Go green and save money with Solar PV

There has never been a better time to install solar PV - as well as cutting your fuel bills and C0² emissions - you can also make money from the electricity your solar panels produce with the new feed-in tariffs.

Solar PV can save around 1200kg of CO2 a year

Despite the growth in solar panel installations, 27% of the UK’s carbon emissions still come from our homes and most of us are still reliant on increasingly expensive, diminishing energy supplies. However, there is a steadily growing trend towards using solar photovoltaic (PV), prompted by government schemes and environmental concerns. “Solar panels are the most popular kind of renewable home improvement that people enquire about because it looks great and supplies free energy,” says Alex Hunt from Bright Green Homes in Brighton.

What is solar PV?

Solar PV consists of cells fixed to your homes roof or walls, which convert energy from the sun into electricity to use in your home. Cells are made of several layers of a material like silicone - when light shines on the cell an electric field is created which causes electricity to flow.

PV is available in roof tiles or as a fixed attachment to the roof which is cheaper but less attractive. If you don’t use all of this generated electricity then it can be exported to the electricity grid or, in a standalone system, stored by a battery. Solar panels and cells come in different designs and strengths which are measured by the amount of energy a cell can generate in sunlight, called kilowatt peak (kWp).

Solar panels work best when south facing and should not be blocked by trees or other buildings, your roof also has to be strong enough to hold the panels.Before installing any renewable technology, make sure your home is well insulated and as energy efficient as possible first.

Benefits of Solar PV

Earn money from solar power
with the new feed-in tariff

Installing solar PV will:

• Cut your CO2 emissions – according to The Energy Saving Trust (EST), installing solar PV could save 1200kg of CO2 a year, which adds up to around 30 tonnes over its lifetime. “Solar panels have grown in popularity so much because they utilise a clean, natural energy source,” explains Helen Durose, from Evergreen Renewables in Derbyshire.
• Lower your fuel bills – the EST estimates that you could save £200 off your electric bills a year with solar panels, depending on the system and your energy usage. You will also avoid energy inflation.
• Earn you money – under the new feed-in tariff scheme you can make money from the electricity panels produce. The Department of Climate Change (DECC) says that you could make £900 a year through the scheme with 2.5 kWp panels.
• Last a long time – solar PV is guaranteed for 25 years and panels require very little maintenance other than cleaning every once in a while.

Make money from solar PV with the feed-in tariffs

You can earn money for the electricity solar PV produces under the feed-in tariff (also known as ‘clean energy cash-back’). The tax free, index linked payments work on two levels:

• Generation tariff – depending on the size of panels, you are paid per kilowatt hour (kWh) of metered energy that panels generate, regardless of whether you use that energy or sell it to the grid.
• Export tariff – whatever size panels you have, you can choose to receive either 3p per kWh of electricity or sell it on the open market.

Depending on your energy usage you may need to draw extra electricity from the grid, but the EST say that a 2.9 kW system can produce up to £1,190 a year in earnings from the FIT scheme combined with savings on your electricity bills. Get in quickly though; the government have proposed reducing the FIT rate from 43.3p per Kilowatt hour to 21p per kWh for installations up to four Kilowatts in size. At the reduced rate, your panels can earn around £640 per year, says the EST. Find out more about Changes to the solar FIT scheme.

From April 1st 2012 you will need to produce an Energy Performance Certificate with a rating of D or above to be eligible for the FIT scheme.

Choose a solar installer who is registered
with the Micorgeneration Certification Scheme

Planning permission for solar PV

You may need to apply for planning permission when installing solar panels if you live in a listed or historical building or in a conservation area. In Northern Ireland and Scotland you must consult your local authority before installing.

In England and Wales planning permission is not generally needed as long as you follow guidelines such as making sure that panels are not taller than the highest part of the roof, protrude more than 200m or take up more than nine meter squared space. Check with your local panning office or a solar installer for details in your area.

How much does solar PV cost?

According to the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MSC), depending on the size and type, solar panels could cost between £5,000 and £7,500. Tiles are more expensive than panels. Grants for installing solar PV may be available from your local authority and various energy companies although they are no longer available from the Low Carbon Buildings Programme.

To be eligible for grants and the feed-in tariff, use an installer who is registered with the MSC. They certify products and installers and are recognised by the government.