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Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels use energy from the sun to create electricity. They require only daylight, not direct sunlight.
Solar PV panels will work effectively on a sloping roof which faces approximately south and is not shaded by trees or tall buildings. Most homes do not need planning permission, but you would require written confirmation from your planning authority that this is the case.
There are various types of PV panel: monocrystalline, polycrystalline, thin film and hybrid. There are different costs and benefits associated with each. If you enjoy wading through technical information, have a look on the Energy Saving Trust website at www.est.org.uk. Fortunately this isn’t necessary, as what really matters is how much the panels cost and how much electricity you can hope to generate.
When you get a quote, you should be told the kilowatt peak (kWp) rating of the proposed system. Typically, this could be 1.44 kWp for 8 panels or 2.16 kWp for 12 panels. You should also be given the projected annual kilowatt hours (kWh), which predicts how much electricity you will generate in an average year. All accredited suppliers have to use the same formula to calculate this figure, which takes into account the kWp rating of your system, your location in the UK (to predict the annual hours of sunshine) and how close your roof is to south-facing. For a 12-panel system in a good location, you might expect up to 2000 kWh per year.
A 12-panel system would cost around £10,000 to fit.
The government is committed to paying a feed-in tariff for home-generated electricity from April 2010, which has been set at 41.3p per KW for systems of this size. This will be paid on all the electricity generated, whether it is used in your house or exported to the national grid. With an annual generation of 2000 kWh, you would receive £826 per year. This rate will be guaranteed for 25 years. Secondly, you could expect to reduce your electricity bills, perhaps by around half, by using your own electricity directly. If your current bill is £600 per year, you might save £300.
Thirdly, the government is introducing an export tariff of 3p per kW for surplus electricity which is exported to the national grid. So, if you exported 1000 kW per year, you would be paid £30.
These are approximate figures only, but demonstrate a saving of around £1150 per year for a 12-panel system. Your system would have paid for itself in less than 9 years.
This represents an annual return on the initial investment, tax-free, guaranteed for 25 years, of 8.5% in addition to the savings on your own electricity bill.
Apart from financial considerations, you will also be reducing your carbon dioxide emissions. Every 1000 kWh of conventional electricity used in your home generates more than 500 kg of carbon dioxide. Your own electricity by contrast will be pollution-free.
Alison Smart, Sustainable Wallingford Eco-Renovation Club
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