Solar PVs are made up of ‘cells’, made from layers of semi-conducting material. When sunlight shines on this material, a flow of electricity is created. The cells don’t require direct sunlight to function, and can work even on dull days – though greater sunlight intensity means more electricity.
Solar PV systems consist of several panels – usually around ten – with each panel generating around 300W to 400W of energy in strong sunlight. The system generates DC electricity, converted to mains-equivalent AC via an inverter. This electricity can be used throughout your home, with any surplus exported to the grid, or stored in batteries for later use.
You can also earn money by selling any unused energy back to the grid. For a typical system, the Energy Saving Trust estimates an income of between £80 and £110 per year, depending on your energy supplier. The payback time for a typical system would be around 11 years if you’re in the middle of the UK – it’s slightly longer in Scotland, and slightly shorter in the south.
You can also earn money by selling any unused energy back to the grid. For a typical system, the Energy Saving Trust estimates an income of between £80 and £110 per year, depending on your energy supplier. The payback time for a typical system would be around 11 years if you’re in the middle of the UK – it’s slightly longer in Scotland, and slightly shorter in the south.
