.

The second type of solar panel (often called photovoltaic cell system) typically uses silicon as a semi-conductor material, and DC (direct current) electricity is generated when silicon interacts with sunlight. Based on this working mechanism, these solar panels only work in the day time when sunlight is available. Dependent on the size of your solar panel system, the electricity produced can be used to power general household appliances or even the entire house.

In case you would also like to power your house with solar panels (photovoltaic cell system) at nights or on unpleasant days, you will need to have batteries to store the excess electricity. A cheap option is to use the lead-acid batteries that are commonly used in cars, but always remember to fill them with distilled water so that they will not lose their charge. You may also opt for more expensive batteries, such as the absorbent glass mat batteries. They are sealed and hence do not require distilled water to retain their charge. If you live in a cold area, gel batteries are good choices as they do not freeze in low temperature.

Both types of solar panels use a glass frame to hold the collection cells, and both require direct sunlight to function at their maximum capacity. Hence, the solar panels are usually placed to face south in order to gain the greatest exposure to the sun rays throughout the day. Although solar panels can be used anywhere to tap the sun's energy, solar panels obviously do not work effectively in places where cloudy weather dominates throughout the year!

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