Sun Power!

Electricity can be generated by the sun; it is cheap and green and is called Solar Electricity. These systems use PV cells (photovoltaic) in order to acquire the suns energy and convert it into electricity. PV Cells are actually panels that an individual can attach to their home in order to generate electricity to power lighting and household appliances. The cells are made from silicon or another semiconductor in either just one or sometimes two tiers. This basically works by an electric field being generated when the sun light shines on the material so obviously the stronger the sun the better the result.

Solar electricity has two main benefits to the individual. Firstly it will reduce electricity bills, in the UK a typical system will produce around half the electricity required for a standard household; and secondly it can make money, if you are generating more electricity than you need you can sell it back to the grid. These types of system also greatly benefit the environment as they do not create any dangerous carbon dioxide or other toxins and therefore help reduce the Carbon Footprint.

If you are thinking about solar electricity for your home there are some points to consider. Solar panels are far from light so it is important to be sure your roof or wherever you are planning to install the panels is strong enough to take the weight. Although some electricity can be created on a cloudy day you will still need a surface to install the panels that is not shaded by buildings or growth and is within 90 degrees of facing south. Another concern is whether or not planning permission is required.

In England and Scotland as long as it is below a certain size most home systems do not require it but in Northern Ireland and Wales permission is still presently needed. The final and probably biggest consideration is the cost as an average system can cost anywhere between £8,000 and £20,000 in the UK. However there is the possibility of getting a grant to help towards these costs and you can find out more information about this from the Dept of Energy and Climate Change ( www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk ). It is also worth bearing in mind that these types of system can save you around £250 a year on electricity bills and if you have any roof repairs needed that solar tiles can be used instead of standard roof tiles.