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Solar Photovoltaics (PV)
Solar technology provides an easy way to generate electricity using the Sun's energy which is free and not subject to price increases.
A typical installation would be mounted on a South, East, or West facing roof of a property or as in some cases can be fitted on a plinth on the ground.
The advantages of a PV system
- A solar PV system can provide most of the energy requirement in an energy efficient home.
- The size and layout of a PV system is flexible
- A system can be designed to suit any situation and any budget from about £6,000
- There are no moving parts
- Manufacturers guarantee a stable power output for a minimum of 20 years
- The system requires no maintenance
- Solar PV systems have shown to add value to the property. Independent reports show the return on capital investment is greater than could be achieved from other investments.
- Under the grant scheme, any surplus energy produced, particularly in the summer is automatically fed back to the electricity grid earning you money.
How does a system work
Daylight hits the PV cells and is converted to clean electricity. An inverter converts the electricity from direct to alternating current for use in the normal way.
When the solar energy system is producing more electricity than is needed, the surplus is exported to the grid automatically via a two way meter and this is recorded. When the demand is higher, for instance at night, power is imported. The electricity exported to the grid is paid for by the supplier.
The collector cells only require daylight to generate and will work even on cloudy days. Therefore the results in the UK are very good and do not, as some believe, need constant sunshine.
The system does not need batteries for storage as any surplus is exported to the grid.