Solar electricity or photovoltaic (PV) for your home is where the sun’s energy is used to produce electricity.

There is another form of solar, called solar thermal. This is where the sun is used to heat hot water, if you are interested in this then you please see solar thermal.

Solar PV cells or solar panels use the light energy from the sun to generate free and green electricity for your home and because solar panels do not need direct sunlight to work you still generate some electricity throughout winter and on cloudy days.

The strength of a solar panel is measured in kilowatt peak (kWp), this determines the amount of energy the panel is capable of making in full sunlight.

How the System Works

The solar panels are typically installed on a roof with a southerly aspect (see Solar Panel Installation Solutions for other solar panel mounting options).

When sunlight shines on the panel it causes a reaction which creates an electrical charge across the layers. This energy is known as direct current (DC)

The direct current is then fed into your home via an inverter where it is converted into alternating current (AC) to be used around the house.

If the solar installation produces more electricity than is being used any excess is exported to the grid.

When the system is not producing, electricity is imported from the grid in the usual way.

What They Say about new energy...

DECC Confirm Contingency Plan
New energy efficiency rating for homes highlights need for proper valuations of houses
Do you wish to harness an income from your land with solar panels?
A call for commitment from the Government re: EU renewables target
Government needs to do more to remind the public it has not killed the FIT
The need for real data to prove renewable technology’s worth
Feed-in-tariff is not dead!
Pros & Cons of The Green Deal.
The Green Deal is coming, but what does it mean?
Time is running out for 50kwp solar systems at the top rate of feed in tariff

Quick Links

Events 2024

'Social enterprise and the environment' event June 25, 2024

THIS WEBSITE WILL HELP YOU FIND PUBLICLY FUNDED SUPPORT AVAILABLE IN WALES FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND SMALL-SCALE RENEWABLE ENERGY.

Save Up To 80% On Your Household Bills

FREE Training - how will climate change affect your community? June 25, 2024
Greener Living Fund launch - first pictures June 25, 2024

Wood Energy
Greener Living Programme launched June 23, 2024
The third sector gave us the welfare state, can it give us the sustainable state? June 22, 2024
UK Climate Projections launched (significant!) June 18, 2024
Funding Central launched June 17, 2024
Third Sector Climate Change Declaration June 15, 2024
Real Help for Communities: Volunteers, Charities and Social Enterprises June 7, 2024
The sun is inexhaustible. It will never run out meaning free energy for you forever Film June 5, 2024.

Comparing UK Solar Panel Installers could
Save Up To 65%

Compare UK Solar Panel Installers And Save Up To 65% Save Money Cut your electricity bill by 70%. Earn Money Earn over £800 per year with the feed in tariff. Accredited Companies We only deal with certified installers. Quick and Easy It might be worth talking to a number of different companies. One we have found helpful and consistently delivering high results in the commercial industry is Enviko, but please be your own judge.

UK Solar PV Benefits & Savings

Solar PV Cost/Savings example

This example is based on a 50kwp system with 30 degree pitch in Swindon with no grid upgrades and straight forward access. (2010)

System size: 50 kW
System cost: £75,000 +VAT
Income from FiT: £225,822 (assuming 3% RPI increase on 15.2p/kWh tariff)
Energy Savings: £106,142 (assuming unit cost = 11p/kWh)
Export Tariff Income: £15,469 (assuming inflation of 5%)
Total Profit (exc. install cost): £272,433

Benefits of Solar PV systems

Lower electricity bills
Cut carbon emissions
Benefit from Feed-in-tariff for 25 years
Cut carbon emissions
Improve efficiency of building
Sell electricity back to the grid to earn the Export tariff

Solar PV for Farmers

Solar can help farmers reduce energy costs and generate income at the same time. A solar PV installation can substantially reduce energy costs, especially for farms running power-hungry equipment during daylight hours. Through the feed-in-tariff you can expect a return on investment of around 8% for a 25 year period, plus the savings on your electricity costs.

As a Solar PV specialist and accredited installer since 2004, we can help expedite planning applications and complete fit outs on permitted developments quickly and efficiently.

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Energy Saving 2024

Impact of Participating

The difficulty of engaging with people has meant that Bryony isn’t sure how accurately they’re sticking to their pledges. “I’m hoping that the new scheme where you can make your own pledges will improve things” she says. “It’s a good move for this audience where people are probably already doing some of the standard pledges”.

Wood Burning Energy?

Converting wood into energy

The renewable energy industry in Wales is providing the potential for new Wood Energy Businesses to be established by entrepreneurial individuals or co-operatives. www.woodenergybusiness.co.uk A Wood Energy Business will need: 1. A guaranteed, local supply of wood or processed wood fuel 2.

Solar Power

The UK embraces Solar Power

The Government has set targets for the number of UK households that will have installed solar panels to their home. Contrary to popular believe the UK has over 65% of the radiation that Spain receives which is more than enough to guarantee a the function of a Solar PV system. With the Government's feed-in tariff in place that allows an income to be produced from installing solar energy the number of homes that rely soley on solar power is set to rise.