Solar power in the home

There are two types of solar panels: photo-voltaic (PV) and thermal. Figure 1 gives the best explanation I have found online of the main facts about solar power and its potential to be utilised in the home.

Figure 1: Introduction of Solar Power. Source: Solar century 

PV panels use the suns energy to produce electricity, where as thermal panels use the heat energy from the sun to heat water. Both are feasible options, although it is thermal panels that are currently most popular in residential investment in England. Figure 2 shows a case study of a home owner who has installed renewable energy technologies and how he has benefited from this. The focus is on both solar PV and thermal panels along with a wind turbine that has been installed also.

Figure 2: Renewable Energy Technologies case study. Source: Energy Savings Trust, 2010.

There are Government initiatives to increase the interest in solar power potential at an individual level. The Green Deal is a Government initiative that is aimed at improving energy saving potential of homes and businesses.  Figure 2 discusses the possibility of grants being available for help towards installation costs. As the Uswitch website shows, solar panels could be installed for free to lower the cost of energy bills if a scheme exists in the homeowners area. If qualification is not met then solar loans are available also, although this can be quite expensive in the long run. Figure 3 gives an explanation of the Feed-in Tarrif - another Government ran scheme that allows for homes to make a profit from their renewable technologies. 

What is the Feed-in Tariff?

1. The Feed-in Tariff scheme is a government scheme that pays people for every unit of renewable energy they generate as an incentive to promote green energy. You install solar panels and start generating your own renewable electricity.
2. You use the free electricity you generate in your home, get paid for every unit you generate. If you need more, then you simply buy it from your energy supplier as usual.
3. You sell any extra electricity you're producing to the National Grid. You get paid per unit of electricity that you generate.
4. Tariffs are index-linked, which means they will track market prices and, depending on the type of technology you use to generate electricity, they're guaranteed for up to 20 years.

Figure 3: Feed-in Tariff explanation. Source: Uswitch, 2013

Information about solar panel installation is readily available on the web, with Tesco, Uswitch, Evo energy and the Energy Savings Trust all providing resources to help with progress towards greener energy production.

Tesco Home Efficiency makes solar panels more readily available and affordable to the public; however the prices are still quite expensive and it is not a cheap option in the short term despite the savings to be made in the future. 

Evo energy provide much information to make solar panel possibilities seem much more accessible and feasible. The company works with the installation of Solar PV panels along with Solar Thermal panels.

The possibilities with solar power is a great investment as it is a technology that can pay for itself in the year after installation, however it is only available to those that are able to afford the initial cost. Uswitch state that the solar panels installed will pay for themselves within 9 years and will still be profitable for a guaranteed rate for a further 11 years. However, the rate at which electricity is produced or water heated is limited to the reliability that can be placed on the sun shining; less likely in winter months. Figure 4 shows that much can be earned from the PV installation as the money received is tax free. 

Figure 4: Table to show how much can be earnt from the installation of solar panels. Source: Uswitch, 2013.

Benefits

The benefits from solar PV panels are plentiful.

• The electricity produced is 'free' as it is powered by a public resource - the sun. 
• Uswitch (2013) claim that bills can be cut by up to 50%. 
• If solar panels are bought outright and the household qualifies for the 'Feed-in Tariff money can be earned on any excess electricity produced (Uswitch, 2013).
• Produce electricity and heat water even when overcast - reliance is not upon the sun presence but more the intensity of the sunlight.
• Hot water solar panels can be placed more freely.
• Feed-in Tariff. 
• Lasts up to 25 years. 
• Excess electricity produced by PV panels can be exported to the grid.
• Solar thermals save vast amounts of fueling costs on heating hot water, especially in summer months.
• An understanding is gained of exactly how much energy is needed for living and where it can be saved

Disadvantages

• Initial installation cost. 
• Ideally need to be South facing to be most efficient. 
• Are more efficient when the sun is bright (mainly the summer months) 
• The inverter will need replacing at some point within the 25 year life span - costing around £1000.
• Maintenance. 
• Solar thermals need to be checked regularly for leaks.
• Both PV and thermals need to be kept relatively clean to be most productive. 

Sources Used

Energy Savings Trust (2013) Solar panels PV [online] available at: http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generating-energy/Choosing-a-renewable-technology/Solar-panels-PV [accessed on 12th March 2013]

Energy Savings Trust (2013) Solar water heating [online] available at: http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/Generating-energy/Choosing-a-renewable-technology/Solar-water-heating [accessed on 12th March 2013]

Evo Energy (2013) Solar PV [online] available at: http://www.evoenergy.co.uk/solar-pv/ [accessed on 12th March 2013]

Evo Energy (2013) Solar Thermal, [online] available at: http://www.evoenergy.co.uk/solar-thermal/ [accessed on 12th March 2013]

Gov.UK (2013) Green Deal: energy saving for your home or business [online] available at: https://www.gov.uk/green-deal-energy-saving-measures/?&gclid=COShgfWI87UCFczHtAodJ3UAqg [accessed on 12th March 2013]

Tesco Home Efficiency (2013) Solar Electricity [online] available at: http://www.tescohomeefficiency.com/solar-electricity/?gclid=CMrUl5OR87UCFRDKtAodwHcAQg [accessed on 12th March 2013]

Tesco Home Efficiency (2013) Solar Hot Water, [online] available at: http://www.tescohomeefficiency.com/solar-hot-water/ [accessed on 12th March 2013]

Uswitch (2013) Solar Panels, [online] available at: http://www.uswitch.com/solar-panels/ [accessed on 12th March 2013]Describe the two different types of panels & their success / costing / opinions.