Solar Electricity | HOW to Generate Electricity At Home

Generating Electricity At Home: Solar Electricity Panels

Installing solar panels to generate electricity will not only reduce your carbon footprint, but also reduce your energy bills and save you money. With electricity prices threatening to rise as much as 20% by 2020, there has never been a better time to invest in alternative methods of energy generation.

How do solar electricity panels work?

Solar panels use photovoltaic (PV) cells set on your outside walls or roof. When light shines on the cell it produces an electric field, which can then be fed into your home electrics.

What are the advantages of solar electricity?

As with all methods of renewable energy generation, using solar electricity will reduce your carbon footprint and save you money on your energy bills. Solar electricity could produce as much as 40% of your domestic electricity needs and any excess electricity produced can be sold back to the National Grid, reducing wastage and bringing in some income. Solar electricity is suitable for a larger proportion of houses than wind turbines and hydro power and most don’t require planning permission.

Is solar electricity suitable for my property?

The best place for a solar electricity panel is on a sunny, south-facing roof. Failing that it could be mounted on a wall but it will need direct sunlight and be free from shade for the majority of the day in order to be cost-effective. You also need to consider whether or not your roof is strong enough to hold the extra weight of the solar panel, you can determine this by asking a solar panel installer or construction expert. While most properties do not need planning permission for the installation of solar panels if they are below a certain size, you should check with your local planning authority, particularly if you live in a listed building or within a conservation area.

How much do solar panels cost?

The price of solar electricity panels has decreased in recent years making them more viable as an electricity generating option. Installing a solar electricity system costs around £12,000, smaller systems costing less than half this amount are also available but obviously electricity generated would also decrease and therefore the cheapest option is not necessarily the most cost effective.

How much could I save using solar electricity?

Because of the rising cost of energy prices and Government Feed In Tariff, solar panels could save you up to £1,170 per year. It is possible to get as much as 90% of your electricity from your own roof and even using a smaller system you could still generate 50% of your electricity needs. On top of which government schemes could increase the return you get on your investment. As well as the monetary savings that you will enjoy from installing solar panels in your home, you would be reducing your annual carbon dioxide emissions by 1.2 tonnes.

How is the government helping?

In April 2010 the Government introduced ‘Feed-in Tariffs’ that reward houses and businesses that introduce electricity-generating measures by offering a 7-10% tax-free return for households that invest in solar electricity panels or wind turbines. The scheme is aimed at encouraging more people to think long-term about their energy consumption and using alternative sources of energy to subsidise their reliance on the national grid. Essentially people will be paid for the energy that they generate.