Solar Photovoltaic (PV)
HOW DOES SOLAR PV WORK?
Solar Panels can be used to generate green electricity from sunlight. Over 900,000 homes
across the country already benefit from clean, affordable solar power.
A Solar Photovoltaic (Solar PV) module absorbs and converts sunlight into electricity. They
don’t need direct sunlight to work – they can still generate some electricity on a cloudy
day.
Solar PV modules are supplied as a sealed unit with a specific voltage and wattage rating.
In order to provide electricity for a building, Solar PV modules have to be combined in a
system with other components (including an inverter, wiring and roof mounting kit).
PV cells come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Most PV systems are made up of panels that
fit on top of an existing roof, but there are also other options available.
You don’t need planning permission to install solar unless you live in a listed building.
However, in Conservation Areas or World Heritage sites, the equipment must be installed
on the roof, not on a wall that would be visible from a highway.
Increasingly, consumers are choosing to complement their Solar installation with Battery
Storage as it can improve the performance by capturing surplus electricity and saving it, so
it can be used later.
THE BENEFITS OF INSTALLING SOLAR PV:
• Reduce your electricity bills
• You could earn money on the electricity that you produce by selling excess energy back to the grid
• Store excess electricity
• Cut your carbon footprint
• Low maintenance
• Invest in the future and reduce your reliance on the National Grid
MAINTAINING A SOLAR PV SYSTEM
Solar PV systems don’t require much maintenance – you’ll just need to keep the panels
relatively clean and make sure trees don’t begin to overshadow them.
Once fitted, we will leave written details of any maintenance checks that you should carry
out from time to time to ensure everything is working properly. This will include details of
the main inverter fault signals and key trouble-shooting guidance.
The panels should last 25 years or more, but the inverter is likely to need replacing some
time during this period.
I'M INTERESTED IN INSTALLING SOLAR PV, WHAT SHOULD I DO NEXT?
Please complete our online enquiry form and we will get in touch. We can answer any
questions you have and provide you with a free quote.
For customers in Scotland, financial support in the form of grants and interest-free loans
are available from Home Energy Scotland if this is something that is of interest (see link
below).
USEFUL LINKS
We've attached some great information sources and resources if you would like to find out more
about Solar PV:
• Solar Energy UK
• Energy Saving Trust
• Home Energy Scotland