Is Solar Panel Power Right for You?

Photovoltaic (PV) systems are not for everyone. Even if you decide a PV system is worthwhile, you have to make sure that you can install a system for your current home. For starters, you should have at least 10 m2 of roof space available, and ensure that the roof is strong enough to support the weight of the panels. That roof space should also ideally be facing south and pitched at a 35-40° angle and be free of shadows to maximize the amount of solar energy your PV system will receive. If you don't have the roof space, and you have room in your yard for a frame of sufficient size, a freestanding set of panels is also possible.

Your local council may have a say in whether or not you can install a PV system for your home. Listed buildings and homes in conservation areas may have restrictions on the kind and size of PV system that you can install. Also, if you are planning on installing a grid-type PV system, make sure that your energy supplier allows for microgeneration and will compensate you for the excess electricity you will supply back to the grid.

It sounds like a lot of hassle so far, but the benefits for a PV system are enormous, both for you and our environment. With a properly installed solar panel system, over half of your electricity will be zero emission, carbon neutral energy that is also free. In fact, 27% of the UK's carbon dioxide emissions come from domestic use and the average PV system prevents over 650 kg of carbon from being released into the atmosphere. Each and every year you will save hundreds of pounds on your energy bill and this energy savings will continue for 25 years or more, the average life of today's solar panels.

But PV systems offer even more value for your wallet as well as your environment. The Home Information Pack (HIP) that are now mandatory for a home seller in England and Wales to provide supports power microgeneration systems such as a PV system as a way to increase energy savings and reduce carbon footprint. A higher energy efficiency rating can improve the value of your house by as much as £10000 for each £500 you save in energy costs each year. Of course, the value of a PV system will only increase in time as energy costs rise, as does concern for the environment.

If by this point you have decided that a PV system is the way to go to increase your energy savings and reduce your carbon footprint, (and there is no reason why you shouldn't!), the next step is to actually start planning your solar panel installation.

Next: On or Off the Grid?