Installing Solar Panels In The UK - The Consumer's Guide
Many governments have become increasingly concerned about environmental issues and in particular the sourcing of sustainable green energy. The fossil fuels which are currently used to generate power are predicted to run out completely within the next one hundred to one hundred and fifty years. Due to advancements in renewable energy technology, we have seen many consumer products which can assist in producing green energy. It is essential to have all technology of this nature installed by a professional as this will ensure you get the maximum efficiency from the device.
Choosing A Solar Panel Currently there are three main types of solar photovoltaic panels available to the UK market, and there are advantages and disadvantages to each. The majority of panels are all photovoltaic, which refers to the manner in which an electrical current is created through exposure to sunlight. The first of the three types of solar panels to be considered are those made from mono-crystalline solar cells. The advantage of the highly efficient mono-crystalline solar cells is that they can be installed in a much smaller space however they are generally more expensive than other panels.
Alternatively consumers can choose a polycrystalline solar panel which in this case the silicon is not cut from one large crystal, but instead from a block of joined crystals. However these panels are also less efficient than the more expensive versions. Amorphous panels provide another alternative in the PV panel choice. This is a more modern method of producing solar panels than with crystal silicon, and instead uses a thin layer of amorphous silicon. Their overall performance, however, is less efficient than other panels.
Solar Panels Pricing One of the main benefits of generating domestic power using solar panels is that it reduces reliance on the power provided by national energy companies, and therefore also brings a reduction in energy bills. The British government have taken this concept one step further by introducing an environmentally friendly policy to incentivise the long term use of renewable energy sources. The scheme is called the Feed in Tariff, and the basic premise is that the energy companies are legally obliged to make payments to UK home-owners who regularly use renewable energy sources to generate their own electricity. The scheme allows for long-term benefits as all green energy suppliers will receive government payments for a minimum of 25 years after the solar panel installation.
The REAL Assurance Scheme was devised and implemented by the Renewable Energy Association. Installation companies who have signed up to this scheme have guaranteed that they will abide by the association's high standard consumer code from the initial point of contact all the way through to aftercare. Renewable energy is often seen as a developing industry and can be problematic when searching for quality installers. It is for this reason that companies in the industry are working very hard to establish and maintain their reputations as providers of an excellent service.
Solar panels are becoming extremely adaptable as well as flexible, and are being utilised in a range of appliances as well as on individual houses, commercial and industrial properties. Dependancy upon finite energy sources must be shifted as resources are depleting rapidly, and society must take the initiative to act now to find alternatives before they run out completely. The arguments for solar power are strong then, in that it is free, clean, and renewable and with increased regulations introduced for installers, this is leading to increased uptake of the technology and seeing more and more businesses and homeowners seeing the benefits of alternative energy.
Resources: http://www.getsolarprices.co.uk/ http://ezinearticles.com/?Installing-SolarPanels-In-The-UK---The-ConsumersGuide&id=6280963
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