How Do Solar Panels Work?

What is Solar Power?

Solar photovoltaic panels convert energy from the sun into electricity that can be used inside the home. They are an effective way of reducing one’s carbon footprint and becoming more environmentally responsible, as the panels generate a clean and green form of energy – especially when compared to more traditional fossil fuels.

Solar Power in the United Kingdom

Solarpanels  are a popular means of sourcing energy across Europe, particularly in countries that enjoy a consistent level of sunlight throughout the year. Despite the UK’s unpredictable weather, solar PV is an entirely viable source of energy, providing sufficient levels of electricity for use in the home all year round.

Back in April of 2010, the UK Government introduced the Feed-in Tariff, an incentive formed by the government to encourage the uptake of solar energy. The Feed-in Tariff ensures payment of 21 pence per unit of electricity that their system generates, regardless of whether or not it is used inside the home. These payments are currently guaranteed for 25 years.

Many providers of solar power provide the opportunity to invest in a panel array for their roof, as well as offer a system for free.

Why Solar?

Customers with a solar photovoltaic system will receive an average of 11% rate of return on their investment. It will usually pay for itself within approximately 10 years, although payments from the Feed-in Tariff will continue for up to 25 years. Combine this with the savings made on energy bills by harnessing the power of the sun, and it becomes clear as to why solar investment is beneficial financially as it is environmentally.

For customers who do not have the budget to invest in a panel array, or simply do not wish to, there are free solar schemes available. Under these schemes, the company will install a solar panel array for free, but will keep any money received from the Feed-in Tariff in order to cover the costs of installing the system. This allows the homeowner to benefit from the free electricity that the panels generate without having to pay for installation or maintenance costs.

Solar panels can also significantly reduce household energy bills, with electricity being produced from the panels as opposed to being sourced from the National Grid. These reductions will only improve as energy prices increase over time. As discussed earlier, solar energy lets homeowners reduce their carbon footprint and make an environmental difference.

How Does Converting Sunlight to Electricity Work?

Photovoltaic solar cells are formed from silicon layers which have been doped with different chemicals. These materials are chosen specifically to give the resulting material a specific property, allowing light to ‘knock’ electrons from their orbit in order to generate a direct current. When a suitable wavelength of light is absorbed by the p-n junction, some of their energy is transferred to the electrons on the material. These electrons then flow through the panels to create a direct current. The inverter, an integral part of the system, will then convert this direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC).

Install Guide

Once a system has been agreed with the solar company, they will arrive and install erect scaffolding on the agreed installation date.

For standard roof setups, roof anchors will be attached to the rafters underneath the existing tiles, after which aluminium bars are fixed, forming the frame to which the panels will be attached.

The panels are then attached to the bars using at least four clamps per panel. The panels are then wired into the inverter, before the DC wiring is repositioned to enter the property in order to connect to the electrics inside the home. In many cases, the wire is ran underneath the eaves and directly into the loft or top floor of the house.

Other installation options include in-roof panels, which have less of a visual impact, as well as photovoltaic tile systems and flat rood mounted systems. If you are interested in going sola, then your installer will be able to discuss with you the ideal system for your home.

Dane Cross writes on behalf of Ardenham Energy, a UK based solar provider.