Insight Energy Systems can design and install your new solar PV system for your home through our sub-contractors
Solar PV Systems For Homes
Installing a Solar PV system for your home is a great way to help reduce the shocks we’ve all seen in recent years regarding energy prices from fossil fuels.
Insight Energy Systems can help design and arrange the installation of your new Solar PV system with our experienced contractors. This will enable you generate your own electricity all year round and significantly reduce your reliance on energy companies and their constantly increasing pricing.
Whilst a Solar PV System does have an upfront cost, typical installations should pay for themselves somewhere between seven to ten years.
How Do Solar PV Systems Work?
Solar panels work by harnessing the energy from sunlight and converting it into electricity. The process can be broken down into the following steps:
- Sunlight Absorption: Solar panels are composed of photovoltaic (PV) cells made from layers of semi-conducting materials, typically silicon. When sunlight hits the cells, the photons (particles of light) transfer their energy to the electrons in the material.
- Electron Excitation: The absorbed energy excites the electrons, causing them to break free from their atoms. This generates an electric potential difference across the material, creating a flow of electric current.
- Electric Current Generation: Metal conductive plates on the top and bottom of the cells collect the electrons and direct them along a circuit, creating a flow of electric current. This current can be direct current (DC) as produced by the cells.
- Conversion to AC Electricity: Most household appliances and the electrical grid operate on alternating current (AC). Therefore, an inverter is connected to the solar panel system to convert the DC electricity generated by the panels into AC electricity that can be used to power household appliances or exported to the grid.
Cloudy Days? No problem
Did you know that even on cloudy days a Solar PV System can still generate electricity so it will even work during the winter months in the UK at a reduced rate.
How Do Solar PV Systems Work?
Solar panels work by harnessing the energy from sunlight and converting it into electricity. The process can be broken down into the following steps:
- Sunlight Absorption: Solar panels are composed of photovoltaic (PV) cells made from layers of semi-conducting materials, typically silicon. When sunlight hits the cells, the photons (particles of light) transfer their energy to the electrons in the material.
- Electron Excitation: The absorbed energy excites the electrons, causing them to break free from their atoms. This generates an electric potential difference across the material, creating a flow of electric current.
- Electric Current Generation: Metal conductive plates on the top and bottom of the cells collect the electrons and direct them along a circuit, creating a flow of electric current. This current can be direct current (DC) as produced by the cells.
- Conversion to AC Electricity: Most household appliances and the electrical grid operate on alternating current (AC). Therefore, an inverter is connected to the solar panel system to convert the DC electricity generated by the panels into AC electricity that can be used to power household appliances or exported to the grid.
Cloudy Days? No Problem
Did you know that even on cloudy days a Solar PV System can still generate electricity so it will even work during the winter months in the UK at a reduced rate.
Use The Energy Or Export To The Grid
The AC electricity produced by the solar panels can be used immediately to power various appliances in your home.
Any excess electricity can be fed back into the grid, earning you credits or monetary compensation through net metering which will help offset the cost of your Solar PV System and help reduce the time it takes to pay off the investment.
Alternatively you may prefer to store that excess energy in the form of a home battery that will build up and store electricity for use in the evenings.
Use The Energy Or Export To The Grid
The AC electricity produced by the solar panels can be used immediately to power various appliances in your home.
Any excess electricity can be fed back into the grid, earning you credits or monetary compensation through net metering which will help offset the cost of your Solar PV System and help reduce the time it takes to pay off the investment.
Alternatively you may prefer to store that excess energy in the form of a home battery that will build up and store electricity for use in the evenings.
Maximise Efficiency
A Solar PV System works most effectively on a south facing roof, if you are unsure which direction your roof faces an easy way to check (without a compass) is if you have a satellite dish, these face due south. You can still get a Solar PV system if your roof doesn’t face south, however you will need to be aware that it will be around 20% less efficient.
Chimneys that cast shadows on the solar cells will also reduce absorption as will tall trees as they will block the sunlight being cast on the panels, however can be trimmed.
Some of these things can’t be helped, however we will maximise the potential where we can to ensure sun coverage is as effective as possible.
What Are The Benefits Of A Home Solar PV System?
– Generate your own electricity
– Can store excess electricity in a home battery
– Sell excess electricity back to the grid
– Reduces your reliance on Fossil Fuels
– Reduces your Carbon Footprint
– Mitigates Energy Price shocks and rises
– Will pay for itself in a few years
Maximise Efficiency
A Solar PV System works most effectively on a south facing roof, if you are unsure which direction your roof faces an easy way to check (without a compass) is if you have a satellite dish, these face due south. You can still get a Solar PV system if your roof doesn’t face south, however you will need to be aware that it will be around 20% less efficient.
Chimneys that cast shadows on the solar cells will also reduce absorption as will tall trees as they will block the sunlight being cast on the panels, however can be trimmed.
Some of these things can’t be helped, however we will maximise the potential where we can to ensure sun coverage is as effective as possible.
What Are The Benefits Of A Home Solar PV System?
– Generate your own electricity
– Can store excess electricity in a home battery
– Sell excess electricity back to the grid
– Reduces your reliance on Fossil Fuels
– Reduces your Carbon Footprint
– Mitigates Energy Price shocks and rises
– Will pay for itself in a few years
Next Steps
If you are interested in having a Solar PV System installed in your home or business then the first thing to do is get in touch with us where we can discuss the suitability of an installation and estimated costs. We may also arrange with your permission a home visit so that we can assess the suitability and do a survey for our sub-contractors to install the system in your home.