Solar panels work by capturing the suns energy and converting this into electricity and with the UK renowned for not having the sunniest of climates the question arises as to whether solar panels are suitable for the UK’s weather conditions.

The simple answer is yes. The reason why is because solar only requires daylight to capture energy and therefore this can be captured on bright colder days just as well as on sunnier days. Even when there are clouds in the sky there will still be light available that the solar panels can capture. However, consideration needs to be given to the amount of energy that is captured during the different weather conditions as this will be the main difference. As on long summer days the solar panels will generate more electricity than on a cloudier, cold and shorter winter day.

Another consideration when installing the solar panels is the position of the roof and where the panels will be fitted. The panels need to be positioned so that they are south facing as this will mean that they will be capturing most of the suns light during the day. It is also important to ensure that the roof is not shaded by any objects that will hinder the collection of the daylight. It will also be important to ensure that the panels are set at an angle from the ground of about 30-40 degrees to get the most out of them.

If you have been contemplating purchasing solar panels and have been unsure about the UKs climate then you need not worry. Statistics show that the UK is akin to some places in France and Spain as it receives the same amount of sunlight as these areas. Also, the UK does receive 60% of the solar radiation found at the equator. Therefore, all these statistics point to the fact that the UK gets enough light to make solar panels feasible.

If you are still unsure then you should take a look around you and see the phenomenal growth in homes installing solar panels on their roofs to generate electricity. A recent article in The Guardian newspaper suggested that more properties were installing solar panels and that the governments feed-in tariff was likely to be the reason for this. They also believe that households are also looking for continued efficiency improvements and risk mitigation against fossil fuel increases which solar energy can provide. They concluded that solar panels will start to become commonplace on roofs as this green, renewable energy source becomes more widespread and a viable energy source for many households across the UK.

Guest Article by Sarah Wain

For many years companies have been trying to invent and create windows that double as solar panels.

What this means is that a window will become able to generate electricity from the suns light that it captures during the day. The window will look the same such as normal windows, however it will be able to harness the power of the suns energy.

Currently, solar panels are made up for solar cells that turn the suns light into energy and these solar panels are not appropriate for use as windows due to their dense and non-transparent nature. Therefore, to create the solar panel windows the whole concept and design of the solar panel has to be changed. This means that the new solar panel windows have to concentrate and retain the light and then this energy would then need to be collected on the edges of the window by solar cells.

It is felt that the solar technology deployed in the windows should not be noticeable and obvious which could affect the aesthetics of your home. The windows should also be able to withstand current weather or window washing conditions without the performance of the window being affected. The only requirement needed for home installation would be some wiring from the window to a voltage controller to ensure the smooth running of the system.

In the past such attempts at creating a solar panel window has resulted in low efficiency and this is a major factor that needs to be overcome if they are to become a viable renewable energy solution for countries like the UK which have low-light conditions. However, new research is looking into chemical formulations that can be used in the solar cells that allows for high visible-light transparency, making them more efficient.

The only other concern over the solar panels windows is the cost of installing these solar cells and windows on houses and buildings. The high costs could mean that it takes years to pay off the outlay made on such an investment.

However, in our pursuit of becoming greener and investing in renewable energy sources there is no denying that solar power is one of the best sources of renewable energy available. So, we should try and utilise it and put investment into inventions such as the solar panel window.

This technology concept has been around for many years with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) being at the forefront of its development. The windows are still in their early stages of development but if the initial teething problems can be overcome and they can be created in a cost-effective manner, they could provide a practicable and renewable energy source for heating our homes in the future.

Guest Article by Sarah Wain

Nissan Motor (GB) has announced that British Gas is the preferred supplier of vehicle charging points for its first 100% electric car, the Nissan Leaf.

Charging points have been developed because engineers believe that they will be more convenient than normal home electricity sockets and will greatly reduce charging times. And because of the expertise that British Gas has with solar panels technology, and installation, there is a belief that Nissan Leaf owners can make use of ‘free’ electricity from the renewable energy source.

The charging points will be installed by British Gas in homes and businesses across the country. They will be fitted in garages, alongside driveways and in office car parks.

Managing Director of Nissan Motor (GB), Paul Willcox, said:
“The Nissan Leaf is pioneering the electric car revolution in the UK. Leaf drivers will be ‘filling up’ with cheaper, cleaner fuel. Teaming up with a trusted brand like British Gas, Britain’s biggest supplier of electricity to homes, means that Nissan’s Leaf buyers can be assured of prompt and professional service when having their home ‘filling station’ installed.”

The Nissan Leaf went on sale at the beginning of the month and the car company claims: “…it’s the is the first affordable, mass market electric family car to be sold in the UK and produces no exhaust emissions.” They reckon that the Leaf will work out much cheaper than a petrol car. A full charge, which will cost £2, gives the Leaf a range of 109 miles.

