Solar Photovoltaics (PV) Panels
Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Panels are used to convert the sun's energy into electricity. The technology can be used for items from as small as calculators to panels that can supply homes and businesses.
Once a PV system is installed on your roof it immediately begins generating electricity, which flows into your home to supply you with your daily electricity needs. Because your house remains connected to the national grid, when you are generating more electricity than you need, the excess flows back into the national grid. At night, when a solar system is not generating enough electricity, you draw power back from the grid as normal. |
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How PV Solar Panels Work
Your Solar PV Panels start to produce electricity as soon as the sun begins to shine. More energy is produced the stronger the sun is; but don't worry, it will still produce energy on a cloudy day, even here in the UK!
When the sun's energy is strong enough to create a high enough voltage, energy will start to flow out of the panels and into your home. This energy then goes through a series of switches to an inverter that converts it from Direct Current (DC) to Alternating Current (AC) which can then be used in your home.
This energy is directed to your normal fuse box and if at that moment something is on that requires electricity, such as an appliance, then the power is directed from the fuse box straight there. If there isn't enough energy being generated by the Solar PV system, then your power will come from the national grid as normal without you noticing any difference at all.
There will be times that your personal electricity needs fall below that which is being generated by the Solar PV system, such as on a very sunny day, or when you are away from home. At these times the excess energy is fed back into the national grid so that others can benefit from the power you are generating (see below).
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Map showing average
solar radiation on a 30º
incline, facing south |
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The UK Government Feed-In Tariff
The UK Government and various power companies currently offer various incentives to buy this electricity from you. In 2010 the Government introduced a Feed-In Tariff scheme that works on the basis that you will be paid for each kilowatt hour of electricity your system generates, even when this is used in their own home. There is also an additional payment for electricity which is not used and then fed back into the national grid.
Click here for more information on Feed-In Tariffs.
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