Solar PV

Generate cheap, green electricity from sunlight.

Solar electricity systems capture the sun's energy using photovoltaic (PV) cells. The cells convert the sunlight into electricity, which can be used to run household appliances and lighting.

PV cells don't need direct sunlight to work - you can still generate some electricity on a cloudy day.

How do I calculate how much I could save with solar panels?

You can use the Solar Calculator below to help give you an indication of the potential savings available with solar pv systems.

How do photovoltaic (PV) cells work?

PV cells are panels you can attach to your roof or walls. Each cell is made from one or two layers of semiconducting material, usually silicon. When light shines on the cell it creates an electric field across the layers. The stronger the sunshine the more electricity is produced.

The strength of a PV cell is measured in kilowatt peak (kWp). That's the amount of energy the cell generates in full sunlight.

The benefits of solar electricity

• Cut your carbon footprint. Solar electricity is green, renewable energy and doesn't release any harmful carbon dioxide (CO2) or other pollutants. A typical home PV system could save around 1 tnne of CO2 per year - that's around 25 tonnes over its lifetime.
• Cut your electricity bills. Sunlight is free, so once you've paid for the initial installation your electricity costs will be greatly reduced. A typical home PV system can produce around 40% of the electricity a household uses in a year
• Sell electricity back to the grid. If your system is producing more electricity than you need, or when you can't use it, someone else can, and you could make a bit of money
• Earn money for every kw you generate. See below for more information on the feed in tariff.

What is a Feed in Tariff?

On the 1st April 2010 the Government introduced the Feed in Tariffs (FITs) to encourage new investment in low carbon green technologies such as Solar PV, Wind Turbines, Hydro Generators and Anaerobic Digestion (AD) units.

Under the FITs anyone who installs an elligible Solar PV system will receive a guaranteed fixed payment for all the electricity they generate, including what they use, for a period of 25 years. They will also receive an additional payment for any electricity they don't use that they feed back into the National Grid. To top it off, people installing systems will also benefit from reduced electricity bills as they'll effectively become their own power stations and so won't need to use as much from electricity suppliers and the grid.

This means that there has never been a better time for you to install a Solar PV system. Not only will you be significantly reducing your carbon footprint, you'll also be reducing your energy bills and getting paid to do it!

How are Feed-in Tariffs paid?

Feed-in Tariffs are paid by electricity suppliers in one or two ways; either as a direct payment into your bank account or as a credit line to your energy bills. Although the FITs are a Government initiative, the actual fund used to pay generators is paid into by electricity suppliers based on the proportion of the UK that they supply. Suppliers are recovering this cost through an increase in electricity bills to standard consumers, though this is estimated at only £3 extra per bill by 2016. This would be similar to the Climate Change Levy (CCL) currently added to UK energy bills.

How much will I be paid and what will I save?

The amount you are paid will depend on the size and type of system that you install as different technologies receive different amounts for different lengths of time. These payments are intended to give a certain percentage return each year based on the initial cost of a system.

Solar PV has been given the highest rate of payment and so for the majority of people it is the best option. The exact amount available for the different sizes of PV systems are detailed below:

Is solar PV suitable for my home?

To tell if solar PV is right for you, there are a few key questions to consider.

• Do you have a sunny place to put it in? You'll need a roof or wall that faces within 90 degrees of south, and isn't overshadowed by trees or buildings. If the surface is in shadow for parts of the day your system will generate less energy
• Is your roof strong enough? Solar panels are not light and the roof must be strong enough to take their weight, especially if the panel is placed on top of existing tiles. If in doubt, ask a construction expert or an installer
• Do you need planning permission? You don't need planning permission for most home solar electricity systems, as long as they're below a certain size - but you should check with your local planning officer, especially if your home is a listed building, or is in a conservation area or World Heritage Site.