As for the cost of having a British Gas charging point installed, it will be an eye-watering £995, but that does include work completed by one of the company’s highly qualified engineers. What’s more, the deal includes three years of British Gas Home Electrical Cover which includes comprehensive cover for all home electrical repairs. This includes unlimited calls, parts and labour.

Managing Director of British Gas, Phil Bentley said:
“From today, Britons can drive an electric car powered by solar energy. The home of the future is here. A British Gas home with charge points, solar panels and smart meters is now a reality. We want our customers to use greener and cheaper energy. Partnering with Nissan on powering their electric cars is a very exciting driver of growth for British Gas as electric vehicles move into the mainstream.”

British Gas seems to have chosen a good time to be a preferred supplier for Nissan, as the car industry experts believe that by 2020, around 10% of all cars sold in the UK will be powered by electricity.

Guest Article by Neil Camp 

Solar panel costs are set to come down if new figures from British Gas are to be believed.

British Gas reckons that the roofs of UK homes could earn upwards of £7 billion, with individual houses earning from between £600 and £1,000, effectively slashing the solar panel costs. The cost of buying a solar panel could, they believe, be completely made back by using the solar panel itself, making this piece of technology certainly worth a thought.

The report believes that over 12 million households are in fact equipped with roofs that would benefit from solar panels. Once fitted, the solar panel would then be responsible for producing electricity that could meet half of the household’s needs.

The Government’s Feed-in Tariff scheme has been developed to encourage their use, with the programme paying owners of the solar panels for the electricity they generate. Households with a solar panel could therefore earn up to £600 a year from having the solar panels installed on their roofs, and those which can accommodate bigger systems could get up to £1000.

Carbon savings are of course the biggest benefit from using solar panels; the average solar panel on a household roof can save up to 692kg of CO2 per year. If every house were to take on a solar panel, then the UK would save roughly 8.5 million tonnes of Co2; an impressive figure for a relatively small nation.

After a period of piloting schemes, British Gas have announced that they are putting a big push behind the offering of solar power to British households. mySolar Energy is believed by British Gas to be the new way forward in solar power, providing end-to-end solar installation service, as well as carrying out assessment of energy consumption in homes, installing the solar panels, and issuing a CEPP (Certificate of Expected Panel Performance) to homeowners should they wish to sell their home. On top of this, British Gas is working with the new government to entwine their offer with the Feed-in Tariff.

British Gas hope to offer two ways in which customers can get involved with using solar power; the first involves British Gas installing the panel at no cost, but claiming the Feed-in Tariff from the solar panel. However, the householders get to benefit from the electricity their panel generates; this has been dubbed the ‘rent a roof’ scheme. The second way in which people can engage with this new idea is to buy the solar panels up front from British Gas, and claim the Feed-in Tariff for themselves; for this, a two year 0% APR has been offered.

Solar panel costs are no longer a thing of myth and legend with British Gas’s new research and report, as well as its push for a more solar-panel oriented nation. They argue that the benefits of having a solar panel vastly outweigh any negatives that customers may have heard, and point to the success of the pilot schemes.

Guest Article by Neil Camp

Solar power is a fast growing industry and there are plenty of reasons for considering it as an alternative method of powering the home, not least of which is the potential reduction in CO2 and other harmful emissions that currently come from your house. That said, is it an economically viable option for the regular house owner or is it just a waste of good money?

Unfortunately the debate is still raging and although plenty of companies in the UK say that it is a viable option there are equally as many sceptics. The price of solar panels varies greatly depending on the size you want, the type of output you want and the energy you expect them to produce. Simple solar panels convert the sun’s energy directly into heat and this is harnessed to produce hot water within the home. Photovoltaic tiles on the other hand convert the sun’s energy into electricity which can then be used to power lights and other appliances. Solar panels are understandably cheaper than the photovoltaic tiles however they only help you to save on your hot water bill and not on your electricity bill. Saying that, they will both save you some money in the long run, plus they will help to reduce your household’s carbon footprint.

So how much money can solar power save you?

Again there is no definitive answer and the amount you save depends on the number of panels you have, the size of the panels and the amount of sun your roof gets. Ariston report that their solar thermal system can save you up to 50% on your energy bills however at over £5000 to install it will take quite a while to recoup the investment. Other manufacturers and installers say that solar power can provide around half of your domestic power needs which again would indicate a saving of 50% however you have to have a top of the range system and a good geographical location to really achieve this maximum.

Is it an economically viable option?

Generally speaking, solar power systems will save you money on your heating and electricity bills however the price of installation means that you may not see the savings for a good number of years. If you intend to stay in your home for eternity then paying out for a quality system will make economical sense in the long run but if you think you may move at some point in the future then it would probably be a mistake. There are a variety of grants available that help to cover the cost of installation however they only tend to cover specific solar power systems when installed by specific registered installers – and this can work out to be more expensive than choosing a different company and not receiving the grant! My advice is to do your homework and ask plenty of questions regarding the system you’re interested in to see if it will save you a decent amount of money in the future.

Guest Article by Clare Lynock