200w solar panel

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Solar Power Suitability - Five Ways to Tell if Your Home is Suitable for Solar Panels

Solar power for homes is becoming more affordable than ever. It is also becoming more attractive than ever because the benefits are growing. Solar power microgeneration has approaching zero impact on the environment and the supply of solar energy is unlimited in the form of natural sunlight. It isn't just blazing sunshine either - they can easily generate power from the natural sunshine levels that we are used to in the UK, and even on cloudy and overcast days.

Solar panels are quite easy to install for a professional solar installer and can be used on new homes or added to existing homes, usually without planning permission. New solar ideas have emerged in the past few years too, such as solar roof tiles. All solar power systems are based on solar photovoltaics (sometimes known as solar PV). The photovoltaic cells can generate an electric current from sunshine because they are made from photosensitive material, and the power generated can be used on site or even exported into the local electricity grid network.

Financially, solar panels make a lot of sense; fuel costs will rise over time, even if your home is only partially powered by solar power you will continue to save on your electric bill when the cost of living rises. The upfront cost of installing a solar power system may seem high at first, but, with government grants and tax credits available, in almost all cases it will pay for itself within ten years.

Best of all, it qualifies (as long as it is installed by an accredited Microgeneration Certification Scheme installer) for the UK government's Feed In Tariff, which means that you can not only generate and use clean, free electricity to offset your normal power bills, but also gain a guaranteed income funded by the power companies at the government's behest. If there is any solar energy that is unused, the power companies can feed that back into the National Grid, but you are allowed to use it all yourself and still be paid for having generated it. 

It all sounds too good to be true, so what do you need to think about before diving in?

1. Do I need planning permission? Most solar panels (and solar shingles or tiles) don't need planning permission in England, however, if you live in a Listed Building or a building in a Conservation Area or World Heritage Site it is wise to talk to your local planning office first. You will need to consult your local authority if you live in Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland.
2. 
   Is my roof big enough? Solar panels come in various sizes, the most common being 1.5 metres x 1 metre, with an output of about 200W, which can be used alone or linked in multiples to an array.  They can be up to 5 metres x 3 metres but these would be most suitable on industrial premises! In general, as long as you have between 4 and 8 square metres of roof area, clear of fixtures and fittings, that should be sufficient  to mount an effective small to medium-sized solar system.
3. Which way is my roof facing? A roof which receives direct light from the sun for most of the day and faces east to west through south is the best candidate, but there are ways around this. An alternative is to have two panels, one facing east, the other west. The panels don't always have to be mounted on a roof; they can be fixed to a frame on flat roofs or put on the side of a building. The pitch of the roof has some impact: ideally, in the UK, a roof pitched at about 35 degrees from the horizontal is best and is likely to give the best power yield, but there are lots of successful installations at other angles.
4. Does my roof get enough light? Don't forget that light can be impeded by high buildings and trees; check that your roof has light for the majority of the day. 
   Is your roof strong enough? Solar panels are quite heavy 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, seek advice.
5. There is one further thing to do, to give you a good guide as to whether solar power will work for your home. Look around your neighbourhood, and see who else has invested or go online to look at how many microgeneration installations there are in your area. 

If you have considered carefully all these questions, you can be confident of getting an effective solar power solution for your home. The important thing next is to ensure that you find a qualified, and MCS-certified, solar panel installer, line up your finances, apply for the Feed In Tariff, and dive right in to join the new generation of householders who are happily lowering their electricity bills and earning a tidy supplementary income along the way.

www.saveandgenerate.com

 

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HF Solar Shed Project 45W Panels 7A Controller 200W Inverter