What is Solar Panel Installation

Many people are now opting to power their house and produce their heating through what is known as renewable technologies. Renewable technologies use energy that is available in constant supply and will never run out. Technologies such as heat pumps (air or ground), biomass boilers, hydroenergy, wind turbines and solar power are just some of the renewable energy technologies that are available at present. Using renewable technologies means that you are no longer reliant solely on solid fuels, which are fast running out, such as gas and oil, and as such are actively taking steps to reduce your carbon emissions and lower your carbon footprint.

What is Solar Panel Installation – Solar Thermal

Solar thermal are solar panels that harvest the rays of the sun and convert these into heat. A machine that uses very low amounts of electricity links your solar panels to your water supply and through this is able to heat your home as well as provide you with hot water.

What is Solar Panel Installation – Solar Photovoltaic

Solar photovoltaic are solar panels that harvest the sun’s rays and convert these into electricity. One of the great benefits of solar photovoltaic is that you will generally produce more energy than you will use and you can sell your surplus energy back to the grid. This is known as the Feed in Tariff, and is very lucrative to help reduce the payback period of your initial investment, as well as making a profit.

What is Solar Panel Installation – Requirements

There are some requirements in order to have solar panel installation, both solar thermal and solar photovoltaic. Firstly and most importantly, you will need an unshaded south facing roof. It is possible to have solar panels installed on non-south facing roofs, but the efficiency will be reduced.

You may also be required to apply for planning permission. Generally, local authorities are happy to allow solar panels to be installed and will not require planning permission to be obtained, but there are some exceptions, particularly if you live in a very old building or listed building, or if your house is in a nature conservation area.

What you do not need is direct sunlight. Many people mistakenly believe that the United Kingdom is not a good country to have solar panels due to the lack of direct sunlight. However, solar panels use light, rather than direct sunlight, so it is very much possible to install solar panels regardless of where in the United Kingdom you live.

So, if you are ready to make important steps towards reducing your carbon emissions, solar panels may be the way forward for you. They are generally the easiest to install and have the quickest payback period, meaning that you will have earned back your initial investment in around 12 years time. Furthermore, installing solar panels also has the least structural impact to your home and garden, which is another reason why it is one of the more popular choices when it comes to renewable technologies.