The chance to sell back your energy to the grid is proving to be a tipping point in the decision to purchase Solar Panels. Environmentally sound, money saving and now the chance to make a profit! There has never been a better time to invest in solar panels.
However, it is a complex and somewhat bewildering field, and some people feel that it is too difficult, or too expensive, for the average household to consider
The first thing to ask is whether your home is suitable for Solar Panels. This seems like a stupid question, but it is a vital one: does your home get a lot of sun. The ideal home will have a roof or a wall which is south facing, or at least receives a good few hours of sunlight on a clear day. If you do not have this, then it is doubtful that you will be able to generate enough electricity through Solar Panels to justify the investment.
You will need, as well as the panels, a battery in the house and cabling connecting the panels with the battery. None of the internal equipment takes up too much space, although you might want to think about professional installation if you are not confident to lay cables and wires.
Solar Panels can be used to heat a water tanks, or to generate electricity. Often, newcomers to the solar world start with a system that heats the water, since it is slightly simpler to use and easier to see the results. Once you are confident about using the solar power and when to use the grid, you can install a battery and start powering your house
The cost of installing Solar Panels will depend a great deal on the amount of energy you want to generate. However, an average system will cost in the region of £12,000. As a rough estimate, a system like this should be able to produce roughly 40% of a household's energy needs. You can quickly see the scope for earning your money back!
Feed In Tariffs (FITs) are schemes whereby the national Grid will buy electricity generated by consumers' solar panels. There are even certain companies who are starting to offer free installation of the panels on the guarantee of taking excess energy off you either free or at a low rate.