Solar Electricity Systems

PV stands for Photovoltaic. Photovoltaic is the process of electricity generation in a material when it's exposed to light. This reaction occurs naturally in PV panels, although extra materials are added to increase the production of electricity though the individual PV cells (A PV panel is made up of PV cells).

PV panels are made up of cells, and each cell is made up of silicon mixed with other materials to enhance its electricity production capabilities. Silicon is a natural material and amongst its wide range of uses it was discovered back in the days of farraday that when exposed to light, silicon produced an electrical charge.

When a PV system is fitted to a house multiple panels are connected together in a combination of series and parallel to reach the appropriate Volts/Amps combination. The electricity produced from the panels is DC so this gets converted by an Inverter. The clean AC electricity that comes from the inverter is connected to the fuse box in the house. Electricity is used in the house primarily and if it is not needed it is sent out to the national grid. The householder will save money on their electricity bill as they will have less electricity to buy. Also the electricity company will pay the householder for electricity that is produced by the PV system. PV panels use the suns light which is free, make no noise or have any moving parts.

We think they look extremely smart, have a look at some photos of our PV installations.

The size of system installed and your electrical usage will determine what percentage of your electrical items will be PV powered. PV contributes to the whole house electrical usage, not individual items in the house.

For example, a small system of 1kWp will provide the basic power needs of a house, such as the boiler, fridge, heating pump etc.

A larger system such as a 3kWp system we designed and installed contributes 92% of the electricity needed to power the whole house. Another 3kWp system provides over 100% of the electricity needed by the house it's fitted to.

A 4kWp system, if there's enough roof space, could provide over 100% of the electricity needed in a house.

You need to be energy efficient about it though. Anything with a heating element such as immersion heaters, electric showers and washing machines will need to take extra power from the national grid. For example, an immersion heater is 3kW and that would use the power produced by a whole 3kWp PV system.

We would not recommend it. Electrical water heating equipment and electric heating systems use such a lot of electricity, it would not be a good use of a PV system. The best thing we would recommend for water heating would be Solar Thermal, and install it alongside the PV system.

Neither technology is generally suitable for central heating, please visit our Pellet boilers section or contact us and we will be able to talk over your needs.

By generating your own electricity and not taking it from the national grid, you would immediately cut your electricity bills and produce less CO2. You would also benefit from recieving the PV Feed in Tariff, which for larger systems would amount to over £1000 a year.

By purchasing a PV system now, you would fix the cost of your electricity supply for the next 30 years plus, whereas electricity suppliers' prices will continue to rise!

Fitting PV also has the additional effect of making you more aware of your electricity use, and the benefits of using the most efficient appliances you can.

By installing a 4kWp PV system on an existing house, and before 31st March 2012. This size and type of system would earn the most money as it is the largest system able to be paid at the highest rate.

A 4kWp system would earn up to £1,277 a year (total FIT earnings + total possible electrical savings).

Not necessarily it would depend on how big the system was and how much roof space you have to spare. A whole roof can quite easily be covered with PV, it is up to you in the end how big you'd like the system to be, how much electricity you want to produce, and how much you'd like to earn back from the system.

No, in fact although both technologies have solar associated with them, and are sometimes both referred to as 'solar panels' they have very little in common. PV panels are made of mainly silicon and they use the suns light to work, Solar thermal uses the suns radiant heat (the kind that gives you a sun tan). PV panels need to be mounted so that there is good airflow around them to prevent them from getting hot as they are less efficient when they heat up. Solar thermal panels are insulated, can reach temperatures of 200 celcius and heat is needed to heat the water passing through them.

Typically the cost of an installed roof mounted PV system is £5,750 for a 1kWp system, £8,000 for a 2kWp system, £11,000 for a 3kWp system and £13,000 for a 4kWp system. These prices are based on a standard installation and final price is subject to a survey.

Unlike most things you purchase for this amount of money, you will make all of your money back and more as you will be paid a Tax free Tariff for generating clean electricity. This is payable for 25 years, and goes up each year with inflation.

See Our Systems overview page.