[Poppy_EONNext]

SOLAR PANELS

What are Solar Panels?
Solar photovoltaic panels, or solar PV, are the world's leading renewable technology. They're used to power homes, businesses, and even cities. They use the natural power of the sun to generate the electricity that modern life demands in an eco-friendly and cost-effective way. They are made from semiconductor material such as silicon, installed in a metal frame with a glass casing.



How do they work?

• Light from the sun is made up of tiny particles called Photons 🌞
• Photons hit the solar panel, knocking electrons free of the silicon atoms within the solar cells.
• These loose electrons are now free to move, creating an electric current from the positive and negative charge now present. They pass through the layers of the solar cell.
• The electric current flows to the edge of the panel into a conductive wire which leads to the inverter.
• The inverter converts the direct current to alternating current, which is what is used to provide power. If there is excess electricity, this can be fed back to the grid if connected.
• The electricity then transfers to the building. It can be used immediately or stored in batteries 🔋

Check out this link for more information How do solar panels work?



Does the weather affect the solar panels?
Solar panels absorb energy from the sunlight, which means your panels will also work on a cloudy day ⛅

However, the orientation of the panels matter.
South facing panels will generate the best electricity in the UK, because they receive the sun's most powerful rays for the longest amount of time.

In the winter they can produce less energy due to the shorter days.


What are the benefits?

• It’s green: There are no pollutants produced while solar panels operate, you are using clean energy to power your home or business, reducing your carbon footprint.
• Save on cash: Any electricity you produce is totally free of charge and you can use it to power anything within your home or business. This will of course lower your energy bills and help save in the long term. You will also be able to get paid for any energy you export through our Smart Export Guarantee scheme.
• Its renewable: Solar PV panels can generate electricity year-round.
• Low maintenance: Solar panels don't have any moving parts. This means that maintenance requirements and the chance of mechanical failure is low. This said, they may need regular cleaning and the occasional inspection.
• Increases Home value: Installing solar energy can boost your property's value 🏠

Over 1.3 million home owners have converted their Energy supply to Solar Power. Check out our latest YouTube video😎

Start your Solar Journey with us here 🌞

Moved into a property with an existing FIT account? check out this post on FIT - Transfer of Ownership

[DebF_EONNext]

I love this @Poppy_EONNext I think it's safe to say you and @Lee_EONNext are our solar wizards on the community team but I'm learning loads from you both!!

@geoffers @wizzo227 @retrotecchie @P962c is there anything you would add to this to explain how solar works or any solar tips to share?

[wizzo227]

Thanks for asking. I could go on all day about the perfect crystal structure of pure silicon and how that gets modified to make a surface which converts incoming light to electricity which you can use.

Some things which your readers should know :
South facing on a slope roof is best for maximum kWh per year, high up enough to keep out of shading.
If it looks like a sunny place then it will work.
If you use electricity in the morning then another string of solar panels facing East or South-East and on a steeper slope starts earlier before the sun has got around to the South. I got good late-afternoon power from a string of solar panels on a slope roof facing South-West. In midsummer, some natural air-flow cooling under the panels gains a few % and changing the tilt to be nearer to 20 degrees would increase the power from midsummer noon south-facing panels. In practice, you'll get offered panels fixed to your roof and that is what you'll get.

There are fashions and trends, but your best bet if you have a sunny roof is (I say) ordinary silicon solar panels connected in a "string" of 200 to 500 Volts to a suitable inverter, which sorts that out to useable mains electricity.

If your house has a hot water tank or space for one then consider getting your installer to fit a box of switches which gets called a "solar diverter". That dumps surplus generation in spring-summer-autumn to get your water tank hot when possible, or it might dump to another sort of heater. Having used up most of your free solar power, you might not need a battery.

If your neighbour has a much sunnier roof or garden than you do, but you are the one who could buy solar panels, then talk to your neighbour. Ideal investment of limited budget on silicon solar panels, batteries, and whatnot is per street not per house, and should always locate the solar panels for the 😃 sunniest nearby place for every street. Sunny at the far end of Scotland would need new big pylons 😣. Perhaps it is better to design per street. In Wales, there are some dismal streets down a dark valley, and those should perhaps club together to get a medium sized wind turbine and a battery with a largish collection of solar panels on the nearest south-facing hilltop of nil agricultural value.