You may have heard of Solar PV from your friends and family and wondered what it is and how eco friendly it is. Solar PV or solar panels have been with us for a long time with the first solar cells being created all the way back in 1883 by New York inventor Charles Fritts. Whilst it has taken a while for them to be fully accepted, the sector is welcoming more and more consumers every day.
Solar Panels – What are they and how do they help the environment?
The system by which solar panels or photovoltaics (PV) capture the sun’s energy and transform it into electricity is relatively straightforward and, as such, a clean and affordable means of generating power. The solar PV system works by attaching solar panels or tiles either to the roof of a building or on the ground, although they are most effective on the roof, and waiting for the sun to shine on them.
The semiconductive material used to make the panels is usually silicon as it is particularly cost-effective. When the sun shines on the solar panels a flow of electricity is created by the light interacting with electrons contained within the PV solar panels. The electricity, which takes the form of direct current rather than the alternating current used in most electrical appliances, is then converted (via an inverter) into alternating current and disseminated throughout your property.
It is important to note that when deciding where to put your solar panels, you must ensure they get as much sunlight as possible and are preferably facing a southerly direction in order to get the maximum amount of light. It is also important in deciding where to fit your solar panels that you ensure that there aren’t any trees or other obstructions blocking the sun’s path to the PV solar system.
Similarly, whilst solar panels do not usually need planning permission it is also advisable to double-check with your local authority before you decide to install them. The positives of installation, however, should justify the time and investment associated with installation because they give you additional energy freedom through their ability to capture and convert sunlight so effectively.
This source of electricity is more environmentally friendly than energy obtained through an electricity provider as the sun hits the panels directly and does not require transmission over the electricity grid with its associated energy loss. Indeed, it is estimated that a typical solar system can save around one tonne of carbon a year and deliver between 2500 and 4000 kWh per year with potential savings of over £350 annually.
Therefore, the benefits of installing PV solar panels are clear – they reduce your electricity bill, they help to minimise your carbon footprint and they give you a greater degree of energy independence in a way that relying on traditional electricity does not.
Solar panels are very much a part of the future and purchasing a PV solar panel system is the way forward to having a cleaner future, a safer future and a more cost-effective future. By installing solar panels, you can be secure in the knowledge that you and your family will really be letting the sun brighten your lives.
